Edison grad, partner, come up short in Germany

Kari Pestolesi (Huntington Beach) and partner Olivia Waldowski (Irvine) were eliminated July 5 from the 2008 World University Beach Volleyball Championships in Hamburg, Germany.

Pestolesi, formerly of Edison High and now an outside hitter at UC Irvine, and Waldowski finished in 17th place. The duo, representing Team USA, began the tournament on July 3 with impressive wins over Spain and Japan.

Pestolesi, 19, and Waldowski, 26, the youngest Team USA tandem, were playing in their first international beach tournament.

Pestolesi was selected the 2007 West Region American Volleyball Coaches Assn. Division I West Region Freshman of the Year in her first year at UC Irvine. She led the Anteaters in kills and digs last fall en route to being named Big West Freshman of the Year.

Pestolesi is Edison’s career leader in kills, digs and service aces.

— Mike Sciacca