Four winners-bracket upsets at AVP Hermosa Friday

Given that the AVP Hermosa Beach Open has expanded the main draw to 24 teams and that most of the top dogs are overseas playing FIVB Olsztyn, you probably wouldn’t expect much in the way of surprises on a Friday.

Wrong. There were four upsets Friday.

The hastily assembled team of Tim Bomgren and Curt Toppel toppled top-seeded Billy Allen and Stafford Slick, who played in the AVP San Francisco championship match, 20-22, 21-15, 15-12.

Piotr Marcinak and Roberto “Rafu” Rodriguez sent fourth-seeded Jeremy Casebeer and John Mayer to the contenders bracket 21-14, 21-14.

Sixth-seeded Lane Carico and Alix Klineman upset third-seeded Jen Fopma and Kelly Reeves 21-18, 14-21, 18-16.

And Caitlin Ledoux and Maria Clara Salgado sent second-seeded Kim DiCello and Emily Stockman to the contenders bracket in a tough 18-21, 21-19, 15-11, 65-minute match.

On the women’s side, four teams remain in the winners bracket. Emily Day and Brittany Hochevar will play Angela Bensend and Geena Urango, while Carico and Klineman face Ledoux and  Salgado. Among  the teams left alive in the contenders bracket are Pepperdine products Brittany Howard and Corinne Quiggle and Lindsey Knudsen of Saint Mary’s and teammate Jessica Sykora.

On the men’s side, the Partain brothers, 17-year-old Marcus and 15-year-old Mles, who got through the qualifier, lost their winners-bracket match to Pedro Brazao and Dave McKienzie.

The four men’s teams in the winners bracket have Bomgren and Toppel playing Marciniak and Rodriguez, whiled Trevor Crabb and Sean Rosenthal face Trevor’s brother, Taylor, and Jake Gibb.

Among the teams in the contenders bracket is Ty Loomis and Maddison McKibbin, who won AVP San Francisco. They lost to Trevor Crabb and Rosenthal on Friday.

Bomgren has played 37 of his 39 tournaments blocking for his brother Brian, who was unable to go in Hermosa due to knee issues. Toppel, one of the most physical blockers on tour, was a most unconventional blocker/blocker combination on the tour, especially given the dearth of blockers.

But perhaps Bomgren and Toppel have stumbled upon something, after advancing through the winners bracket. Bomgren enjoys the rare luxury of playing defender.

“Playing behind Curt makes my job a little bit easier in the back there for obvious reasons,” Bomgren said.

Toppel has been caught in the revolving partner door of late, having played with eight partners from 2016-17.

“Since we haven’t played together before, we are sticking to a pretty simple plan of offense and defense and focusing on doing the little things well,” Toppel said.

Ledoux and Salgado are also enjoying the honeymoon phase of their new partnership. Ledoux has a two fifth-place finishes this year with Heather McGuire, while Salgado, a Brazilian, has two 13ths with Camie Manwill.

Salgado is new to the tour this year.

“We are just starting knowing each other as partners and I’m really happy with the way we played and how we went through the rough moments together,” Salgado said. “It is just the start.”

“We knew the Emily/Kim match was going to be a battle”, said Ledoux, “and we fought for it all the way through.”

“I finally had a chance to come to Hermosa Beach a couple of weeks before the tournament so we got a chance to practice almost every day,” said Marciniak, who lives in Florida. “We’ve been working on a couple of things to make our game more efficient and play as a team. We’re playing with confidence and put a lot of pressure on our opponents and enjoyed volleyball today.”

Competition continues Saturday at 9 a.m. Pacific. The AVP’s streaming of matches can be viewed here.

