Women's beach volleyball AVP Austin Open Pro Tour qualifying at Krieg Fields in Austin, Texas on May 6, 2022. (Photo: Ralph Arvesen)
The AVP Pro Series Austin Open kicked off Friday with results that stayed remarkably true to seeding. All 24 matches resulted in higher-seeded teams winning, and as the tournament heads into Day 2 Saturday, the four top seeds from the men’s and women’s brackets will prepare to play in the quarterfinals.
Olympians Tri Bourne and Trevor Crabb, Olympic gold medalist Phil Dalhausser and Andy Benesh, Theo Brunner and Chaim Schalk and Chase Budinger and Troy Field all won both their matches Friday, as did top seeded Canadian Olympians Melissa Humana-Paredes and Sarah Pavan, Olympian Kelly Cheng and Betsi Flint, Terese Cannon and Olympian Sarah Sponcil, and Sarah Hughes and Kelley Kolinske.
Contenders’ bracket play in the double-elimination tournament begins Saturday at 9:10 am, with the quarters starting at 1:25 pm. The three-day Austin Open runs through Sunday and features 16 men’s and 16 women’s teams competing for a $125,000 purse. It is the season opener for a 2022 AVP schedule that includes 16 tournaments in 12 states across the country and offers $2 million in prize money, the most comprehensive tournament slate for the AVP since 2009. (Source: AVP)
“There is crossover in skill from my basketball jump shot to my volleyball drop serve. It’s a similar motion and all about being accurate, getting the ball as close to the net as possible.” - Chase Budinger, following his first-round win Friday morning, speaking on his transition from a seven-year career in the NBA to playing on the AVP TourFriday’s Notable Results
- (1) Melissa Humana-Paredes/Sarah Pavan def. (16) Carly Skjodt/Geena Urango, 21-14, 21-19; def. (8) Delaney Mewhirter/Maria Clara Salgado, 21-12, 21-10
- (2) Kelly Cheng/Betsi Flint def. (15) Aurora Davis/Teegan Van Gunst, 21-18, 21-19; def. (7) Larissa Maestrini/Liliane Maestrini, 21-8, 21-13
- (3) Terese Cannon/Sarah Sponcil def. (14) Toni Rodriguez/Savvy Simo, 18-21, 22-20, 17-15; def. (6) Taryn Kloth/Kristen Nuss, 21-19, 21-17
- (4) Sara Hughes/Kelley Kolinske def. (13) Carly Kan/Kaitlyn Leary, 21-8, 21-17; def. (5) Emily Day/Emily Stockman, 21-15, 21-13
Saturday’s Winner’s Bracket Quarterfinal Matchups
- 1:25 pm: (1) Melissa Humana-Paredes/Sarah Pavan vs. (4) Sara Hughes/Kelley Kolinske
- 3:35 pm: (3) Terese Cannon/Sarah Sponcil vs (2) Kelly Cheng/Betsi Flint
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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