SoCal Beaches Magazine Blog

AVP Womens Star Rachel Wacholder Scott is Back
Better than Ever with Partner Elaine Youngs as a
Top Team on the Womens 2010 Volleyball Tour

Rachel Wacholder Scott attacks the net in Hermosa Beach

The AVP volleyball tour has its share of partnerships
and break ups and some are for trying new chemistry
and other times it is for starting a family.

Womens AVP star Rachel Wacholder took off a majority
of the 2009 tour to have a baby and start a family.

Rachel Scott is getting back in form on the 2010 AVP Tour

Coming back is always tough especially in one of the toughest
and most competitive volleyball leagues in the world especially
when you have to start with a new partner and establish a
chemistry for winning.

Elaine Youngs and Rachel Scott one of the top womens volleyball teams

Last week in Hermosa Beach Rachel and partner Elaine Youngs
made it to the finals and started showing that they will be one
of the top women teams on the AVP tour in 2010 and beyond.

Rachel Wacholder Scott

Rachel Scott, (formerly Rachel Wacholder) is married to AVP
mans pro Sean Scott and the pair both make sure that in addition
to being pros on the court they also spend a serious amount
of time working out and training off the court.

Rachel Scott - one of the sexiest women on the AVP Tour

Rachel Scott has always been known as one of the sexiest
women and swimsuit models on the AVP Tour and now
her fans and followers can expect to start seeing her on
the courts playing on Sundays as one of the top teams 
competing on the sand courts of Southern California.

Rachel Scott sends a spike over the net in Hermosa Beach

Rachels bio goes as follows:

Rachel Scott and Elaine Youngs having fun on the 2010 AVP tour

Scott and Elaine Youngs won three tournaments during the 2005
season: the Cincinnati Open, the Huntington Beach Open and the
Boulder Open. In winning the AVP Cincinnati Open, Scott and 
Youngs put a halt to the 50-match win streak held by Misty May-Treanor
and Kerri Walsh. The win in Boulder was special as well, as it happened
in her college town and on the same day her then-boyfriend Sean Scott
won the men’s title.

Rachel Scott in Hermosa Beach

 

 

 

 

In 2006, Scott and Youngs claimed two more titles before parting ways.
Playing with Jennifer Kessy, the duo made it to a pair of finals and four
semifinals in total. Scott was chosen by Walsh in the Goddess of the Beach
tournament in September 2006 to be her partner in the finals, helping Walsh
win her first individual title. In 2007, Scott and Tyra Turner paired up to form
the fourth-ranked team on tour.

 

Rachel Wacholder Scott

Scott and Turner advanced to five semifinals in 2008, including winning
the title in San Diego. Internationally the duo won two silver medals on
the FIVB Tour.  Scott missed most of the 2009 season due to her pregnancy.

Rachel Scott back at the top on the AVP tour

Check out more photos and coverage of Rachel Scott on the 2010 AVP Tour
on the SoCal Beaches Magazine website in addition to the AVP website
links below

www.socalbeachmag.net

www.avp.com

Rachel Scott digs a shot on the AVP tour

More Rachel Scott bio information at:
http://www.bvbinfo.com/player.asp?ID=1213 

Rachel Scott sends a serve over in Hermosa Beach

SoCal Beaches Magazine

Covering the Beaches of San Diego and Southern California! 

 

   

 

 

Rachel Scott sends a serve over in Hermosa Beach

SoCal Beaches Magazine

Covering the Beaches of San Diego and Southern California!   

 

 

 

  

LOS ANGELES, Calif. (August 8, 2009) – Elaine Youngs and Nicole Branagh captured the women’s title Saturday at the AVP Crocs Slam Bud Light Hermosa Beach Open presented by Virgin America, securing their seventh victory in 10 tournaments this season on the professional beach volleyball tour.

Youngs and Branagh, the top-seeded team, beat second-seeded Jennifer Kessy and April Ross, 19-21, 23-21, 15-11 in the final to win their second straight tournament. Kessy and Ross are the recently crowned world champions.

“Winning in Manhattan was a huge deal, and also Hermosa,” Branagh said. “This is where we train, so this is our home beach. Huntington, Manhattan and Hermosa – we won all three of those events, and I’m elated.”

Two-time Olympic gold medalist Kerri Walsh and partner Rachel Wacholder finished tied for fifth, both playing in their first tournament this year after sitting out most of the season to start families.

 The top-seeded men’s team of Phil Dalhausser and Todd Rogers moved on unscathed into the semifinals. After winning twice Friday, Dalhausser and Rogers beat eighth-seeded Ty Loomis and Casey Patterson, 21-17, 21-14 on Saturday morning. They toppled fourth-seeded Matt Olson and Kevin Wong, 21-19, 21-14 to advance to the semis. Dalhassuer and Rogers have won four times on tour this season and are aiming for an unprecedented fourth straight Hermosa Beach Open title. 

The men’s semifinals will be broadcast live Sunday on Universal Sports at 10:30 a.m. PDT, while the men’s final will be broadcast live on NBC Sports at 1:30 p.m. PDT.

Walsh’s fifth-place finish in the women’s draw marked the first time in 80 career AVP events that she hadn’t advanced to the semifinals. Walsh’s regular partner, Misty May-Treanor, with whom she’s partnered to win 99 events and two gold medals, is taking the entire 2009 season off from competition after suffering an Achilles’ tendon injury participating on the TV show “Dancing With the Stars.”

The AVP Crocs Slam Bud Light Hermosa Beach Open presented by Virgin America is taking place on the north side of the Hermosa Beach Pier in Hermosa Beach, Calif.

For more information on the AVP Crocs Tour, please visit www.avp.com.

Rachel Wacholder celebrated her fisrt match back with Kerry Walsh since both having babies

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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.

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