Katie Hogan plays a net serve/Mark Rigney photography
HERMOSA BEACH — Opportunity abounded at AVP Hermosa Beach as many of the top dogs competed overseas. Chase Budinger seized the opportunity to capture his first AVP win in front of the home crowd with Casey Patterson, who added his 15th win, his first in three years.
Loyola Marymount products Emily Day and Betsi Flint won their title without dropping a set to give Day her 10th title, Flint her fifth.
There were a number of notable finishes, including a final for Miles Evans, playing in his first event with Ryan Doherty. Former USA middle blocker David Lee not only won his first AVP main draw match, but reached his first semifinal with Sean Rosenthal.
On the women’s side, three teams (Katie Hogan and Megan Rice, Sheila Shaw and Mackenzie Ponnet, and Zana Muno and Crissy Jones) came out of the qualifier to reach the Hermosa semifinals, Shaw after breaking her finger during qualifying.
VolleyballMag.com publisher Ed Chan and contributors Mark Rigney and Jim Wolf were on hand and present the following photo gallery.
Katie Spieler gets dirty after a dig/Ed Chan, VBshots.com
Zana Muno came out of the qualifier to finish third/Ed Chan, VBshots.com
Sara Hughes plays the reverse poke/Ed Chan, VBshots.com
LMU alumni Emily Day, John Mayer, and Betsi Flint celebrate the championship win/Mark Rigney photography
Megan Rice and Katie Hogan come together after their semifinal win/Ed Chan, VBshots.com
Betsi Flint on the FIVB event in Australia: “This this shouldn’t count for Olympic qualification points because we don’t feel safe.”/Mark Rigney photography
Miles Partain hits the sand after a dig attempt/Ed Chan, VBshots.com
Zana Muno stretches for the ball during a hustle play/Jim Wolf photography
Delaney Knudsen takes advantage of the open net/Ed Chan, VBshots.com
