COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – USA Volleyball hosted its third beach NORCECA playoff on Sept. 27, with a new women’s partnership finishing tops.

Lauren Fendrick and Kelly Claes were the top finishers among the women, while Bill Kolinske and Miles Evans won for the men. Despite winning their brackets, the playoff will not result in teams attending a NORCECA Continental Tour tournament. The Ochos Rios tournament in Jamaica was recently canceled, resulting in no events remaining on the schedule for 2017.

Lauren Fendrick and Kelly Claes, who were playing together for the first time, swept the field with a 2-0 win over Kim DiCello/Emily Stockman and then Jace Pardon/Caitlin Ledoux, 21-18, 19-21, 15-13, in the semifinal. They won the final after a forfeit by runners-up Brooke Sweat/Summer Ross. In third, Brittany Hochevar/Emily Day rallied for a 12-21, 21-18, 15-13, victory against Pardon/Ledoux. Seeded seventh, Pardon/Ledoux beat No. 2 April Ross/Sara Hughes, 21-17, 20-22, 15-9, in the second round.

In the men’s bracket, two forfeits decided the final standings as Bill Kolinske/Miles Evans finished first, followed by John Mayer/Billy Allen, and in third, Sean Rosenthal/Trevor Crabb. Kolinske/Evans defeated Casey Patterson/Stafford Slick in the second round, 17-21, 21-18, 15-11, and then Rosenthal/Crabb, 21-15, 21-15. Mayer and Allen had big wins of their own, defeating Ed Ratledge/Eric Zaun, followed by John Hyden/Ryan Doherty, both in two sets.

The NORCECA tournament that the playoff was held for was originally scheduled for Nov. 3-5 in Ochos Rios, Jamaica. Due to its cancelation, the U.S. finished the 2017 NORCECA Continental Tour with 11 total medals, including two gold.

RESULTS
Women | Playoff #3, Sept. 27
1. Lauren Fendrick/Kelly Claes
2. Brooke Sweat/Summer Ross
3. Brittany Hochevar/Emily Day

Men | Playoff #3, Sept. 27
1. Bill Kolinske/Miles Evans
2. John Mayer/Billy Allen
3. Sean Rosenthal/Trevor Crabb

Women | Playoff #2, May 16
1. Betsi Flint/Kelley Larsen
2. Katie Spieler/Karissa Cook
3. Lara Dykstra/Jace Pardon

Men | Playoff #2, May 16
1. Billy Allen/Stafford Slick
2. Bill Kolinske/Miles Evans
3. Mark Burik/Avery Drost

Women | Playoff #1, March 22
1. Betsi Flint/Kelley Larsen
2. Brittany Hochevar/Emily Day
3. Lara Dykstra/Jace Pardon

Men | Playoff #1, March 22
1. Casey Patterson/Theo Brunner
2. Jon Mesko/Skylar Del Sol
3. Stafford Slick/Reid Priddy