CIVIC COUCH Special Edition

AVP Hermosa BeachA L L I M A G E S B Y I A N LO G A N

Images from

CIVIC COUCH

MENS

Reigning Olympic beach vol-leyball gold medalists Phil Dalhausser and Todd Rogers won the AVP NIVEA Tour Her-mosa Beach Open Presented by Bud Light Lime on Sun-day, becoming the first team – men’s or women’s – to win the event in five consecutive years.

WOMENS

Jennifer Kessy and April Ross won the women’s title, securing their fourth straight victory this season on the AVP Tour.

Kessy and Ross, also seeded first, beat third-seeded Elaine Youngs and Rachel Scott, 21-17, 21-14, in Sun-day’s final.

Spike For Hope

The “Spike for Hope” Celebrity Beach match featured AVP pros play-ing alongside celebs like boxer Evander Holyfield, Brittany Snow and Lance Bass on Saturday.

34

CONTENTS

On The Cover:Phil Dalhausser

Photo Credit: Ian Logan

{Contributors}_______________________Valerie BuckThe AVP Nivea Pro Beach Volleyball tour is a quintessential part of the South Bay summer. It’s a window into the community and beach culture - with the majority of players and fans all having ties to the beach cities. Its home-grown heroes like Olympian Sean Rosenthal who literally began playing not on the indoor courts so common now among the top teams, but on 8th Street in Hermosa Beach, are revered as demi-gods, but more accessible than any other sports’ athletes. Unlike other professional sports, much of the matches are free to the general public, and retain the traditional culture of folks walking down to the beach, setting out a towel and watching world class talent battle it out less than 10 feet away. The tour has suffered from well documented struggles in the past, but seems to be headed in the right direction under the guidance of CEO Jason Hodell and Commissioner Mike Dodd. The addition of Nivea, the world’s larget skin care company provided a much needed boost and makeover and Dodd’s addition provides a valu-able liaison between the players and tour brass. The tour returns to the South Bay in August with two remaining scheduled stops in the South Bay, including the vaunted Manhattan Open - considered to be the Wimbeldon of beach volleyball. It’s an experience not to be missed!

Ian LoganAfter having shot the Olympics, the X-Games, surfing and other various athletes and their respective sports, you might be surprised to learn that I have never been to an AVP Tournament, a premier event that happens literally in my back yard. Where else can you see Olympic champions battle it out while you sit within 10 feet of them and also watch the new and upcoming contenders.

My goal in photographing the AVP tournament was to try and get a visual record of the excitement of being there and the athleticism of the players.

I hope you enjoy the photographs as much as I enjoyed taking them.

CIVIC COUCH

FEB / MARCH 4 CIVIC COUCH

MENSby Valerie Buck

The AVP tour made its first of three planned South Bay stops this past weekend with the AVP Nivea Tour Hermosa Beach Open Presented by Bud Light Lime. Phil Dalhausser and Todd Rogers continued their domination of the tour, dropping only a single game of their five matches. The duo, undefeated this season, won the Hermosa Open for a record fifth consecutive title – an unprecedented feat. The only surprise was who they faced in the final, the 13th-seeded John Mayer and Matt Prosser, the lowest seed to advance to a final yet this season. Prosser/Mayer upset local favorites Sean Rosenthal and Jake Gibb seeded 4th and 5th seed Aaron Wachtfogel /Will Strickland on Saturday. Sunday started with a loss to Dahlhauss-er/Rogers and a trip to the Contenders bracket upsetting 2nd seed team of John Hyden and Sean Scott and facing off against the 10th seeded Jeff Nygaard / Matt Olson to face Dahlhausser/Rogers again. The underdog matchup created a new twist to a final that is becoming nothing if not predictable.

Todd Rogers Phil Dalhausser

CIVIC COUCH

CIVIC COUCH

FEB / MARCH 8 CIVIC COUCH

CIVIC COUCH

CIVIC COUCH

WOMENSby Valerie Buck

On the Women’s side top seed Jen Kessy and April trounced third-seeded Elaine Youngs and Rachel Scott, 21-17, 21-14, to win their fourth consecutive title of the season. They also lost just one game in five matches proving that the ladies top seed can also mow down a field of contenders just like the men. The only new wrinkle was the return of Kerri Walsh, however it wasn’t to the tour field, but to the new AVP NIVEA 4-Woman Series presented by NIKE. The two stop series will also be included in this weekend’s Long Beach event. A legends format includes the return of model Gabrielle Reece leading Team NIKE, and retired AVP stars Leanne McSor-ley (Team Bud Light Lime and Team Malibu Rum), Nancy (Mason) Reynolds (Team Paul Mitchell), and Lisa Zimmerman (Team NIVEA).

FEB / MARCH 15 CIVIC COUCH

CIVIC COUCH

SPIKE FOR HOPEby Valerie Buck

Those matches along with many of the other top seeds were showcase in the free feature courts debut of the tour’s new layout and “sponsor village” format. The Sponsor Village and feature courts smack at the entrance in the “free to the pub-lic“ section injected new excitement to the tour as did the presence of top names playing on those courts, a shrewd move by tour organizers. That buzz carried through to Sunday with a sellout of tickets Sunday, with a capacity of over 4000. The new design was a part of the tour’s rebranding efforts and redesign for title sponsor Nivea, added shortly before the season began, creating a new look for everything from the tents to the website. Another feature making its return was the “Spike for Hope” Celebrity Beach match featuring AVP pros playing alongside celebs like boxer Evander Holyfield, Brittany Snow and Lance Bass on Saturday

Photo by Scott Gorski

Parting ShotDid they get it right? Casey Jennings is looking for answers.

AVP Remaining Schedule

07/24 - 07/25 | Long Beach, CAAVP NIVEA TOUR LONG BEACH OPEN PRESENTED BY MALIBU RUM

Marina Green Park

08/14 - 08/15 | San Francisco, CAAVP NIVEA TOUR SAN FRANCISCO OPEN PRESENTED BY BAREFOOT WINE

AT&T Park -- Parking Lot A

08/19 - 08/22 | Manhattan Beach, CAAVP NIVEA TOUR MANHATTAN BEACH OPEN PRESENTED BY BUD LIGHT LIME

South Side of Manhattan Beach Pier

08/27 - 08/29 | Chicago, ILAVP NIVEA TOUR KENTUCKY GRILLED CHICKEN CHICAGO TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP

Oak Street Beach

09/3 - 09/5 | Cincinnati, OHAVP NIVEA TOUR CINCINNATI TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS

Hahana Beach (West of the Newtown Bridge)

09/17 - 09/19 | Hermosa Beach, CAAVP NIVEA TOUR HERMOSA BEACH INVITATIONAL

North Side of Hermosa Beach Pier

For more information visit: www.avp.com

CIVIC COUCH