Battle in Cincinnati - Articles

This is not just any AVP tournament that gets started today in Cincinnati. Rather, it’s an AVP-run FIVB event that is part of the Olympic qualification process, so expect plenty of intensity. On the other hand, the tournament is sandwiched between last week’s event in Turkey and the Grand Slam events in Moscow and Hamburg, so many of the top teams are choosing to avoid the jet lag associated with the trip to Cincinnati. As the host team, the U.S. is allowed additional teams, so in addition to April Ross/Kerri Walsh Jennings, Tri Bourne/John Hyden, Phil Dalhausser/Nick Lucena, Ryan Doherty/John Mayer, Jake Gibb/Casey Patterson, Robbie Page/Todd Rogers, Emily Day/Jen Kessy, Lauren Fendrick/Brooke Sweat and Jennifer Fopma/Brittany Hochevar are all in the main draw. U.S. teams in the qualifier include Lane Carico/Summer Ross, Kim DiCello/Kendra VanZwieten, Ali McColloch/Kelly Reeves, Irene Hester Pollock/Caitlin Ledoux, Taylor and Trevor Crabb, Jeremy Casebeer/Derek Olson, and Ian Satterfield/Raffe Paulis. There are plenty of dangerous international teams in the draw hoping to ruin the U.S. party. On the men's side, Brazilians Saymon Barbosa/Gustavo Carvalhaes scored a thirdrd this year, while 14th-ranked Canadians Chaim Schalk/Ben Saxton finished fifth at Xiamen. Mexicans Lombardo Ontiveros/Juan Virgen, ranked 17th, are a fiery team, with a fifth this year, and need to solidify their Olympic rankings. For the women, two Canadian teams are particularly strong. Fifth-ranked Sarah Pavan/Heather Bansley should be fresh after a two-month break. and 11th-ranked Jamie Broder/Kristina Valjas have had an up-and-down year but remain one of the most dangerous teams in the draw. With...

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