Men’s Friday results
Winners Bracket
Round 1
Match 1: Brian Miller/Brett Ryan (17, Q5) def. Jorge Martinez/Ian Satterfield (16) 12-21, 21-15, 15-13 (0:49)
Match 2: Tim Bomgren/Curt Toppel (9) def. Travis Schoonover/David Smith (24, Q31) 21-16, 21-17 (0:46)
Match 3: Piotr Marciniak/Roberto Rodriguez (12) def. Bruno Amorim/Ozz Borges (21, Q20) 21-18, 21-18 (0:44)
Match 4: Pedro Brazao/Dave McKienzie (13) def. Kyle Friend/Myles Muagututia (20, Q17) 21-17, 21-17 (0:43)
Match 5: Ric Cervantes/Mike Stewart (19, Q14) def. Branden Clemens/Ben Vaught (14) 21-15, 16-21, 16-14 (0:55)
Match 6: Brian Cook/Adam Roberts (11) def. Michael Boag/Bobby Jacobs (22, Q25) 16-21, 21-10, 15-6 (0:49)
Match 7: Michael Brunsting/Jeff Samuels (10) def. Marcus Partain/Miles Partain (23, Q27) 21-16, 19-21, 16-14 (1:14)
Match 8: Raffe Paulis/Spencer Sauter (15) def. Jake Rosener/Garrett Wessberg (18, Q10) 21-17, 21-18 (0:41)
Round 2
Match 9: Billy Allen/Stafford Slick (1) def. Brian Miller/Brett Ryan (17, Q5) 21-19, 21-17 (0:41)
Match 10: Tim Bomgren/Curt Toppel (9) def. Avery Drost/Chase Frishman (8) 18-21, 21-17, 15-11 (1:06)
Match 11: Piotr Marciniak/Roberto Rodriguez (12) def. Ed Ratledge/Eric Zaun (5) 21-15, 21-19 (0:45)
Match 12: Jeremy Casebeer/John Mayer (4) def. Pedro Brazao/Dave McKienzie (13) 21-14, 21-15 (0:43)
Match 13: Trevor Crabb/Sean Rosenthal (3) def. Ric Cervantes/Mike Stewart (19, Q14) 21-12, 21-12 (0:49)
Match 14: Ty Loomis/Maddison McKibbin (6) def. Brian Cook/Adam Roberts (11) 21-16, 21-18 (0:43)
Match 15: Reid Priddy/Ricardo Santos (7) def. Michael Brunsting/Jeff Samuels (10) 21-14, 17-21, 16-14 (1:10)
Match 16: Taylor Crabb/Jake Gibb (2) def. Raffe Paulis/Spencer Sauter (15) 21-9, 21-19 (0:41)
Round 3
Match 17: Tim Bomgren/Curt Toppel (9) def. Billy Allen/Stafford Slick (1) 20-22, 21-15, 15-12 (0:53)
Match 18: Piotr Marciniak/Roberto Rodriguez (12) def. Jeremy Casebeer/John Mayer (4) 21-14, 21-14 (0:42)
Match 19: Trevor Crabb/Sean Rosenthal (3) def. Ty Loomis/Maddison McKibbin (6) 21-16, 21-13 (0:45)
Match 20: Taylor Crabb/Jake Gibb (2) def. Reid Priddy/Ricardo Santos (7) 21-19, 21-17 (0:50)
Round 4
Match 21: Tim Bomgren/Curt Toppel (9) vs. Piotr Marciniak/Roberto Rodriguez (12)
Match 22: Trevor Crabb/Sean Rosenthal (3) vs. Taylor Crabb/Jake Gibb (2)
Contenders bracket
Round 1
Match 23: Jorge Martinez/Ian Satterfield (16) def. Raffe Paulis/Spencer Sauter (15) 21-13, 17-21, 15-12 (0:58)
Match 24: Michael Brunsting/Jeff Samuels (10) def. Travis Schoonover/David Smith (24, Q31) 21-17, 21-19 (0:47)
Match 25: Brian Cook/Adam Roberts (11) def. Bruno Amorim/Ozz Borges (21, Q20) 21-14, 21-15 (0:34)
Match 26: Kyle Friend/Myles Muagututia (20, Q17) def. Ric Cervantes/Mike Stewart (19, Q14) 21-12, 19-21, 15-7 (0:55)
Match 27: Branden Clemens/Ben Vaught (14) def. Pedro Brazao/Dave McKienzie (13) 21-18, 21-17 (0:53)
Match 28: Ed Ratledge/Eric Zaun (5) def. Michael Boag/Bobby Jacobs (22, Q25) 21-15, 21-16 (0:50)
Match 29: Avery Drost/Chase Frishman (8) def. Marcus Partain/Miles Partain (23, Q27) 21-13, 21-10 (0:36)
Match 30: Jake Rosener/Garrett Wessberg (18, Q10) def. Brian Miller/Brett Ryan (17, Q5) 21-19, 17-21, 15-7 (1:01)
Round 2
Match 31: Jorge Martinez/Ian Satterfield (16) vs. Michael Brunsting/Jeff Samuels (10)     
Match 32: Brian Cook/Adam Roberts (11) vs. Kyle Friend/Myles Muagututia (20, Q17)     
Match 33: Branden Clemens/Ben Vaught (14) vs. Ed Ratledge/Eric Zaun (5)     
Match 34: Avery Drost/Chase Frishman (8) vs. Jake Rosener/Garrett Wessberg (18, Q10)
Round 3
Match 35: Jeremy Casebeer/John Mayer (4) vs.
Match 36: Billy Allen/Stafford Slick (1) vs.
Match 37: Reid Priddy/Ricardo Santos (7) vs.
Match 38: Ty Loomis/Maddison McKibbin (6) vs.

Friday’s women’s results
Winners bracket
Round 1
Match 1: Mackenzie Phelps-Ponnet/Molly Turner (17, Q4) def. Briana Hinga/Bre Moreland (16) 21-18, 21-11 (0:36)
Match 2: Sheila Shaw/Xi Zhang (9) def. Claire Coppola/Hailey Harward (24, Q48) 21-19, 19-21, 15-8 (0:51)
Match 3: Lindsey Knudsen/Jessica Sykora (21, Q18) def. Lara Dykstra/Allie Wheeler (12) 21-19, 18-21, 15-12 (0:55)
Match 4: Brittany Howard/Corinne Quiggle (20, Q14) def. Terese Cannon/Nicolette Martin (13) 18-21, 21-19, 15-8 (0:48)
Match 5: Karissa Cook/Katie Spieler (14) def. Kathrin Winkler/Jacqui Wood (19, Q11) 21-14, 19-21, 15-9 (0:49)
Match 6: Skylar Caputo/Kimberly Smith (11) def. Macy Jerger/Tory Paranagua (22, Q24) 21-16, 21-11 (0:34)
Match 7: Caitlin Ledoux/Maria Clara Salgado (10) def. Jenna Belton/Elise Zappia (23, Q37) 21-10, 21-10 (0:30)
Match 8: Aurora Davis/Bree Scarbrough (15) def. Christina Vucich/Amanda Wiggins (18, Q7) 21-15, 20-22, 15-13 (1:12)
Round 2
Match 9: Emily Day/Brittany Hochevar (1) def. Mackenzie Phelps-Ponnet/Molly Turner (17, Q4) 21-15, 21-16 (0:36)
Match 10: Jace Pardon/Brittany Tiegs (8) def. Sheila Shaw/Xi Zhang (9) 18-21, 21-18, 15-11 (0:55)
Match 11: Janelle Allen/Jenny Kropp (5) def. Lindsey Knudsen/Jessica Sykora (21, Q18) 16-21, 21-14, 15-7 (0:48)
Match 12: Angela Bensend/Geena Urango (4) def. Brittany Howard/Corinne Quiggle (20, Q14) 21-14, 19-21, 15-12 (0:52)
Match 13: Jennifer Fopma/Kelly Reeves (3) def. Karissa Cook/Katie Spieler (14) 21-17, 22-20 (0:53)
Match 14: Lane Carico/Alix Klineman (6) def. Skylar Caputo/Kimberly Smith (11) 21-14, 19-21, 15-13 (0:58)
Match 15: Caitlin Ledoux/Maria Clara Salgado (10) def. Karolina Marciniak/Heather McGuire (7) 21-16, 21-19 (0:44)
Match 16: Kim DiCello/Emily Stockman (2) def. Aurora Davis/Bree Scarbrough (15) 21-19, 21-18 (0:45)
Round 3
Match 17: Emily Day/Brittany Hochevar (1) def. Jace Pardon/Brittany Tiegs (8) 21-19, 18-21, 15-11 (0:53)
Match 18: Angela Bensend/Geena Urango (4) def. Janelle Allen/Jenny Kropp (5) 21-18, 21-16 (0:44)
Match 19: Lane Carico/Alix Klineman (6) def. Jennifer Fopma/Kelly Reeves (3) 21-18, 14-21, 18-16 (1:05)
Match 20: Caitlin Ledoux/Maria Clara Salgado (10) def. Kim DiCello/Emily Stockman (2) 18-21, 21-19, 15-11 (1:05)
Round 4
Match 21: Emily Day/Brittany Hochevar (1) vs. Angela Bensend/Geena Urango (4)
Match 22: Lane Carico/Alix Klineman (6) vs. Caitlin Ledoux/Maria Clara Salgado (10)
Contenders bracket
Round 1
Match 23: Briana Hinga/Bre Moreland (16) def. Aurora Davis/Bree Scarbrough (15) 17-21, 21-17, 17-15 (1:11)
Match 24: Karolina Marciniak/Heather McGuire (7) def. Claire Coppola/Hailey Harward (24, Q48) 22-20, 21-19 (0:50)
Match 25: Lara Dykstra/Allie Wheeler (12) def. Skylar Caputo/Kimberly Smith (11) 15-21, 21-19, 15-11 (0:49)
Match 26: Karissa Cook/Katie Spieler (14) def. Terese Cannon/Nicolette Martin (13) 21-18, 17-21, 15-11 (0:52)
Match 27: Brittany Howard/Corinne Quiggle (20, Q14) def. Kathrin Winkler/Jacqui Wood (19, Q11) 21-16, 21-15 (0:33)
Match 28: Lindsey Knudsen/Jessica Sykora (21, Q18) def. Macy Jerger/Tory Paranagua (22, Q24) 21-18, 24-22 (0:43)
Match 29: Sheila Shaw/Xi Zhang (9) def. Jenna Belton/Elise Zappia (23, Q37) 21-19, 21-7 (0:33)
Match 30: Mackenzie Phelps-Ponnet/Molly Turner (17, Q4) def. Christina Vucich/Amanda Wiggins (18, Q7) 21-17, 21-19 (0:39)
Round 2
Match 31: Briana Hinga/Bre Moreland (16) vs. Karolina Marciniak/Heather McGuire (7)     
Match 32: Lara Dykstra/Allie Wheeler (12) vs. Karissa Cook/Katie Spieler (14)     
Match 33: Brittany Howard/Corinne Quiggle (20, Q14) vs. Lindsey Knudsen/Jessica Sykora (21, Q18)     
Match 34: Sheila Shaw/Xi Zhang (9) vs. Mackenzie Phelps-Ponnet/Molly Turner (17, Q4)
Round 3
Match 35: Janelle Allen/Jenny Kropp (5) vs.
Match 36: Jace Pardon/Brittany Tiegs (8) vs.
Match 37: Kim DiCello/Emily Stockman (2) vs.
Match 38: Jennifer Fopma/Kelly Reeves (3) vs.