Canada wins AVP Huntington Beach Open

HUNTINGTON BEACH, CALIFORNIA –– The AVP Huntington Beach Open, the inaugural Heritage Event of 2024, delivered an exhilarating weekend of competition, with the winners locking up the first berths in the brand new AVP League this fall. 

The women’s finals Sunday featured an Olympic preview with two Paris 2024 Olympic-bound teams battling for the title. The United States’ Taryn Kloth and Kristen Nuss faced off against Canada’s Melissa Humana-Paredes and Brandie Wilkerson in a rematch of Saturday afternoon’s contest.

In a gripping three-set duel, Team Canada emerged victorious with scores of 23-21, 18-21, 15-13, avenging their earlier loss and claiming the championship. 

Brandie Wilkerson punches the ball over the net over the outstretched defense of Taryn Kloth in the finals of the AVP Huntington Beach Open on May 19, 2024. Wilkerson and partner, Melissa Humana-Paredes defeated Kloth and Kristen Nuss in three games to win the title. Photo credit: Dennis J. Freeman/News4usonline

Humana-Paredes and Wilkerson began their Sunday with a strong performance, defeating fellow Olympic-bound athletes Kelly Cheng and Sara Hughes of Orange County, 21-19, 21-16, which propelled them into the final with momentum and confidence. 

The men’s competition saw top-seeded duo Taylor Crabb and Taylor Sander dominate the courts, securing their place in the AVP League with a decisive victory. In the championship match, they defeated fifth-seeded Cody Caldwell and Seain Cook, 21-15, 21-15.

Crabb and Sander’s journey to the finals included a semifinal win over eighth-seeded Tim Bomgren and Troy Field, which they took 21-18, 21-16. 

“I think it’s perfect that the AVP League is right after the Olympics,” Crabb said. “It’s do or die out here for us right now. There are three tournaments, and we’re fortunate enough that we got to play this one and win it. The other teams that are gone only have two tournaments to put together two good finishes or win, or else they’re not in the League. And you’re going to want to be in the League this year – trust me. It’s going to be good.” 

“We were talking Friday about how nervous we were, because every tournament now means something. Everyone wants to make the League, and only eight teams are going to make it – so it’s great to get that under our belt, and now we get to have some fun.” 

Taylor Sander (left) and Taylor Crabb (right) showcase their hardware Sunday at the AVP Huntington Beach Open after securing the first spot in the AVP League. (Credit AVP/Mpu Dinani)

Added Humana-Paredes: “Winning any tournament is great, but winning the first tournament of the AVP season is always amazing, especially when there’s a spot in the League on the line.” 

Caldwell and Cook made a remarkable run to their first finals appearance, highlighted by a stunning upset over Olympians Tri Bourne and Chaim Schalk in the semifinals. After dropping the first set 16-21, Caldwell and Cook rallied to win the next two sets 21-15, 18-16. 

Canada’s Brandie Wilkerson (left) goes for the block against American Kristen Nuss during the women’s championship game of the AVP Huntington Beach Open at the Huntington Beach Pier on May 19, 2024. Photo credit: Dennis J. Freeman/News4usonline

Coverage of the men’s and women’s finals of the AVP Huntington Beach Open is available to view for free on the AVP’s YouTube channel – @AVPBeach

The AVP Huntington Beach Open featured 16-team women’s and men’s fields competing in a double-elimination bracket across three courts from Friday through Sunday. The women’s and men’s brackets each consisted of 10 teams automatically entered based on AVP ranking points, two wild cards and four teams who earned entry through Thursday’s open qualifier.  

The AVP, the premier U.S. pro beach volleyball league, recently announced an expansion and evolution with the creation of the AVP League. The AVP League will launch with eight founding teams playing head-to-head in a regular season spanning September through November 2024.

Each team will be based in a home market including Los Angeles, San Diego, Austin, Dallas, Miami, Palm Beach, New York and Brooklyn. Each home market will have one starting men’s duo and one starting women’s duo. The top overall teams will then participate in an end-of-season championship. 


Discover more from News4usonline

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

Discover more from News4usonline

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading