Bourne/Crabb, Hughes/Kolinske win in Manhattan Beach

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (August 24, 2022) – Two U.S. Beach National Team pairs claimed the biggest title in U.S. beach volleyball last Sunday when Tri Bourne/Trevor Crabb and Sara Hughes/Kelley Kolinske won the AVP’s Manhattan Beach Open.

Known as the Grandaddy of Them All, the Manhattan Beach Open is the longest running beach volleyball tournament in the U.S. Winners are memorialized with plaques on the Manhattan Beach pier. It’s every U.S. beach volleyball athlete’s dream to see their name etched into the pier and into history.

Bourne/Crabb won the tournament for the second year in a row. They beat BNT teammates Chaim Schalk/Theo Brunner in two sets during the finale, capping a 6-0 tournament where they won all but two sets played.

Crabb also won in 2019 with former partner Reid Priddy, giving the Honolulu native three consecutive titles (the 2020 tournament was canceled due to the covid-19 pandemic).

Hughes/Kolinske won their title in thrilling fashion, winning the final five points to stun Kelly Claes/Betsi Flint, 2-1 (21-18, 11-21, 15-13). The first-time MBO champions went 6-1 over the weekend, losing to Cheng/Flint earlier before fighting through the contender’s bracket for a spot in the title.

Crabb, Bourne, Hughes and Kolinske will have their plaques added to the pier next year ahead of the 2023 MBO.

In all, 13 BNT pairs competed in the tournament:

Men

• Bourne/Crabb: 1st
• Brunner/Schalk: 2nd
• Taylor Crabb/Taylor Sander: 3rd
• Andy Benesh/Miles Evans: 3rd
• Chase Budinger/Troy Field: 9th
• Evan Cory/Bill Kolinske: 13th

Women

• Hughes/Kolinske: 1st
• Cheng/Flint: 2nd
• Terese Cannon/Sarah Sponcil: 3rd
• Taryn Kloth/Kristen Nuss: 5th
• Megan Kraft/Emily Stockman: 5th
• Corinne Quiggle/Sarah Schermerhorn: 9th
• Emily Day/Savvy Simo: 9th
• and Zana Muno/Brandie Wilkerson (Canada): 3rd

How important is the Manhattan Beach Open to U.S. beach volleyball? BNT legend Phil Dalhausser – who competed this year – has already stated intentions to return next year and compete for an eighth MBO title. Dalhausser retired from international play last year but has competed in seven AVP tournaments in 2022, winning twice.

 

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Internationally This Week

One U.S. duo will compete on the Beach Pro Tour this weekend as Logan Webber/Chris Luers take part in the Baden Futures in Baden, Austria, August 24-27. They’ll begin play in the tournament’s main draw Friday, August 26.

Webber won a silver medal earlier this year at the Rhodes Futures with Miles Evans, but this will be Luers’ first international event since 2018. The two have not previously partnered together.