Manhattan Beach Open: Patterson, Budinger reach semifinal

2 years ago 306
  • Olympic golden medalists April Ross and Alix Klineman triumph their opening lucifer astatine the AVP Manhattan Beach Open against Falyn Fonoimoana and Geena Urango successful 3 sets connected Friday, August 20, 2021. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)

  • Olympic golden medalists April Ross and Alix Klineman triumph their opening lucifer astatine the AVP Manhattan Beach Open against Falyn Fonoimoana and Geena Urango successful 3 sets connected Friday, August 20, 2021. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)

  • Tina Graudiner and Megan Kraft play against Kelly Claes and Sarah Sponcil astatine the AVP Manhattan Beach Open connected Saturday, August 21, 2021. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)

  • Sarah Sponcil digs for the shot successful her triumph with Kelly Claes against Tina Graudiner and Megan Kraft astatine the AVP Manhattan Beach Open connected Saturday, August 21, 2021. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)

  • Sarah Sponcil digs for the shot successful her triumph with Kelly Claes against Tina Graudiner and Megan Kraft astatine the AVP Manhattan Beach Open connected Saturday, August 21, 2021. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)

  • Kelly Claes and Sarah Sponcil triumph against Tina Graudiner and Megan Kraft astatine the AVP Manhattan Beach Open connected Saturday, August 21, 2021. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)

  • Chase Budinger misses a artifact against Ricardo Santos astatine the AVP Manhattan Beach Open connected Saturday, August 21, 2021. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)

  • Casey Patterson is astatine the nett against John Hyden and Ricardo Santos astatine the AVP Manhattan Beach Open connected Saturday, August 21, 2021. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)

  • Casey Patterson gets past a artifact by Ricardo Santos astatine the AVP Manhattan Beach Open connected Saturday, August 21, 2021. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)

  • Casey Patterson and Chase Budinger triumph against John Hyden and Ricardo Santos astatine the AVP Manhattan Beach Open connected Saturday, August 21, 2021. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)

  • Casey Patterson digs for the shot with Chase Budinger successful their triumph against John Hyden and Ricardo Santos astatine the AVP Manhattan Beach Open connected Saturday, August 21, 2021. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)

  • Chase Budinger wins the extremity astatine the nett against John Hyden astatine the AVP Manhattan Beach Open connected Saturday, August 21, 2021. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)

  • Cloudy skies astatine the AVP Manhattan Beach Open connected Saturday, August 21, 2021. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)

  • Casey Patterson is astatine the nett against John Hyden and Ricardo Santos astatine the AVP Manhattan Beach Open connected Saturday, August 21, 2021. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)

  • Tri Bourne serves successful a crippled with Trevor Crabb against Paul Lotman and Miles Partain astatine the AVP Manhattan Beach Open connected Saturday, August 21, 2021. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)

  • Trevor Crabb and Tri Bourne triumph against Paul Lotman and Miles Partain astatine the AVP Manhattan Beach Open connected Saturday, August 21, 2021. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)

  • Tri Bourne serves successful a crippled with Trevor Crabb against Paul Lotman and Miles Partain astatine the AVP Manhattan Beach Open connected Saturday, August 21, 2021. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)

  • Trevor Crabb and Tri Bourne triumph against Paul Lotman and Miles Partain astatine the AVP Manhattan Beach Open connected Saturday, August 21, 2021. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)

  • Trevor Crabb and Tri Bourne triumph against Paul Lotman and Miles Partain astatine the AVP Manhattan Beach Open connected Saturday, August 21, 2021. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)

  • Trevor Crabb and Tri Bourne triumph against Paul Lotman and Miles Partain astatine the AVP Manhattan Beach Open connected Saturday, August 21, 2021. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)

  • Tri Bourne tis the shot successful a crippled with Trevor Crabb against Paul Lotman and Miles Partain astatine the AVP Manhattan Beach Open connected Saturday, August 21, 2021. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)

  • Trevor Crabb and Tri Bourne triumph against Paul Lotman and Miles Partain astatine the AVP Manhattan Beach Open connected Saturday, August 21, 2021. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)

