May-Treanor collects title

ARLINGTON, Texas — Newport Harbor High product Misty May-Treanor and partner Kerri Walsh defeated Nicole Branagh and Elaine Youngs, 21-14, 21-19, in the final Sunday to win the Assn. of Volleyball Professionals Cuervo Gold Crown Dallas Open at the Ballpark in Arlington.

The win avenged a 21-19, 21-19 loss to Branagh-Youngs in the semifinals of the season-opening Miami Open last week. Branagh and Youngs went on to win that event.

May-Treanor and Walsh, who won the final seven events of the 2006 AVP season, have not gone consecutive weeks without winning an AVP tour event since 2004.

The top-seeded duo, the AVP Team of the Year the last four seasons, split the $20,000 first prize.

The tour’s next event is the Huntington Beach Open, May 3-6.