Local volleyball stars Todd Rogers and Phil Dalhausser won three matches Saturday to reach the final of an international beach tournament in Brazil.Rogers-Dalhausser will face home-country favorites Emanuel Rego and Alison Cerruti today for the championship of the $380,000 Brasilia Open in Brasilia, Brazil. This is the 12th gold medal match on the FIVB World Tour for the Americans. They have an 8-3 record.While Alison and Emanuel had to play only one match Saturday, Dalhausser and Rogers … [Read more...]
Van Wagner honored; Women’s final has local flavor
Tuesday, September 30, 2008 By 2 Comments
There are no tickets sold or bleachers set up for the U.S. Open of Beach Volleyball.It harkens back to tournaments of old, so it was appropriate that there was a tribute to a guy who's, well, old.Bob Van Wagner, 82, has been on East Beach serving the sport as a player, tournament director, referee and historian since the 1950s. He was surprised Sunday afternoon when Karch Kiraly presented him with a lifetime achievement award. … [Read more...]
Californians take fair share of titles at U.S. Open
Saturday, September 27, 2008 By Leave a Comment
Californians dominated the championships in the amateur divisions at the 2008 U.S. Open of Beach Volleyball on Saturday at East Beach in Santa Barbara. Play continues Sunday beginning at 9 a.m. with the conclusion of the men's and women's Open Divisions, which features the top players in the tournament. The women's Open Division championship is expected to start at 2 p.m. with the men's Open Division finale played at approximately 3 p.m. Action also will be held Sunday in three … [Read more...]
U.S. Open draw finalized at East Beach
Friday, September 26, 2008 By Leave a Comment
The draws for the elite Open Divisions at the 2008 US Open of Beach Volleyball were finalized following a day of qualifying matches Friday at East Beach in Santa Barbara.Four women's teams and 13 men's teams rounded out the draws for the top players in the tournament. The main draw for the men's Open Division will include 32 teams and 16 teams are set to compete in the women's Open Division. … [Read more...]
Kiraly wants to spread the volleyball disease
Friday, September 26, 2008 By Leave a Comment
At first glance, it could've been anybody. It looked like an all-comers-are-welcome type game that managed to attract 10 players for a quick volleyball match before the sun went down. Sure, they were playing on the main court set up for this weekend's U.S. Open of Volleyball being held at East Beach, but there aren't any fences to keep anyone out and there wasn't a crowd watching or anything. But on closer inspection, especially for the volleyball fan, the seemingly anonymous group of … [Read more...]
Kiraly and U.S. Open hit East Beach
Thursday, September 25, 2008 By Leave a Comment
Volleyball legend Karch Kiraly returns to his old stomping grounds of East Beach this weekend to host the second annual U.S. Open of Beach Volleyball. The three-day tournament, which features men’s and women’s doubles competition in 16 divisions, kicks off Friday with qualifiers for the men’s and women’s opens. Also on tap is an exhibition match featuring Kiraly and other legends of the game. Players expected to participate include recently retired San Marcos High coach Jon Lee, … [Read more...]
Todd and Phil finish on top, of course
Sunday, September 21, 2008 By Leave a Comment
Just for good measure, Todd Rogers and Phil Dalhausser won the season-ending AVP Manhattan Beach Open on Sunday.It was the cherry on top of a dream-like year in which the duo won the Olympic gold medal in Beijing, three FIVB Grand Slams and 11 of 14 events on the AVP Tour.In the final, Rogers and Dalhausser each faced a former partner. Sean Scott used to play with Rogers, and Nick Lucena is a former partner of "The Thin Beast."The world's best team dominated 21-16, … [Read more...]
Rogers/Dalhausser take epic final
Monday, September 8, 2008 By Leave a Comment
LOCALS PULL OFF HUGE COMEBACK AFTER HOLDREN IS HONORED: Just a few weeks after coming back from a 6-0 deficit in the third game of an early round match against Switzerland on the distant Olympic court at Chaoyang Park in Beijing, Todd Rogers mounted an even greater comeback in his own backyard. Rogers and Phil Dalhausser trailed 14-9 in the championship match of the AVP Crocs Cup Santa Barbara Shootout Sunday, and were about to endure only their second loss in 33 AVP matches in front of … [Read more...]
Todd ducks Dax in showdown
Sunday, September 7, 2008 By Leave a Comment
SAN MARCOS ALUMS BATTLE ON WEST BEACH SANDThe stands aren't usually full on the first day of an AVP tournament, but they certainly were on Saturday afternoon on West Beach. You didn't have to be one of Santa Barbara's savvy volleyball fans to know it was a big match. Just hours after announcing his retirement, Goleta's Dax Holdren nearly pulled off what would have been a signature victory in his final hometown tournament, as he stared across the net at his former San Marcos High and … [Read more...]
AVP Santa Barbara Shootout returns tomorrow
Friday, September 5, 2008 By Leave a Comment
