SoCal Beaches Magazine Blog

Gold Medalists Dalhausser and Rogers Claim Fourth Victory of 2009 at AVP Crocs Tour Huntington Beach Open
Presented by Bud Light

The 2009 AVP Huntington Beach Open

 HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. (May 24, 2009) - Phil Dalhausser and Todd Rogers, reigning beach volleyball gold medalists, won the AVP Crocs Tour Huntington Beach Open Sunday.
 
Dalhausser and Rogers, the top seeds, beat second-seeded Jake Gibb and Sean Rosenthal, 22-20, 21-17, to win their fourth title in five events this season.
 
Facing game point in the first game, down 20-19, the notoriously stoic Dalhausser and Rogers calmly sided out to tie the game at 20, when Dalhausser took over - a block and an ace later, they were up 1-0 in the match.
 
“We were able to get the points and come back,” Rogers said.
 
Dalhausser and Rogers got ahead 5-2 in the second game, and except a short Gibb/Rosenthal rally that momentarily tied the score at 13, they stayed ahead. 

Phil Dalhausser prepares to send down a spike in Huntington Beach

 Top-seeded Nicole Branagh and Elaine Youngs beat second-seeded Jen Kessy and April Ross, 21-19, 21-17, to win the women’s title.

Down 12-10 in game one, they went on a 7-1 run to stay ahead for good. In game two, they forged an early lead and retained it throughout, pulling away on a Branagh ace at 14-12.

This tournament win solidifies the answer to the off-season question of who would replace the team of injured Misty May-Treanor and new mother Kerri Walsh atop the women’s field. Branagh and Youngs have now won four of five tournaments this year and have a match record of 25-1.

Youngs said: “Being the top dog is something I’m enjoying.”

About AVP, Inc.:
AVP, Inc. is a leading lifestyle sports entertainment company focused on the production, marketing and distribution of professional beach volleyball events worldwide. One of the fastest growing entities in the sports world, the AVP operates two of the industry’s most prominent national outdoor touring series, the AVP Pro Beach Volleyball Tour (1983) and the AVP Hot Winter Nights Indoor Tour (launched in 2008). The AVP is set to stage more than 35 events throughout the United States in 2009 and features more than 150 of the top men and women competitors in the sport. AVP athletes won both the women’s and men’s gold medals at the 2008 Games in Beijing, marking the first gold medal sweep by a single country in the history of Olympic Beach Volleyball. AVP is headquartered in Los Angeles, Calif. For more information, please visit www.avp.com  

Elaine Youngs send a shot across net and advanced the the finals match

Men’s Main Draw Tournament Results (Sunday, May 24)

Contender’s Bracket, fourth round (losers eliminated, place fifth, split $6,240)

John Hyden, Sherman Oaks, Calif. / Sean Scott, Redondo Beach, Calif. (No. 3-seeded Main Draw team) d. John Mayer, Thousand Oaks, Calif. / Jeff Nygaard, Long Beach, Calif. (4), 21-16, 21-19 (48 minutes);

Matt Olson, Carlsbad, Calif. / Kevin Wong, Honolulu (6) d. Ty Loomis, Corona Del Mar, Calif. / Casey Patterson, Huntington Beach, Calif. (12), 21-17, 21-17 (:49).

Semifinals (losers eliminated, place third, split $10,200)

Phil Dalhausser, Santa Barbara, Calif. / Todd Rogers, Solvang, Calif. (1) d. Hyden / Scott (3), 21-17, 21-14 (:43);

Jake Gibb, Costa Mesa, Calif. / Sean Rosenthal, Corona Del Mar, Calif. (2) d. Olson / Wong (6), 22-24, 21-14, 15-13 (1:09). 

Championship (winners split $24,000; losers place second, split $18,000)

Dalhausser / Rogers (1) d. Gibb / Rosenthal (2), 22-20, 21-17 (:59).

Anthony Medel winds up to send a shot across the net in Huntington Beach

A young AVP Fan

Catch the AVP Events on Live Streaming Video at
www.AVP.com

Super sexy swimsuit model and former AVP Player Kelli Tennant hosts the live streaming video casts

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Huntington Beach California

Come with SoCal Beaches Magazine as we go to Ocean Beach and Mission Beach San Diego with Cara, Brook and a 1947 Fleetmaster Woodie to showcase the best of “Southern California Beach Life”

San Diego California is home to some great beaches, boardwalks, surfing and classic cars. Come with us as we spend a day with swimsuit and swimwear models Cara and Brook and showcase the best of what Mission Beach and Ocean Beach have to offer.

