Todd, Phil keep rolling along, win 11th title

Like a train leaving the station, Todd Rogers and Phil Dalhausser started slow and gradually built speed.

Once they hit the full speed they became a runaway train.

The No. 1-rated team in the world overcame a first-game loss to Sean Scott and John Hyden and pulled out a 17-21, 21-17, 15-6 win to capture AVP Tour Long Beach Open on Sunday at Marina Green Park.

It was their sixth title on the AVP Tour — where their match record is 34-0 — and their 11th championship overall this season. They split a first-place check of $22,000.

Rogers and Dalhausser didn’t hit their stride until midway through the second game. After Dalhausser blocked for a 14-11 lead, the local beach volleyball stars deflated the second-seeded Hyden-Scott with a stellar defensive sequence.

On a long rally, Rogers made back-to-back digs on Scott. It was after the second scoop that the momentum completely switch over to their side. Dalhausser chased the ball beyond the end line and knocked it back to Rogers who returned a high free-ball over the net. With Rogers at the net, Scott hit a spike deep into the open court, but Dalhausser went horizontal, stretching his 6-9 body to make a one-arm, stabbing dig. The ball floated up to Rogers who put it away.

“That’s a tough one to swallow for the other team,” Rogers said of the play’s impact. “I don’t know that it turned the tide so much as it pushed the floodgates open for us.”

Dalhausser dug another smash by Scott that was converted it into a point for a 16-11 advantage.

Asked about the role reversal on the rally, Rogers said it reminded him of the days when he played with Dax Holdren.

“Phil doesn’t really like to play defense, but for a guy his size, he sure is good at it,” said Rogers.

In the third game, Rogers returned to his role as the digger. He picked up eight attacks, with six coming during nine-point run that put Hyden-Scott away. The last point of the run was vintage Rogers. A one-handed dig of a blast by Scott went right to Dalhausser for the set, and Rogers finished the play with a shot into the deep corner.

Hyden-Scott, who beat Rogers-Dalhausser in four finals last year, could do no wrong in the first game. They mixed up their offense and played tight defense (they even blocked Dalhausser on a two set) to build a lead and hand the 2008 Olympic champions a rare loss.

But once Rogers-Dalhausser Express picked up steam, there was no one on the beach that could knock them off track to another tournament title.

After playing the last two weekends in Southern California, Rogers-Dalhausser head back to Europe for the next two weeks to play on the Swatch-FIVB World Tour. They’ll play in Austria and Poland before coming back to the AVP Tour for the San Francisco Open on Aug. 13.

Two-time Olympic gold medalist Kerri Walsh announced that she will be returning to the AVP Tour in San Francisco. Walsh has not played this year because of pregnancy and subsequent birth of her second son, Sundance. He was born in May.

Walsh is expected to play with former UCSB star Brooke Hanson.

Walsh’s gold medal teammate Misty May-Treanor celebrated her homecoming to Long Beach by winning the women’s title with partner Nicole Branagh. They defeated Annett Davis and Jenny Johnson Jordan, 21-16, 21-19.

There’s been talk inside the tour that the San Francisco stop could be the last one of the season as the AVP is having financial troubles.

A story in the Los Angeles Times reported that CEO Jason Hodell held a conference call last week with the players informing them about the tour’s shortage of funds and the possibility of cutting the season short. Limited sponsorship deals have hurt the AVP’s coffers, and that has left investors to be the main source of funding, according to the Times story.

“There are lots of rumors and innuendo out there and that is pretty scary,” Rogers said about the status of the tour. “As of right now, I have a flight home (from Europe) to go play in San Francisco.”

Hodell, in a statement to the media, addressed the AVP’s financial situation.

“The AVP has been working diligently to secure capital from strategic investors,” he said. “These investors see the value of the tour, the growth of beach volleyball, the quality of our sponsors and the successful season we have had to date.”

Nick Lewin, managing partner of lead investor RJSM, added in a statement:

“RJSM has invested heavily in beach volleyball, and we’re in the middle of negotiating additional financing with the AVP to make it an even stronger property.

“We see a bright future for the tour and we will continue to support its future growth opportunities. We’re looking forward to the rest of a great season.”