Huntington holds court

Mike Sciacca

There have been plenty of superlatives used to describe beach

volleyball legend Karch Kiraly.

Perhaps the most flattering is “King of the Beach.”

And when it comes to the duo of Misty May-Treanor and teammate

Kerri Walsh, some observers say that the sand courts these two have

played on during the past few years have been their dominion.

Beginning today, Kiraly, May-Treanor and Walsh and the rest of the

cast of the Assn. of Volleyball Professionals will hold court at the

south side of the Huntington Beach Pier, as the Huntington Beach Open

presented by Bud Light begins with qualifying-round action.

It’s the fourth straight year that the Assn. of Volleyball

Professionals Nissan Championship Series has held a tournament in

Surf City, and the tournament is the third of five events in the

series.

Fans who come out for the tournament will see world-class beach

volleyball in one of the favorite settings on the professional tour.

“We’re thrilled to be back,” association Commissioner Leonard

Armato said. “Huntington Beach is an ideal city to hold a beach

volleyball tournament of this magnitude.

“This city really is representative of the quintessential beach

town. The fans who come out to watch these outstanding professional

players are extremely supportive and knowledgeable of the sport of

volleyball. It’s just a great experience for players and fans alike.”

As part of the championship series, the Huntington Beach Open

offers competitors double points and prize money.

Open tournaments at Hermosa Beach, Manhattan Beach, Chicago and

Cincinnati are also part of the series.

More than 150 of the top professional beach volleyball players are

scheduled to compete this weekend.

Included in the women’s field are 2004 Olympic gold medal winners

May-Treanor and Walsh, 2004 Olympic bronze medal winners Holly McPeak

and Elaine Youngs, and rising association star Rachel Wacholder.

On the men’s side, Kiraly, a three-time Olympic gold medal winner,

and his partner Mike Lambert, and 2000 Olympic gold medalists Eric

Fonoimoana and Dain Blanton, are among the contenders.

May-Treanor and Walsh won the women’s tournament and Jason Ring

and George Roumain teamed to win the men’s title at last year’s

Huntington Beach Open.

It was the first tournament title for Ring and Roumain, who will

not defend their title. Roumain is injured, and Ring is playing with

a different partner this year.

“If a team hopes to win this tournament, they need to put together

six or seven great matches,” said Kiraly, who partnered with Brent

Doble to win the 2003 Huntington Beach Open. “You also have to have a

little luck on your side, too, because these matches are so tight.”

Kiraly has been named association most valuable player six times,

has been honored as its sportsman of the year three times and was

recognized by the association for outstanding achievement in 2004.

Kiraly, 44, a resident of San Clemente, and Mike Lambert, 31, a

resident of Costa Mesa, played together during the first three series

tournaments this season. Then Kiraly paired with Adam Jewell in the

next five tournaments.

Kiraly, the only volleyball player in Olympic history to win three

gold medals, teams again with Lambert for the Huntington Beach Open.

The two earned top-10 finishes in the three opens they played in

Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; Tempe, Ariz.; and Austin, Texas.

“I was coming off shoulder surgery and was just disappointed in my

play,” Kiraly said of the first three series events. “I encouraged

Mike to look elsewhere for a partner. He took my advice and played

with a different partner. I then played with Adam but told Mike that

the door would always be open to play together again.

“As the season has progressed, my play came back to the level I

expected. I had a great time playing with Adam, but Mike and I are

back as a team for Huntington Beach.”

Although he says that his shoulder is “doing great,” Kiraly sat

out his own invitational volleyball tournament two weeks ago at the

Bank of the West Beach Games at the pier due to a strained calf

muscle.

“I’m on the mend and feeling good heading into Huntington,” he

said.

Kiraly and Lambert were named the 2004 team of the year after

capturing three titles, including the Manhattan Beach Open, which was

Karch’s record 147th career title.

May-Treanor, 28, and Walsh, who turns 27 on Monday , have won the

last two Huntington Beach Opens.

May-Treanor, a standout athlete at Newport Harbor High, was named

the associations best offensive player in 2004, taking over that

honor from Walsh, who won it in 2003.

Walsh is the reigning women’s most valuable player for the past

two years, and she and May-Treanor have been the assocation’s female

team of the year two years running.

The two, who have been overseas the last two weeks, practiced

Tuesday near the pier.

“It is great to finally be able to practice together,” said

May-Treanor, who noted that she and Walsh haven’t done so in nearly

two months.

“It just feels nice to be back home, and playing in Huntington --

before family and friends -- is always a nice. We’re looking forward

to the weekend.”

The qualifier begins today at 8 a.m. and runs through 6 p.m. at

the pier.

The main draw competition begins at 9 a.m. Friday and continues on

Saturday, when the men’s final will be played at 1 p.m.

On Sunday, the main draw competition continues, and the tournament

ends with the women’s final, also at 1 p.m.

Both finals will be televised at 1:30 p.m. by NBC on Saturday and

Sunday.

* MIKE SCIACCA covers sports and features. He can be reached at

(714) 966-4611 or by e-mail at [email protected].