AVP Seattle qualifier, Main Draw Preview - Articles

ISSAQUAH, Wash. — Qualifying finished Thursday as the AVP Seattle benefits from perfect weather, mostly sunny and beautiful with predicted highs of 81, 85, and 92 degrees, as play continues Friday on the shores of Lake Sammamish. Women Kerri Walsh-Jennings/April Ross, Lauren Fendrick/Brooke Sweat, Emily Day/Jen Kessy, and Amanda Dowdy/Emily Stockman are competing abroad, providing opportunities for those who stayed state-side. The field that remains is deep and capable and it’s fair to expect plenty of three-set matches this weekend. In qualifying Thursday, No. 17 Karissa Cook/Brittany Tiegs fought through a tough quarter over No. 25 Madison/McKenna Witt 21-15, 14-21, 15-12. No. 4 Meg Dawson/Delaney Knudsen passed No. 5 Kristine Monforte/Traci Morin 21-14, 21-12. No. 6 Katey Schroeder/LeAnn Starr upset No. 3 Aurora Davis/Bree Scarbrough 21-18, 14-21, 15-11. No. 2 Leah DeKok/Amanda Wiggins outlasted No. 7 Lauren Dickson/Taylor Nutterfield 21-17, 12-21, 15-11. The win marked DeKok’s first 16-team draw. “So happy to qualify with Amanda and make it into my first 16 team draw!,” DeKok said. “I had so much fun playing with Leah and I am so proud of her and of us for the way we battled today,” Wiggins said. “We never gave up and fought for every point. I am excited to compete with her in the main draw and see what we can do.” No. 1 seed Kim DiCello/Kendra VanZwieten have some career-best finishes this year with a first in New Orleans and a third at Huntington. VanZwieten was named best defensive player of 2015, and will continue to earn that title....

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