NEW TEAMS DEBUT IN FINALS AT THE AVP NISSAN SERIES PAUL MITCHELL OPEN
Ft. Lauderdale, FL (April 6, 2003) - The 2003 AVP Nissan Series got off
to a rousing start this weekend at the Paul Mitchell Ft. Lauderdale Open.
AVP newcomers Misty May (Long Beach, CA) and Kerri Walsh (Manhattan Beach,
CA), and AVP vets Eric Fonoimoana (Manhattan Beach, CA) and Dax Holdren (Santa
Barbara, CA) both won hard-fought three game matches to capture the season
opener in front of a packed house on Fort Lauderdale beach.
The women's finals saw a highly anticipated rivalry between number one seeded
team Holly McPeak (Manhattan Beach, CA) and Elaine Youngs (Durango, CO) and
number two seed May and Walsh. The match had numerous lead changes and came
down to a 15 - 12 third game tiebreaker.
In their semifinal match, May and Walsh outlasted Dianne DeNecochea (San
Diego, CA) and Nancy Mason (Redondo Beach, CA) 21-18, 22-20. The other semifinal
saw McPeak and Youngs beat third seeds Annett Davis (Tarzana, CA) and Jenny
Johnson-Jordan (Tarzana, CA) 21-11, 21-15, leaving Davis/Johnson-Jordan to
finish in third place.
In a grueling men's final, Fonoimoana and partner Holdren held off Matt
Fuerbringer (Hermosa Beach, CA) and Casey Jennings (Manhattan Beach, CA)
21-14, 26-28, 22-20. In what will surely go down in history as one of the
greatest matches in an AVP final, Fonoimoana captured his 12th title while
Holdren secured his fifth. The men's finals lasted 84 minutes and saw 15
match points throughout the competition. Fonoimoana and Holdren notched their
21st straight match victory, with their last loss occurring June 30th, 2002.
This marks their fourth straight AVP Tournament win.
Thirteenth seeded Fuerbringer and Jennings were the surprise of the tournament
after defeating third-seeded Canyon Ceman (Manhattan Beach, CA) and Mike Whitmarsh
(San Diego, CA) in the semifinals on the road to their first AVP Final.
In an earlier match, three time gold medalist Karch Kiraly (San Clemente,
CA) and partner Brent Doble (Dana Point, CA), seeded number two, were upset
by ninth seeds Paul Baxter (Venice, CA) and Carl Henkel (Redondo Beach, CA)
21-19, 19-21, 15-12. Baxter and Henkel then moved into the semifinals where
they were defeated by Fonoimoana and Holdren 26-24, 21-16.
AVP NISSAN SERIES TOURNAMENT RESULTS
Men:
1. Eric Fonoimoana (Manhattan Beach, CA)/ Dax Holdren split $14,500
2. Matt Fuerbringer (Hermosa Beach, CA)/ Casey Jennings (Manhattan Beach,
CA) split $9,750
3. Paul Baxter (Venice, CA)/ Carl Henkel (Redondo Beach, CA) split $5,825
3. Canyon Ceman (Los Angeles, CA)/ Mike Whitmarsh (San Diego, CA) split
$5,825
AVP NISSAN SERIES TOURNAMENT LEADERS:
AVP Nissan Series Ace Leaders:
Eric Fonoimoana 10, Brian Lewis 9, Kevin Wong 8, Fred Souza 7, Stein Metzger
6
AVP Nissan Series Block Leaders:
Carl Henkel 37, Matt Fuerbringer 25, Mike Whitmarsh 18, Brent Doble 16,
Kevin Wong 14
AVP NISSAN SERIES TOURNAMENT RESULTS
Women:
1. Misty May (Long Beach, CA)/Kerri Walsh (Manhattan Beach, CA) split
$14,500
2. Holly McPeak (Manhattan Beach, CA.)/Elaine Youngs (Durango, CO) split
$9,750
3. Annett Davis (Tarzana, Calif)/Jenny Johnson Jordan (Tarzana, Calif.)
split $5,825
3. Dianne DeNecochea (San Diego, CA)/Nancy Mason (Hermosa Beach, CA) split
$5825
AVP NISSAN SERIES TOURNAMENT LEADERS:
AVP Nissan Series Ace Leaders:
Elaine Youngs 13, Dianne DeNecochea 8, Lisa Arce 6, Nancy Mason 6, Holly
McPeak 4
AVP Nissan Series Block Leaders:
Dianne DeNecochea 15, Kerri Walsh 15, Elaine Youngs 14, Lisa Arce 6, Annett
Davis 4