  • Tri Bourne blocks successful a crippled with Trevor Crabb against Paul Lotman and Miles Partain astatine the AVP Manhattan Beach Open connected Saturday, August 21, 2021. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)

  • Tri Bourne reacts to a constituent successful a crippled with Trevor Crabb against Paul Lotman and Miles Partain astatine the AVP Manhattan Beach Open connected Saturday, August 21, 2021. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)

  • Trevor Crabb and Tri Bourne triumph against Paul Lotman and Miles Partain astatine the AVP Manhattan Beach Open connected Saturday, August 21, 2021. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)

  • Trevor Crabb digs for the shot successful a triumph with Tri Bourne against Paul Lotman and Miles Partain astatine the AVP Manhattan Beach Open connected Saturday, August 21, 2021. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)

  • April Ross and Alix Klineman triumph against Brandi Wilkerson and Sarah Hughes for the semifinal astatine the AVP Manhattan Beach Open connected Saturday, August 21, 2021. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)

  • April Ross and Alix Klineman triumph against Brandi Wilkerson and Sarah Hughes for the semifinal astatine the AVP Manhattan Beach Open connected Saturday, August 21, 2021. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)

  • Tokyo 2020 athletics golden medalists April Ross and Alix Klineman are honored by Manhattan Beach Mayor Susan Hadley during the AVP Manhattan Beach Open connected Saturday, August 21, 2021. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)

  • April Ross and Alix Klineman triumph against Brandi Wilkerson and Sarah Hughes for the semifinal astatine the AVP Manhattan Beach Open connected Saturday, August 21, 2021. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)

  • Tokyo 2020 athletics golden medalists April Ross and Alix Klineman are honored by Manhattan Beach Mayor Susan Hadley during the AVP Manhattan Beach Open connected Saturday, August 21, 2021. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)

  • Tokyo 2020 athletics golden medalists April Ross and Alix Klineman are honored by Manhattan Beach Mayor Susan Hadley during the AVP Manhattan Beach Open connected Saturday, August 21, 2021. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)

  • Tokyo 2020 athletics golden medalists April Ross and Alix Klineman are honored by Manhattan Beach Mayor Susan Hadley during the AVP Manhattan Beach Open connected Saturday, August 21, 2021. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)

  • Tokyo 2020 athletics golden medalists April Ross and Alix Klineman are honored by Manhattan Beach Mayor Susan Hadley during the AVP Manhattan Beach Open connected Saturday, August 21, 2021. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)

  • Tokyo 2020 athletics golden medalists April Ross and Alix Klineman autograph volleyballs during the AVP Manhattan Beach Open connected Saturday, August 21, 2021. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)

  • Alix Klineman poses for a selfie with Bailey Cowling, left, Tiara Hursey and Cameron Jackson during the AVP Manhattan Beach Open connected Saturday, August 21, 2021. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)

  • April Ross and Alix Klineman triumph against Brandi Wilkerson and Sarah Hughes for the semifinal astatine the AVP Manhattan Beach Open connected Saturday, August 21, 2021. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)

  • Tokyo 2020 athletics golden medalist Alix Klineman shows her medal to James and Charlie Heatley during the AVP Manhattan Beach Open connected Saturday, August 21, 2021. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)

  • April Ross and Alix Klineman triumph against Brandi Wilkerson and Sarah Hughes for the semifinal astatine the AVP Manhattan Beach Open connected Saturday, August 21, 2021. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)

  • April Ross digs for the shot during her triumph with Alix Klineman against Brandi Wilkerson and Sarah Hughes for the semifinal astatine the AVP Manhattan Beach Open connected Saturday, August 21, 2021. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)

  • April Ross digs for the shot during her triumph with Alix Klineman against Brandi Wilkerson and Sarah Hughes for the semifinal astatine the AVP Manhattan Beach Open connected Saturday, August 21, 2021. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)

  • April Ross digs for the shot during her triumph with Alix Klineman against Brandi Wilkerson and Sarah Hughes for the semifinal astatine the AVP Manhattan Beach Open connected Saturday, August 21, 2021. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)

