Volleyball Clubs Camps and Beach

There’s something you should probably know about me: I will never leave a concert or big game early to beat traffic. Ever. If cars are backed up for miles exiting a venue, generally speaking that means the show was actually worth seeing, and escaping with five minutes left, or before the encore even hits, does nothing more than define how little of a fan you truly are.

So, what was my attitude like this evening while attempting to exit Huntington Beach via the newly designed parking lot known as Pacific Coast Highway in search of a nearby Starbucks to assist in the generation of my Saturday column? Cool as a cucumber. Yes, that’s right, cucumbers are apparently ridiculously cool; because I didn’t even break an upper lip sweat during the more than 45 minutes it took to leave greater downtown Huntington Beach due to the absolutely obscene levels of traffic.

Now, aside from steadfast dedication to worthy sporting or singing performances, why would I ever be okay with sitting in stop-and-go, especially with a column due 91 minutes ago? Because this traffic isn’t just post-Black Eyed Peas or Dodger-game traffic, this traffic is post-AVP traffic. And post-AVP traffic is something I haven’t seen in years. And by god is it exciting.

For the rest of this short-but-sweet column, I’m going to do my very best to effectively illustrate the scene today at the AVP NIVEA Tour Huntington Beach Open Presented by Bud Light Lime, and I have a feeling it’s still not going to be enough. It was almost something you needed to see for yourself to fully comprehend and appreciate, but if I had to describe the feeling that overcame me once I stepped foot in sponsor village for the first time in two words or less, I’d say this: “We’re Baaaaackk!”

The vibe today in Huntington Beach was absolutely sensational. In fact, it was reminiscent of a time almost forgotten, I can’t lie. (Facebook says we’re nearly all “friends,” and if my mother taught me anything, it’s that you don’t lie to friends.) The electricity being generated on-site could have run a small town in Iowa for a month. Trust me, I know. Stadium court, outside courts, in-between courts…there were fans everywhere. But most of the energy was coming from the more than 20 tents in sponsor village; or the singular place with the capability of propelling our sport in exactly the direction we’re all hoping it goes, upward.

If you recall, I wasn’t afraid to hash out blog after blog regarding the diminishing number of tents and subsequent visitors in sponsor village over the last six seasons. At one point, it was so embarrassing I couldn’t even write about it anymore; instead I could only laugh at what we thought we were gaining from essentially destroying our local presence in each unique community. Of course, that was before current management and their progressive pitch to reinvigorate the hearts and souls of fans in towns that have always had our backs, like Huntington Beach.

Plain and simple: Huntington is a beach town. They don’t call it Surf City USA for nothing, but it’s also a volleyball town, with a rich history surrounding the AVP. And today’s remarkable fan turnout demonstrated one thing to me: regardless of the economy, there is always going to be a spot in the national sports marketplace for professional beach volleyball, because it will always be in the hearts of souls of the world’s most glorious fans too. And who knew, apparently it’s even more so when you decide to make the tour a fine shade of NIVEA blue…

- Hans Stolfus

- Posted by Club Beach Volleyball

The atmosphere was perfect with sunny skies in “Surf City USA” this past weekend for the AVP Tournament with a great number of people showing up the watch the incredible AVP pros compete.

Continuing their 2010 streak of world dominance, Phil and Todd marched through the men’s bracket.  While I am normally awed by Phil’s athletic skills, this weekend I focused on Todd’ steady sideout game and spectacular defense.  He digs both shots and hits better than anyone, and he makes it look easy to side out all tournament long against world-class blockers and defenders.  I assure you it is not.  The trick is in his deceptively explosive and durable legs, combined with court vision, unreadable approach/hit prep, and a shoulder/wrist that can go both across and away from body with precision.  They are good.

The only team that put up a fight was Hyden/Scott in the finals.  It should be noted that these guys perform the skills and subtleties of beach volleyball at an incredibly high level.  Diverse offense, skilled defense and blocking, aggressive serving…but at the end of the day, Phil gets 2-3 blocks/2-3 aces and Todd gets three more digs…and they win.  But putting my coach hat on, I am not sure Hyden and Scott have anything to work on that can change that in the short term.  This was determined at birth when Phil got the freak DNA and Todd had a sand volleyball put in his crib (I am sticking with that version of events, no other explanation for his ball control).

The finals are great and all, but I get more excited about the Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning matches.

Casey Patterson and Kevin Wong started to fulfill the promise of their length and skill with a 3rd that included wins over Strickland and Wachtfogel (who remain consistently in the top eight), and Casey Jennings and Brad Keenan.  Casey and Brad played their best ball of the season on the strength of Brad’s serve and Casey’s defense and ball control.

After losing their second-round match, Ed Ratledge and Ryan Mariano marched all the way to 7th.  On their way they beat Morrison/Olson badly (21-18, 21-14, sending Matt O and Mike M to another 17th and maybe ending their partnership), they beat Fuerbringer/Lucena in two, they beat Fred Souza and Pedro Brazao in a 20-18-in-the-third barnburner that even left everyone watching tired and sandy.  They finally lost to Matt Prosser and Eyal Zimet, who earned a hard-fought 5th place.

Russ Marchewka and Ty Tramblie fought hard…with some amazing defense and emotional intensity by Ty…on their way to 9th.  This team gets the crowd involved and is fun to watch.

Two upstart teams made some noise deep into the bracket.  Floridians Adrian Carambula and Matt Henderson made their mark by beating Nygaard and Mayer handily in the first round.  I watched that match and was amazed at the court vision and shots of the crafty undersized Florida duo.  They sided out like 40 times out of 42 opportunities.  Big jumping Bryan Stewart and Daniel Dalanhese took advantage of some gentle draws to get all the way to 9th.

