COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – With Olympic qualification finished, USA beach teams enjoy the Swatch FIVB Major Series and domestic AVP Tour to sharpen skills ahead of the Olympics.
USA’s top finisher internationally last week at the Olsztyn Grand Slam in Poland, Jake Gibb and Casey Patterson placed fourth. It marked their ninth final four finish in 40 FIVB events as a team. Lauren Fendrick and Brooke Sweat tied their best finish on the year, fifth, also in Poland.
Now that Olympic qualification is wrapped for the U.S., teams will continue to play on the FIVB World Tour, as well as make appearances on the domestic AVP Tour. In the next week, several teams will compete at the AVP San Francisco Open (June 23-26) and then jet to Porec, Croatia, to play in the Porec Major, which starts June 28.
On the 2016 FIVB World Tour, April Ross and Kerri Walsh Jennings lead the field with 4,010 points in seven events. Trailing by 30 points is Germany’s Laura Ludwig/Kira Walkenhorst, who have played eight tournaments. What makes it even more impressive for Ross and Walsh Jennings is that the pair leads all men’s and women’s teams in earnings in 2016, at $174,000.
Leaders among the men, Phil Dalhausser and Nick Lucena have the best win percentage, 88.5%, on a 46-6 record. Ross and Walsh Jennings are second on the World Tour for women, at a staggering 90.0%, a 45-5 record.
There are three remaining FIVB World Tour tournaments before the Olympics, all Majors. Immediately following the Olympics is the Long Beach Grand Slam. In September, the Tour will conclude with the Swatch FIVB World Tour Finals and the year will wrap in Mexico with the Puerto Vallarta Open in October.
FIVB WORLD TOUR IN CROATIA
Following a one-week break from the FIVB World Tour action, the Porec Major is the second of the Swatch FIVB Major Series portion of the 2016 schedule.
Expected to play in Porec are Lauren Fendrick/Brooke Sweat and Kelley Larsen/Betsi Metter for the women. For the men, Phil Dalhausser/Nick Lucena, Casey Patterson/Jake Gibb, Tri Bourne/John Hyden and wild card entry Jeremy Casebeer/Sean Rosenthal.
Once the Porec Major concludes, more teams will join the action going to the Gstaad Major, July 5-10 in Switzerland.
BEACH HP CHAMPIONSHIPS WILL BE IN HERMOSA BEACH
The 2016 Beach HP Championships will take place July 13-17 at Hermosa Beach, Calif., on the south side of the pier. Age groups at the event include: 13, 15, 17, 19, 21 and 23 for both boys and girls. The A1 and A2 Junior Beach National Team members are awarded automatic entry into the Championships.
AVP TOUR CONTINUES WITH STOP IN SAN FRAN
From June 23-26, the AVP Tour will play on Pier 30/32 The Embarcadero in San Francisco. Top teams scheduled to play include last week’s NYC winners April Ross and Kerri Walsh Jennings and Phil Dalhausser and Nick Lucena. In the women’s field, three of the top finishers from New York will play, which includes: Lane Carico/Summer Ross and Kelly Claes/Sara Hughes.
WORLD TOUR RETURNS TO USA IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE OLYMPICS
Following the Olympics in August, the FIVB World Tour will return to the United States for the Long Beach Grand Slam (World Series of Beach Volleyball) starting Aug. 23. It is expected to draw the four American Olympic teams, as well as a large contingent from other countries.
Learn more about the next World Tour event in the U.S., here.
WEEK IN REVIEW
FIVB Olsztyn Grand Slam
– Jake Gibb/Casey Patterson finished fourth for the second time in 2016 (Moscow Grand Slam)
– John Hyden/Tri Bourne tied for fifth, their seventh Top 5 finish in 2016
– Lauren Fendrick/Brooke Sweat tied for fifth, their best finish since doing so at the Cincinnati Open on May 20
– Theo Brunner/Billy Allen tied for 17th in their second international event together
– Irene Pollock/Caitlin Ledoux tied for 25th, their fourth Top 25 finish in 2016
– Kendra Vanzwieten/Kimberly DiCello tied for 25th, their fourth Top 25 finish in 2016
– Lost in qualification: Amanda Dowdy/Emily Stockman lost in the second round of qualification
AVP New York City Open
– April Ross/Kerri Walsh Jennings won their 11th AVP title, second in 2016
– Phil Dalhausser/Nick Lucena won their third AVP event as a team, first in 2016
– Finished second: Lane Carico/Summer Ross; Jeremy Casebeer/Sean Rosenthal
– Tied for third: Jennifer Fopma/Brittany Hochevar and Kelly Claes/Sara Hughes; Taylor Crabb/Trevor Crabb and Avery Drost/Bill Kolinske
UPCOMING EVENTS
June 23-25 NVL San Antonio
June 23-26 AVP San Francisco
June 28-July 3 Porec Major
July 1-3 NORCECA North Bay
July 5-10 Gstaad Major
July 9 *Tentative* announcement of Olympic pool placements
July 14-16 NVL Columbus
July 14-17 AVP Manhattan Beach Open
July 15-17 NORCECA Varadero
Aug. 5-18 Olympic Games beach volleyball matches
Aug. 5-7 NORCECA Boqueron
Aug. 11-13 NVL Hermosa Beach
Aug. 23-28 Long Beach Grand Slam
Aug. 26-28 NVL Virginia Beach
Sept. 1-4 AVP Chicago
Sept. 8-12 NVL Port St. Lucie
Sept. 13-18 Swatch FIVB World Tour Finals
Oct. 1-2 NORCECA St. Thomas
Oct. 14-16 Puerto Vallarta Open
Oct. 14-16 NORCECA Pigeon Point
Nov. 18-20 NORCECA San Salvador
Nov. 25-27 NORCECA Tobago