AVP San Francisco wrap-up - Articles

It looks like the AVP is saving a bit in the prize money department this year. This is all thanks to the new wave of young stars and never was that more apparent than last weekend at AVP San Francisco. The women’s side of the tournament featured two teams of players who have not yet finished their collegiate careers which means (according to NCAA rules) they can’t take anything above what they spend in order to participate. NCAA Beach champions Sara Hughes and Kelly Claes of USC came all the way from the qualifier to earn themselves a second-place finish. Now get this: they are the first domestic women’s team to take one set from Kerri Walsh Jennings and April Ross in 66 matches! That happened in the semifinals, when Hughes/Claes got everyone’s attention. The other college team to earn a main-draw birth was the Witt twins from the University of Arizona. They ended up ninth after beating Dowdy and Stockman, a team with world tour experience. I made a prediction months ago and I can’t wait to see it come true. I truly believe that within the next five years, USA beach volleyball will have five of the top 25 teams in the world on the women’s side. Currently, we have three but its clear there is a wave of talent and skill coming up to the pro level. That beach volleyball is now a legitimate NCAA sport for women means we now have thousands of teenage girls playing beach volleyball full time. Programs are...

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