Top seeds at the AVP Hermosa Beach Pro Open faced different paths this year as they navigated through a double-elimination tournament filled with upsets. The stakes were high for both the men’s and women’s top-seeded teams, as they fought to secure their spots in the semifinals.
In the women’s division, the top-seeded team of Hailey Harward and Kelley Kolinske faced an upset in the second round when they were defeated by the ninth-seeded duo of Brook Bauer and Katie Horton. Despite the loss, Harward and Kolinske still had a chance to make it to the semifinals, but their journey became more challenging. Instead of needing to win just one quarterfinal match to secure a final four berth, they now had to win three contenders’ bracket elimination matches to advance.
Bauer and Horton, after their upset victory, were set to face the 13th-seeded pair of Megan Rice and Savannah Simo in their next match. Rice and Simo had their own success, outlasting the 12th-seeded duo of Macy Jerger and Megan Rice in a tough second-round battle.
Meanwhile, in the men’s division, the top-seeded duo of Chaim Schalk and Tri Bourne had a smoother path, avoiding any missteps with two straight 2-0 victories. They advanced to the quarterfinals and were set to face the 12th-seeded team of Billy Allen and Alison Cerutti. Allen and Cerutti secured their spot in the quarterfinals with a win over the fourth-seeded duo of Chase Budinger and Miles Evans.
The second-seeded pair of Theo Brunner and Trevor Crabb, as well as the third-seeded team of Taylor Crabb and Taylor Sander, also started their tournament with two wins each and were scheduled to face each other in the quarterfinals.
Schalk, who won the Hermosa Open last year with Brunner, expressed his love for playing in Hermosa and his desire to repeat the victory. Schalk, a former Red Deer College indoor volleyball champion, has transitioned to beach volleyball full-time and participated in the 2016 Rio Olympics.
His partner, Bourne, also has Olympic experience, having teamed up with four-time Olympian Jake Gibb to finish ninth at the 2020 Tokyo Games. Schalk praised Bourne’s motivation and dedication to taking care of himself, emphasizing the importance of a strong partnership.
For Harward and Kolinske, playing in the Hermosa Beach Open was a homecoming as they both have ties to the area. Harward earned All-American honors while playing for USC’s beach volleyball program, while Kolinske had success at Pepperdine University.
Despite a gritty first-round match against the UCLA duo of Devon Newberry and Jaden Whitmarsh, Harward and Kolinske showcased their experience and determination, ultimately securing the win. Kolinske acknowledged the pressure of being a top seed but expressed confidence in their team and welcomed the challenge.
The quarterfinal losers in both the men’s and women’s divisions still had a chance to reach the semifinals through the contenders’ bracket. Ultimately, the finals for both divisions were scheduled for Sunday afternoon.
The AVP Hermosa Beach Pro Open provided thrilling matches and unexpected results as top seeds faced different paths on their journey to the semifinals. The tournament was a true test of skill, perseverance, and the ability to overcome obstacles on the sandy courts of Hermosa Beach.