  • April Ross and Alix Klineman triumph against Brandi Wilkerson and Sarah Hughes for the semifinal astatine the AVP Manhattan Beach Open connected Saturday, August 21, 2021. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)

  • Alix Klineman digs for the shot during a triumph with April Ross against Brandi Wilkerson and Sarah Hughes for the semifinal astatine the AVP Manhattan Beach Open connected Saturday, August 21, 2021. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)

  • Sarah Hughes digs for the shot successful a crippled with Brandi Wilkerson against Alix Klineman and April Ross for the semifinal astatine the AVP Manhattan Beach Open connected Saturday, August 21, 2021. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)

  • April Ross serves the shot during her triumph with Alix Klineman against Brandi Wilkerson and Sarah Hughes for the semifinal astatine the AVP Manhattan Beach Open connected Saturday, August 21, 2021. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)

  • Brandi Wilkerson is bushed astatine the nett by Alix Klineman during a crippled with Sarah Hughes for the semifinal astatine the AVP Manhattan Beach Open connected Saturday, August 21, 2021. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)

  • Brandi Wilkerson digs for the shot successful a crippled with Sarah Hughes against Alix Klineman and April Ross for the semifinal astatine the AVP Manhattan Beach Open connected Saturday, August 21, 2021. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)

  • Sarah Hughes digs for the shot successful a crippled with Brandi Wilkerson against Alix Klineman and April Ross for the semifinal astatine the AVP Manhattan Beach Open connected Saturday, August 21, 2021. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)

  • Sarah Hughes digs for the shot successful a crippled with Brandi Wilkerson against Alix Klineman and April Ross for the semifinal astatine the AVP Manhattan Beach Open connected Saturday, August 21, 2021. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)

  • Brandi Wilkerson digs for the shot successful a crippled with Sarah Hughes against Alix Klineman and April Ross for the semifinal astatine the AVP Manhattan Beach Open connected Saturday, August 21, 2021. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)

  • April Ross and Alix Klineman triumph against Brandi Wilkerson and Sarah Hughes for the semifinal astatine the AVP Manhattan Beach Open connected Saturday, August 21, 2021. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)

  • Casey Patterson and Chase Budinger triumph against John Hyden and Ricardo Santos astatine the AVP Manhattan Beach Open connected Saturday, August 21, 2021. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)

  • Alix Klineman digs for the shot during a triumph with April Ross against Brandi Wilkerson and Sarah Hughes for the semifinal astatine the AVP Manhattan Beach Open connected Saturday, August 21, 2021. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)

It’s been a twelvemonth since the AVP Gold Series has stopped successful Southern California, and Casey Patterson and Chase Budinger made up for the mislaid action.

Their Saturday AVP Manhattan Beach Open quarterfinals lucifer against Tokyo Olympian Tri Bourne and teammate Trevor Crabb featured 4 blockers, and 1 heated rivalry.

When No. 4-seeded Bourne and Crabb keyed successful connected assertive attacks to triumph the archetypal set, No. 2-seeded Patterson and Budinger matched their gait successful the second.

“Chase decided to conscionable occurrence backmost and spot however that would respond for america due to the fact that we’ve ne'er truly done that and it worked truly well,” Patterson said. “It got maine ace fired up to similar play again, erstwhile you benignant of bark backmost astatine them. Because they’re constantly, perpetually talking trash.”

Patterson and Budinger won the 2nd set, 21-17, with Budinger utilizing his vertical scope for timely kills and blocks to unit a 3rd set. The tandem went connected a six-point tally to adjacent retired the 3rd set, 15-9, ending it connected a Patterson kill.

Patterson logged 24 kills and 12 digs successful the contest, portion Budinger had 12 kills and 4 blocks.

“You’ve conscionable got to broadside retired truly good and past erstwhile you person opportunities, you’ve got to capitalize,” Budinger, a erstwhile NBA player, said. “Every clip you person a accidental to person a existent constituent disconnected a serve, it’s truly important, truthful you person to enactment each your attraction to that and, you know, we did a bully occupation with that successful the 2nd half.”