Swimsuit Models Cara and Brook on the Ocean Beach Pier

Swimsuit model Cara in Ocean Beach

Swimsuit model Brook in Ocean Beach

Swimsuit swimwear models Cara and Brook in Ocean Beach

Swimsuit model Cara in Mission Beach

Swimsuit model Brook in Mission Beach

Swimsuit / swimwear models Cara and Brook in Ocean Beach

For more photos of swimsuit models Cara and Brook visit the Socal Beaches Magazine webpage at:
http://www.socalbeachmag.net/classiccarphotoshoots/1947fleetmasterwoodie.html

SoCal Beaches Magazine - Covering the Beaches of Southern California!
For more classic cars, beaches and swimsuit models visit
www.socalbeachmag.net

1947 Fleetmaster Woodie in Ocean Beach

Beach Swimsuit Model Articles

Beach Volleyball Legend to End Career on the Sand, Effective Immediately

Holly McPeak sends a shot across the net at her last tour event in San Diego at Harrah

LOS ANGELES, May 6, 2009 – Holly McPeak, living beach volleyball legend, is hanging up her bikini…for good. McPeak will retire from AVP Crocs Tour, effective immediately, it was announced today.

McPeak is one of the most celebrated and decorated professional beach volleyball players in history. She represented the United States in three consecutive Olympic Games, competing in beach volleyball in 1996, 2000, and 2004, where she claimed the bronze medal with then-partner Elaine Young, marking the first medal for U.S. women. Domestically, McPeak held the record for most career wins from June 6, 2004 until May 20, 2007 (72), when her record was broken by Misty May-Treanor. She now stands third on the all-time list behind May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh. In 2002, she became the first woman worldwide to surpass $1 million in career earnings on both the domestic and international tours. 

McPeak finished in ninth place last weekend at the AVP Crocs Tour San Diego in what would be her last event, playing with Jenny Kropp. 

Reactions from fellow athletes and the AVP are below: 

“As a beach volleyball player, it doesn’t get much better than having played with Holly. Without Holly taking a chance on a rookie (me) I wouldn’t be in the position I am today,” said Misty May-Treanor, two-time Olympic gold medalist and AVP Crocs Tour star. “I want to thank her for laying the foundation not only for me but for all the young women that will come after. She is a mentor, competitor, and friend who has taught me that with discipline and hard work anything is possible. Thanks, Holly, for all of the tremendous years you gave to the sport of beach volleyball. I enjoyed our journey together.” 

 “I could go on and on about how much I respect and admire Holly,” said Kerri Walsh, two-time Olympic gold medalist and AVP Crocs Tour star. “She’s had an amazing career to say the very least, and helped pioneer the sport for us ladies. She has never ever let anyone or anything stand in the way of her hopes and dreams. Holly will go down in history as one of the world’s best and I am personally very grateful to have had her to help motivate, inspire and push me to be the best I could and can be. She will be missed but she will undoubtedly continue to help shape the future of the sport.” 

Holly McPeak in Huntington Beach

“Holly has had a tremendous influence on beach volleyball, inspiring countless players and fans for so many years, being such a great ambassador for the game,” said Olympic gold medalist Karch Kiraly. “Beach volleyball won’t be the same without this living legend, but her legacy will live long and run deep through the sport.”

“There will never be another Holly McPeak,” said Todd Rogers, 2008 Olympic gold medalist and AVP Crocs Tour star. “Her tenacity on defense is unrivaled and her skill set in the sport is second to none. I will miss watching her play but wish her the best in all her endeavors.” 

“Everyone around here is really going to miss Holly,” said Phil Dalhausser, 2008 Olympic gold medalist and AVP Crocs Tour star. “She’s been a part of the sport for so long and has had such an impact on the game. You can’t replace that sort of influence.”

“Winning the bronze medal in Athens with Holly was a highlight of my career and an overwhelming accomplishment for us, our country, and our sport,” said Elaine Youngs, McPeak’s former partner. “I’m very grateful for the years Holly and I spent playing together.”

 “Coaching Holly and Elaine to their bronze-medal victory in Athens was such a special moment,” said Liz Masakayan, McPeak’s former coach. “Holly has worked so hard to be one of the most successful and well-known players in our sport, and her presence on tour will be greatly missed.”

 “Holly will not only go down as one of the greatest players of all time, but as one of the game’s greatest ambassadors,” said Chris “Geeter” McGee, longtime AVP emcee. “Her passion, competitive fire, work ethic and true love of the game will be missed. It has been an honor watching as a fan, announcing as an emcee and working side-by-side with her as a broadcaster. Holly and Leonard (Armato) together brought a shared vision to help bring this sport to new heights. I will miss my friend on the court but look forward to working with her on the sand calling games for many years. She is a great friend who has been an inspiration and mentor to so many of us. We will all miss watching ‘The Little Engine That Could’.”

