May-Treanor, partner prevail

BROOKLYN, N.Y. — When Newport Harbor High product Misty May-Treanor and partner Kerri Walsh reach the women’s championship match of an Assn. of Volleyball Professionals tour event, you can usually, as the Brooklyn natives say, “Fuhgetaboutdit.”

That was indeed the case Sunday, as May-Treanor and Walsh handled Elaine Youngs and Nicole Branagh, 21-18, 21-16, to win their 11th AVP title in 13 tournament appearances this season.

The victory also avenged a 15-21, 21-19, 16-14 loss to Youngs and Branagh at the previous week’s Boston Open.

“We love New York,” May-Treanor said in a statement after the match. “Now, I can go have my [Nathan’s] hot dog.”

It was the third straight time the two teams had met in an AVP final, as May-Treanor and Walsh also won the Manhattan Beach event earlier this month.

No. 1-seeded May-Treanor and Walsh did not lose a match in the event. They defeated No. 5-seeded April Ross, another Newport Harbor product, and her partner, Jen Boss, 21-11, 21-12, in Sunday morning’s semifinals.

No. 2-seeded Branagh and Youngs, who have three AVP titles this season, defeated No. 4-seeded Annett Davis and Jenny Johnson Jordan, 21-11, 30-28, in the other semifinal.

In the final, May-Treanor and Walsh opened a 12-5 lead in Game 1, but Branagh and Youngs rallied to pull within 16-15.

The preeminent team on the beach, however, upped the lead to 19-15 and went on to secure the opening game.

In the second game, May-Treanor and Walsh were up, 13-10, before a Walsh block and a Walsh ace between the two defenders, helped the winners pull away and earn the sweep.

May-Treanor and Walsh split the $28,000 first prize, while Ross and Boss divide $13,300 for finishing tied for third.

May-Treanor led the tournament in hitting percentage, converting 101 kills in 159 attempts with only seven errors for a .591 clip.

Walsh led all competitors with 22 blocks in 12 games, including six in the final, while Ross led all players with 23 aces in 16 games.

Phil Dalhausser and Todd Rogers won their fourth straight men’s title Saturday.

The tour continues this week in Cincinnati, which marks the end of the regular season. Two additional events will be held later for the top individuals and the top teams, respectively.

— From staff reports