2011 Pro Beach Series Ends with New Champs

B.J. Hoeptner Evans
Manager, Media Relations and Publications
Phone: (719) 228-6800
E-Mail: bj.evans@usav.org

Men's Results * Women's Results

HERMOSA BEACH, Calif. (Sept. 25, 2011) – The 2011 Jose Cuervo Pro Beach Volleyball Series, produced by USA Volleyball and IMG, concluded with four new champions on Sunday, as Jen Kessy and April Ross won their first domestic women’s title of the season while Casey Jennings and Pedro Salgado won the men’s crown at the Hermosa Beach Open.

In the men's bracket, Jennings (Las Vegas, Nev.) and Salgado (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil), who were seeded fourth, defeated top-ranked Jake Gibb (Bountiful, Utah) and Sean Rosenthal (Redondo Beach, Calif.), 21-18, 21-17 in 53 minutes.

On the women’s side, top-seeded Kessy (San Juan Capistrano, Calif.) and Ross (Costa Mesa, Calif.) defeated fourth-ranked Jenny Kropp (Hawthorne, Calif.) and Whitney Pavlik (Laguna Beach, Calif.) in the women’s final, 21-12, 21-16 in 50 minutes.

It was Kessy and Ross’ second victory of the day over Kropp and Pavlik, the winners of the Manhattan Beach Open. The teams also played in the winners’ bracket quarterfinals, where Kessy and Ross took a 21-19, 21-16 victory in 49 minutes. The victories came after Kropp and Pavlik had defeated Kessy and Ross in the semifinals of the 2011 U.S. Open of Beach Volleyball and the Jose Cuervo event in Miami.

“We went after them with the jump serve,” Kessy said of the turnaround. “I think it was our tough serving that kept us in the lead.”

Kessy and Ross did not lose a set in the tournament until the semifinals, a fact that was especially impressive given that Ross was dealing with an impacted wisdom tooth that had become infected.

“It hurt so much I couldn’t open my jaw on Tuesday and Wednesday,” Ross said. “Nothing like that has ever happened to me before. Luckily, the antibiotics started kicking in.

“I’m just happy we were able to play.”

Kessy and Ross outlasted third-ranked Nicole Branagh (Orinda, Calif.) and Lisa Rutledge (San Diego, Calif.) in the semifinals, 19-21, 21-18, 15-11 in 1:06.

After losing in the quarterfinals, Kropp and Pavlik defeated seventh-ranked Emily Day (Torrance, Calif.) and Heather Hughes (Fallbrook, Calif.), 21-18, 21-16 in 45 minutes to reach the semifinals, where they beat second-seeded Lauren Fendrick (Carlsbad, Calif.) and Brooke Hanson (Woodland Hills, Calif.), 26-24, 18-21, 15-13 in 1 hour, 6 minutes.

Jennings and Salgado, who came together shortly before the Hermosa Beach tournament, were somewhat surprise winners, although both have had success on the FIVB World Tour with other partners.

Jennings credited Salgado with the victory in the final.

“I think Pedro really took over,” Jennings said. “This last match, he was definitely the difference. I did a few things that kept us in the game.”

Jennings and Salgado opened Sunday by beating Gibb and Rosenthal, 21-17, 19-21, 21-19 in 1:15 in the fourth round.

Gibb and Rosenthal came back in consolation to defeat the third-seeded men’s team of John Hyden (Sherman Oaks, Calif.) and Sean Scott (Redondo Beach, Calif.), 22-20, 17-21, 15-13.

In the men’s semifinals, Gibb and Rosenthal beat second-ranked Matt Fuerbringer (Costa Mesa, Calif.) and Nick Lucena (Santa Barbara, Calif.), 21-17, 21-18 in 52 minutes. Jennings and Salgado topped 21st-ranked Paul Baxter (Venice, Calif.) and Pedro Brazao (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil), 21-14, 21-14 in 41 minutes.

Salgado said it had always been his dream to play in Hermosa Beach.

“It was very different from what I am used to,” he said. “It was a very fun event that I will never forget.”

Jennings and Salgado were coached by three-time Hermosa Beach winner Mike Dodd. Jennings’ wife, Kerri Walsh, who has won in Hermosa Beach four times with partner Misty May-Treanor, also attended in support of her husband.

Other former Hermosa Beach winners at this year’s event included Scott Ayakatubby, Barbra Fontana, Albert Hannemann, Mike Lambert, Sinjin Smith and Elaine Youngs.

Chris Marlowe and Kevin Wong, who have both won in Hermosa Beach, served as commentators for the VERSUS live broadcast.

Tags: April Ross, Beach, Beach Volleyball, Casey Jennings, Jake Gibb, Jennifer Kessy, Jenny Kropp, Jose Cuervo Pro Beach Volleyball Series, mobile, Sean Rosenthal, Whitney Pavlik