Gibb not denied, May-Treanor wins again

TAMPA, Fla. — After losing in the men’s final match five different times this season, Jake Gibb and Sean Rosenthal finally had something to be happy about Sunday.

Gibb, who lives in Costa Mesa, and Rosenthal, won their first Assn. of Volleyball Professionals tournament this season at the Tampa Open. They defeated Karch Kiraly and Kevin Wong 21-18, 21-17.

It was Gibb’s eighth career win and Rosenthal’s fifth, and the pair stopped Kiraly from picking up his 149th victory, which would have extended his all-time record.

Kiraly and Wong defeated the pair that’s dominated this season’s tour in the semifinal match. Phil Dalhausser and Todd Rogers, who have five tournament championships out of seven tourneys this season, lost 21-14, 21-19.

Gibb and Rosenthal moved past Estancia High alumnus Matt Fuerbringer and Sean Scott in their semifinal match, winning 20-22, 24-22, 15-11.

Newport Harbor High product Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh continued with their winning ways, defeating Elaine Youngs and Nicole Branaugh 21-19, 21-15 for their sixth win of the season.

May Treanor and Walsh’s only loss came at the hands of Youngs and Branaugh at the tour opener in Miami.

Walsh now has 72 career wins, tying her with May-Treanor’s former partner, Holly McPeak. May-Treanor sits atop the women’s all-time win list for tournaments with 75.

May--Treanor and Walsh (35-2) have only played to a third set four times in 35 wins, including once this weekend.

May-Treanor and Walsh defeated Annett Davis and Jenny Jordan in the semifinal, 21-18, 25-27, 15-9.

In the other semifinal, Youngs and Branagh beat Dianne DeNecochea and Barbra Fontana, 21-14, 21-12.

The AVP tour continues next weekend to Atlanta.

It will be in Long Beach July 19-22.

— From staff reports