Mayer and Nygaard fell to a third consecutive disappointing finish.  My read is that the chemistry has gone away… it happens in all kinds of relationships…along with a lost step/lost few inches of block/loss of desire on the part of Nygaard.  Maybe this note will motivate him.

Word on the street has Olson/Nygaard in Virginia Beach…does that leave Loomis and Mayer?

Matt Fuerbringer and Nick Lucena suffered an uncharacteristic first-round loss to Seth Burnham and Aaron Mansfield (who ended up 17th).  Nick is grieving the recent loss of a good friend, and both have been traveling the globe, so they deserve a break.  Fuerbringer wasn’t his usual unstoppable offensive self (the legs and shoulder didn’t seem to have the usual pep), and he missed some blockable balls.  I think they will rebound quickly and spend most of the year in the Final Four.

On the women’s side, Huntington was dominated by two teams.  Neither Ross/Kessy nor May-Treanor/Branagh lost a game through their first five rounds of play.  After losing the first game of the final, Kessy/Ross came back to win in three. After some hitting errors in game 1, Kessy/Ross eliminated their errors, turned up the heat on their serves, and dug and converted at a high level.  April took over the match with her serve in crunch time while Nicole struggled with passing.

These two teams will be battling for tournament wins all year.  This match was just the beginning of a long season of evenly matched finals.  AVP fans should relish the matches to come.

Kerri Walsh was broadcasting for ABC and ESPN2, and while she is saying all the right things, I would love an unedited version of her thoughts.  I know she desperately wants to be out there playing and reminding everyone who the most dominant team of all time was.

Rachel and EY stepped up their game to earn a 3rd, alongside Angie Akers and Tyra Turner (back from a month of international play including a recent 2nd place finish in Korea).

Tati Minello and her new partner, Ana Paula Henkel, played well on their way to a 9th-place finish.  But as is often the case, Tati lost her “grudge” match against Priscilla Lima and her new/old partner Angela Lewis in a 21-16, 21-16 beatdown.  It’s hard to imagine these two smiling and charming women holding grudges, but call it what you want, when you get dumped your fire to win burns brightly.  I still relish the fact that Whitmarsh and I beat Lewy and AJ in 2000 after Lewy dumped me.  Victory is the only revenge for getting sent to the curb.

Look for both teams to stay relevant between 3rd and 9th for as long as they last.

The rest of the tournament went pretty much according to seed, with a few exceptions.  Jen Snyder and Crystal Morrison broke through for a 9th,.   They had a great win over Jameson-Jones (the Lindquists). Both ladies are great athletes who will slowly work their way up as they refine their beach skills and find consistency.

Jenny Kropp and Whitney Pavlik fell to a 25th.  Not sure if this team will stick together.  Kropp’s block makes her an attractive partner, but she may want to stay put after her third partner in three tournaments.

- Canyon Ceman

- posted by Achieve Volleyball

11:56AM Tuesday Dec 16, 2008

COLORADO SPRINGS - Hugh McCutcheon, a New Zealander who guided the US men to Olympic gold at the Beijing Olympics, will guide the US women’s team for the next four years.

Doug Beal, USA Volleyball’s chief executive officer, announced today that McCutcheon will replace Jenny Lang Ping, the Chinese legend who guided the US women to a silver medal at Beijing but did not want to continue through 2012.

“This is a great opportunity for me to further develop professionally,” said McCutcheon.

“I’m excited by the challenges this change presents and optimistic some of the knowledge we’ve acquired with the men’s program can translate to the women.”

Beal said there is no timetable to fill the US men’s vacancy but is confident McCutcheon, 39, can bring success in the wake of Lang Ping, who guided the first US Olympic medal effort since 1992.

“There will be differences in systems and aspects of developing team culture but at the end of the day the fundamental principles of volleyball are not gender-specific,” Beal said.

Ze Roberto showed that this year for Brazil, guiding the women to Beijing gold after coaching Brazil’s men to 1992 gold.

“Successful coaches are successful coaches,” Beal said. “I have every confidence that Hugh can learn the differences that surely exist between genders and apply his philosophy to our women’s team in a positive way.

“Hugh proved throughout the past quadrennial his abilities as a great coach, motivator and program manager. The direction he provided allowed our men to steadily climb into position to be champions.”

Two-time US Olympian Lindsey Berg looks forward to what McCutcheon brings.

“He will be able to help us take a huge step forward,” she said. “This will be a great opportunity for our team to work under a different set of philosophies. Hugh will be able to bring in fresh and new ideas for us to build upon, including how we train and compete on the court.”

- AFP

–Posted by Achieve Volleyball

Lions finish year as one of the best teams in NCAA volleyball history

Anteaters win second title in three years.

	UC Irvine captured the 2009 national championship on Saturday.

-posted by Achieve Volleyball

from NCAA.COM

–posted by Achieve Volleyball

Final AVCA Division I-II Men’s Top 15 (As of 05/11/2009)
Rank	School	W-L	Points	Prev
1	UC Irvine (16)	28-5	240	1
2	Southern California	21-11	211	4
3	Pepperdine	22-5	208	2
4	Cal St. Northridge	24-7	187	3
5	Penn St.	27-4	169	5
6	Stanford	21-11	169	6
7	BYU	17-13	145	7
8	Long Beach St.	14-14	127	8
9	UCLA	14-16	111	9
10	Ohio St.	16-12	99	10
11	UC San Diego	13-15	82	11
12	Lewis	21-8	53	12
13	Loyola (Ill.)	17-10	30	13
14	Ball St.	18-10	30	NR
15	Hawaii	9-18	25	14