Also heading to the semifinals are Olympic golden medalists Alix Klineman and April Ross, who won some Saturday’s matches successful consecutive sets. Emily Day and Betsi Flint volition vie successful Sunday’s 2nd semifinals match.

For the men, Theo Brunner and Chaim Schalk volition vie successful the semifinals.

Flint backmost to form

Betsi Flint whitethorn person had a babe six months ago, but motherhood hasn’t stopped her from getting into playing signifier for the AVP Manhattan Beach Open.

She and teammate Emily Day, the No. 3 seed, bushed No. 2-seeded Kelly Claes and Sarah Sponcil successful consecutive sets connected Saturday afternoon. Flint’s six-month-old daughter, Cora, was successful attendance and wearing headphones to artifact retired assemblage noise.

“Postpartum is nary joke,” Flint said. “And it’s taken clip and patience for myself to get backmost to wherever I privation to beryllium and I consciousness similar I’m yet similar playing well. It’s amusive to play with Emily due to the fact that I played with her earlier I was pregnant, truthful it feels similar I ne'er left.”

Flint and Day, some LMU products, faced a pugnacious duo successful Tokyo Games athletes Claes and Sponcil. After winning the archetypal acceptable 21-17, Flint and Day went connected to triumph the 2nd set, 21-19 for a travel to the semifinals.

“We watched movie and we conscionable had a crippled program for each player,” Day said. “And if we weren’t gonna execute 1 well, we could power to the other. But fig 1 was serving tough.”

Benesh and Allen upset Gibbs and Crabb

Andy Benesh has watched Jake Gibbs connected movie endlessly. On Saturday, helium was watching him successful existent beingness arsenic helium lined up against him connected the Manhattan Beach sands.

“I effort not to fanboy,” Benesh said. “I’ve watched him truthful galore times connected film, like, learning from him. He’s specified a astute block, I deliberation 1 of the smartest blockers of each time. I’ve tried to bargain from his game, truthful it’s truly chill to beryllium capable to look it and spot it live.”

Not lone did Benesh get to play Gibbs, helium bushed him. No. 10-seeded Benesh and teammate Billy Allen took down No. 2-seed Gibbs and Taylor Crabb, 2-1, successful a lucifer that featured a 3rd acceptable with 13 acceptable constituent situations.

After dropping the archetypal acceptable 12-21, Benesh and Allen rallied to triumph the second, 21-18, with a small much rhythm. They took the third, 16-14, erstwhile Allen tipped the ball.

“We got smashed the archetypal game, and the extremity aft that was conscionable like, let’s fight, marque it a adjacent one,” Benesh, who, on with the lawsuit emcee, was 1 of the lone CSUN alums present.

“And past erstwhile we deed the freeze, we’re down by a few, we conscionable kept siding out. It felt truly good. I’m a small amazed still, but it was large to adjacent it out.”

Trojans abound

USC volleyball players could beryllium spotted each astir the Manhattan Beach sands, particularly successful a greeting lucifer betwixt Kelly Claes and Sarah Sponcil and Megan Kraft and Tina Graudina.

Kraft and Graudina are existent USC student-athletes and reigning nationalist champions, portion Claes graduated successful 2017 arsenic a nationalist champion. Sponcil was the lone UCLA merchandise successful the match.

“I’d accidental it’s precise strong,” said Kraft of USC formation volleyball. “And it’s getting stronger. Everyone that goes to USC has the quality to play pro if they privation to, which is truly cool. I deliberation They conscionable hole america truthful good to play against teams similar this and we person the quality to get amended and amended astatine USC.”

Claes and Sponcil, who are coming disconnected a Tokyo Olympics appearance, bushed the existent Trojans successful consecutive sets (21-13, 21-19) successful the winner’s bracket.

Graudina, who represented Latvia successful the Tokyo Games, is competing successful her archetypal AVP lawsuit astatine the Manhattan Beach Open.

“I haven’t truly had the clip to reset. I’ve been going nonstop since Tokyo, but this lawsuit is precise different, emotionally and mentally for me,” Graudina said. “I’ve heard astir AVP since I was little. This is like, the lawsuit that truthful galore different planetary players privation to get into.”

Read Entire Article