 From everyone at the AVP, we will miss one of the great ambassadors for the sport of beach volleyball.   She is irreplaceable on the court and off.  She will be deeply missed and we at the AVP wish her all the best. 

About AVP, Inc.:

AVP, Inc. is a leading lifestyle sports entertainment company focused on the production, marketing and distribution of professional beach volleyball events worldwide. One of the fastest growing entities in the sports world, the AVP operates two of the industry’s most prominent national outdoor touring series, the AVP Pro Beach Volleyball Tour (1983) and the AVP Hot Winter Nights Indoor Tour (launched in 2008). The AVP is set to stage more than 35 events throughout the United States in 2009 and features more than 150 of the top men and women competitors in the sport. AVP athletes won both the women’s and men’s gold medals at the 2008 Games in Beijing, marking the first gold medal sweep by a single country in the history of Olympic Beach Volleyball. AVP is headquartered in Los Angeles, Calif. For more information, please visit www.avp.com

2009 San Diego AVP Photos and Video click here 

Pro Beach Volleyball is one of the most popular sports on the beaches of San Diego, Orange County and Los Angeles and Manhattan Beach resident Jenny Kropp has been voted the sexiest swimsuit model on the AVP Tour for 2009

AVP Tour Pro Jenny Kropp in San Diego

Pro Beach Volleyball is one of the most popular sports on the beaches of San Diego, Orange County and Los Angeles and Manhattan Beach resident Jenny Kropp has been voted the sexiest swimsuit model on the AVP Tour for 2009 by the staff of SoCal Beaches Magazine

When it comes to beach volleyball in Southern California there is a lot that comes to mind namely incredibly skilled athletes, great beach venues and of course beautiful women in swimsuits wearing next nothing playing the game.

The AVP Pro Beach Volleyball Tour has seen its share of sex symbol players who have graced the courts over the past years including Holly Mc Peak, Suzanne Stonebarger, Rachel Wacholder and a brief stint in Huntington Beach in 2008 with celebrity host Maria Menounos.

As the 2009 AVP Tour hits the beaches of Southern California a new up and coming swimsuit model is showcasing her volleyball skills on the courts of Huntington Beach, Hermosa Beach and Manhattan Beach and that is a six foot two inch beauty named Jenny Kropp.

The six foot two inch Kropp is a force at the net for opponets

Jenny Kropp has been named “The Sexiest Swimsuit Bikini Model Athlete on the 2009 AVP Tour” by SoCal Beaches Magazine, which covers the AVP Tour events in Southern California.

Kropp played in two qualifiers in 2006, then trained with Jen Pavley and Heather Lowe prior to the 2007 season. She successfully advanced from the first two qualifiers and has been in the main draw ever since.

Kropp was the recipient of the 2007 AVP Crocs Tour Rookie of the Year award. She advanced to her first Final Four in Chicago after she and Pavley upset four top-10 teams en route to a third-place finish. She ended the season ranked third in blocks (1.15 per game).

Kropp was a middle blocker on Nebraska’s undefeated team of 2000, with her coach labeling her the “heart of the team.” She was a second-team All-American in 2001 as a senior, and twice was a first-team all-Region selection. She began playing volleyball when she was in seventh grade. Following graduation from NU, she played professionally in Puerto Rico.

The AVP showcases the sexiness of the sport and for good reason since many of the athletes also make a part time income from modeling as well and large media companies like the AP know that “sex sells”.

So as the 2009 AVP season gets started on its Southern California Tour be ready for large crowds of photographers to start gathering around the courts where Jenny Kropp and veteran partner Holly McPeak are playing. This blonde bikini model is not only sexy but also a great volleyball player who is partner to the third best female player in the history of pro beach volleyball giving her a chance for her best AVP season yet.

With Rachel Wacholder taking the 2009 AVP Tour off for having her first baby there is a new sexy volleyball athlete and bikini model ready to take over the crown as the sexiest female player on the courts and that is Manhattan Beach resident Jenny Kropp.

Jenny Kropp includes grace, athletic talent and beauty on the 2009 AVP Tour

See the 2009 AVP Tour dates on the AVP website at www.avp.com

To see photos swimsuit bikini model and AVP Tour pro Jenny Kropp visit the SoCal Beaches Magazine website at www.SoCalBeachMag.net or visit the link at the bottom of this article to go right to the Jenny Kropp photos page.

For more information:
Check out the hottest swimsuit and bikini models on San Diego and Southern California beaches including more photos of Jenny Kropp visit the SoCal Beaches Magazine website link below: http://www.socalbeachmag.net/swimsuitmodelshoots/avpmodeljennykropp.html

Jenny Kropp, with partner Holly Mc Peak, hopes to have her best AVP Tour yet in 2009

http://www.free-press-release.com/news/200905/1241642950.html