Briefs

May-Treanor wins

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Misty May-Treanor and first-time partner Nicole Branagh won the season-opening Assn. of Volleyball Professionals event Sunday.

May-Treanor, a former Newport Harbor High star, teamed with Branagh to top No. 6-seeded Angie Akers and Tyra Turner, 21-14, 21-17, in the title match.

Newport Harbor alumna April Ross, who along with Jen Kessy formed the No. 2 seeded entry, was upset in the semifinals and finished tied for third.

May-Treanor and Branagh split $20,000, while Ross and Kessy divide $9,500.

The mens final was rained out, allowing Estancia High product Matt Fuerbringer to claim a share of the title.

Fuerbringer, the No. 5 seed along with Nick Lucena, were scheduled to meet top-seeded Phil Dalhausser and Todd Rodgers, before weather intervened.

Fuerbringer and Lucena split $17,500.

Costa Mesa resident Jake Gibb and partner Sean Rosenthal of Corona del Mar, finished tied for ninth in the men’s event.

The AVP Tour’s next stop is Santa Barbara, April 29 through May 2.

— From staff reports

OCC’s Fields to LMU

Orange Coast College sophomore middle blocker Briana Fields, who helped the Pirates win the 2009 state championship, will continue her women’s volleyball career at Loyola Marymount University, Pirates Coach Chuck Cutenese announced Monday.

Fields twice shared MVP honors for the Pirates and was a two-time All-Orange Empire Conference performer. She was an All-American as a freshman outside hitter and also made the all-state tournament squad in 2008.

Her 582 career kills rank fourth in OCC annals. She hit .365 as a sophomore and .413 as a freshman.

As a sophomore, she had 304 kills, 127 digs and 58 total blocks to help OCC go 26-3.

— From staff reports