Top Seeds Take Titles in New Orleans - Articles

Kenner, La. — The top seeds reigned supreme in the AVP New Orleans Open Sunday afternoon. Men’s No.1 pair John Mayer and Ryan Doherty and women’s No. 1 Kim DiCello and Kendra Van Zwieten navigated the fierce competition and windy conditions this weekend to capture the first AVP titles of the 2016 season. Mayer and Doherty dispatched the Crabb brothers in straight sets to advance to the finals against Casey Patterson and Jake Gibb, who advanced to their second straight New Orleans Open finals after Mark Burik and Russ Marchewka forfeited the semi-final round Sunday morning. Last year Patterson and Gibb defeated Mayer and Doherty in three sets in the semi-finals of the New Orleans Open. This year was a different story. Patterson started off the finals with an ace, an omen of a dominant first set in which he and Gibb would blast Mayer and Doherty 21-9. “We were trying to move on, and we knew we’d play better,” Mayer said of the poor showing in set one. “I thought we needed a little energy to come out in the second (set). The big mantra for me all weekend was ‘Be present.’ If I’m thinking about 21-9 at the start of the second set, then I’m not present.” After weathering a difficult first set, Mayer and Doherty stormed back for a 21-17 win in the second set. The top seeded pair found its swagger in set two, and Mayer rediscovered his serve, which had been erratic for most of his first three sets Sunday. “I...

from Articles - Volleyball Magazine http://ift.tt/1MChcHs