Ross bested in women’s final

MIAMI — A Newport Harbor High product reached the women’s final of the Cuervo Gold Crown Miami Open — the opener of the 2007 Assn. of Volleyball Professionals tour on Sunday — but it might not be the one most people expected.

Former Sailors’ star April Ross, the AVP Rookie of the Year last season when she finished no higher than ninth place, teamed with Jennifer Boss to reach the title match, before falling, 21-19, 21-15, to Nicole Branagh and Elaine Youngs.

Branagh and Youngs defeated Newport Harbor product Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh, 21-19, 21-19, in the semifinals earlier Sunday.

The semifinal loss broke a seven-tournament AVP winning streak for May-Treanor and Walsh, who won 36 straight matches to end the 2006 beach volleyball campaign. May-Treanor and Walsh, who have been named AVP Team of the Year the last four seasons, won 13 of 15 AVP tournaments last season.

Costa Mesa resident Jake Gibb teamed with Sean Rosenthal to reach the men’s final. But they lost, 21-14, 21-19, to Phil Dalhausser and Todd Rogers, who shared the $20,000 first prize.

Costa Mesa resident Mike Lambert, who along with Stein Metzger was the No. 1 seeded team, lost to Dalhausser and Rogers, 21-14, 21-19, in the semifinals earlier Sunday. They shared $9.500.

Ross, who played with Keo Burdine last season, nearly equaled her AVP career earnings by collecting her half of the $15,000 runner-up purse. The 6-foot-1 Ross, 24, who earned national player of the year honors at Newport Harbor and USC, made $7,787.50 on the beach last season.

Estancia High product Matt Fuerbringer and partner Sean Scott shared 13th place ($1,700), in the men’s event, in which former Newport Harbor setter Ty Tramblie teamed with Mike Morrison to share 17th ($800).

The tour continues with the Dallas Open, another Cuervo Gold Crown event, Thursday through Sunday at the Ballpark in Arlington.