Men's beach volleyball AVP Austin Open Pro Tour championship at Krieg Fields in Austin, Texas on May 8, 2022. (Photo: Ralph Arvesen)
In perhaps their best AVP performance yet, the dynamic duo formed at Louisiana State University, Taryn Kloth and Kristen Nuss, stunned top-seeded Melissa Humana-Paredes and Sarah Pavan in straight sets Sunday, winning the AVP Pro Series Austin Open women’s final, 21-18, 21-13. In their second career AVP victory, Kloth and Nuss showed plenty of resilience, battling back through a tough contenders’ bracket after a second-round loss to Terese Cannon and Olympian Sarah Sponcil on Friday. The pair was in outstanding form on Championship Sunday, defeating the fourth- and second-seeded teams before pulling off the ultimate upset in the final. Winners of the first tournament in a busy 2022 AVP season schedule, Kloth and Nuss will certainly be a team to keep an eye on, especially as they return to their stomping grounds at the AVP Pro Series New Orleans Open, the very next AVP tour stop May 27-29.
On the men’s side, Andy Benesh and Phil Dalhausser remained undefeated in their Austin Open campaign, winning the men’s championship in a tightly contested two sets, finishing with a final score of 21-19, 21-18. For the first time since the AVP’s visit to Austin in 2017, the top four men’s seeds reached the semi-finals and battled for the 2022 title on Sunday. Benesh and Dalhausser began their Sunday with a grueling three-set semifinal win over top seeded Trevor Crabb and Tri Bourne. Their big win in the final marked a remarkable 60th AVP title for Dalhausser, and his fourth in Austin – where he also won his first career AVP title in 2005. This was the first AVP title for Andy Benesh. (Source: AVP)
“It's crazy. Him being the player that he is and the person that he is, I’ve gotten o know Phil the last couple years, and he’s been really welcoming. He has helped a lot of things in my game. Never in a million years did I think I was going to play a tournament with him, but man that was fun.” – Andy Benesh, after securing his first AVP victory alongside Phil Dalhausser, a partnership former after Benesh’s regular partner, Nick Lucena, withdrew last week. Dalhausser also earned his first career victory in Austin, in 2005, and on Sunday won for the 60th time.Sunday’s Notable Results
- Championship: (2) Andy Benesh/Phil Dalhausser def. (4) Chase Budinger/Troy Field, 21-19, 21-18
- Semifinal: (4) Chase Budinger/Troy Field def. (3) Theo Brunner, Chaim Schalk, 21-18, 22-20
- Semifinal: (2) Andy Benesh/Phil Dalhausser def. (1) Tri Bourne/Trevor Crabb, 21-19, 17-21, 15-13
- Contenders’ bracket quarterfinal: (3) Theo Brunner/Chaim Schalk def. (8) John Hyden/Logan Webber, 21-14, 21-15
- Contenders’ bracket quarterfinal: (1) Tri Bourne/Trevor Crabb def. (7) Taylor Crabb/Taylor Sander, 21-19, 21-19
AVP
Powered by some of the most dynamic and elite athletes in the world, the Association of Volleyball Professionals is the premier professional beach volleyball organization and longest-running domestic beach volleyball tour in the United States. Founded in 1983, the AVP has produced some of the world’s most beloved athletes, providing fans with unparalleled access to nail-biting matches on the sand. In 1996, beach volleyball became an official sport of the Olympic Games and the AVP proudly serves as the home court for Team USA’s Olympians.
Headquartered in Southern California, the AVP operates a three-tiered development system. AVPFirst, a 501(3)c youth program, is focused on creating healthy lifestyles and a lifelong connection to the sport by offering access to all. AVPNext is a developmental circuit providing athletes the opportunity to develop their skills and earn valuable AVP points to climb the rankings toward becoming a pro. The decorated AVP Pro tour is the gold standard in beach volleyball, with more than 100 professional athletes competing in front of passionate fans nationwide. Additionally, in an effort to grow the sport and celebrate those who love the game, AVP America leads a grassroots movement across the United States to curate thousands of events and matches for fans and players.
AVP Pro Beach Volleyball Tour
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Photos by Ralph Arvesen
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