dig beach volleyball #3

BEACH • VOLLEYBALL • LIFE$4.99 | ISSUE #3 2014 USA

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Kerri Walsh Jennings and the American pros are set to defend the sand in Long Beach

Inside:■ AVP kicks off the 2014 season in Florida

■ Brad Keenan on his journey toward the top

■ Push-up push back: How to do this workout classic the right way

HOMELANDSECURITY

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JULY 22-27 LONG BEACH, CA

Follow @mikasasportsusa#mikasaworld

Order your WSOBV volleyball at mikasasports.com or

stop by our booth at the WSOBV to purchase one.

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Official Ball of the FIVB and WSOBV

Marta Menegatti

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Long Beach2ND STREET BEAUTY5518 E. BrittonLong Beach, CA 90815562-493-6000 2ND STREET BEAUTY - BELMONT4910 E. 2nd St.Long Beach, CA 90803562-433-5050

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publisher’s letter

SWINGING FOR THE FENCESThere is usually a minimum number of years before an annual event can be considered a

fi xture on a sports schedule. As for the next progression, it takes decades for the same event to elevate to “major” status,

especially when it involves Olympic sports. So how did the ASICS World Series of Beach

Volleyball become “the event” of the 2014 season in only its second year?

One million dollars in prize money certainly helps, which ensured that all of the top inter-national and American players will be in Long Beach July 22-27 for the tournament. � is event, however, is much more than just a cash grab for the players.

� e persistence of promoter Leonard Armato, who has been lured back into the sport now on several occasions after two separate exits from the helm of the AVP, has been the driving force. He has been dogged in his pursuit of packaging the beach volleyball/lifestyle model and marketing it to the world.

Armato, who once played the game at the highest level, has always been a global thinker who isn’t afraid to take risks. Year two of the WSOBV is Armato’s double down.

“� is year’s ASICS World Series of Beach Volleyball will take the sport of beach volleyball to new heights in connecting with ‘pop culture’ and appealing to a mass audience onsite and on TV,” Armato says. “Not only do we have the best athletes in the world participating for the biggest purse in beach volleyball history—over $1 million — “live” on NBC Sports but we have incorporated everything cool about beach culture— including music, lifestyle and tribal participation.”

Long Beach isn’t Manhattan Beach in terms of beach volleyball heritage, but the city rolled out the red carpet to attract the international event in 2013. � e abundance of parking, restaurants and hotels within walking distance of the venue makes the city FIVB friendly.

Armato understands a starving American beach volleyball fanbase isn’t enough to make the WSOBV a success. He wants it to deliver more. And it promises to, including giving amateurs the chance to play on courts alongside the world’s best. Armato doesn’t envision an “Uh, we’re almost done here, Kerri, and then you can warm up” scenario, but close.

“� e event has something for everyone that likes volleyball as we are building a bridge be-tween the beach and indoor games through camps, fours, six person, collegiate and youth tourna-ments and even skills testing on both beach and hard courts,” he says. “� e music and pop culture aspect is very important to the evolution of the event.”

� e fun is fi ne, but the competition component of this event is what is going to give it stay-ing power. Americans defending their turf on Southern California sand – where the sport got its start – make for a compelling stage. � e 2014 WSOBV will feature six U.S. teams per gender, with up to fi ve teams exempted into the main draw of both the men’s and women’s fi eld.

Phil Dalhausser and Sean Rosenthal will look to defend their title, while Kerri Walsh Jennings and April Ross are out to make a statement. � e recent results at the FIVB Berlin Grand Slam when John Hyden and Tri Bourne defeated Nick Lucena and Ryan Doherty in the fi nals has turned the American men’s draw upside down.

So in Long Beach there is going to be plenty of red, white and blue – as well as the green to keep everybody interested. DiG

DiG is published by JDP Publishing Group, P.O. Box 13052, San Luis Obispo, CA, 93406. For advertising or editorial information, call 1-805-541-9800 or e-mail [email protected]. For subscriptions and address changes call 1-866-368-5652 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. PST. On the Net: digbeachvolleyball.com or jdppublishing.com

digbeachvolleyball.comPETER BROUILLET CASEY PATTERSON, KARCH KIRALY CONNOR HASTINGS, ERIC HAMMONDSHERRY HARPER WONG DON LIEBIG, WALLY NELLKEVIN WONG, KATRINA ZAWOJSKIDENNIS STEERS [email protected]

PHOTO EDITORCONTRIBUTING EDITORS

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CONTRIBUTING WRITERSCREATIVE DIRECTOR

JON HASTINGS [email protected] PATTERSON [email protected] GABRIEL [email protected]

PUBLISHEREDITOR

AD SALES

BY JON HASTINGS

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THE CHOSEN ONESKerri Walsh Jennings. Jake Gibb. The AVCA. The AVP.

When they step on the sand, they prefer to do it with Wilson. Our volleyballs

are hand-crafted with a durable microfiber that’s a benchmark for outdoor players.

Play with the chosen ones. Play with Wilson.

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THE OFFICIAL BALL OF

KERRI WALSH JENNINGS3X Gold Medalist

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CONTENTS

6 digbeachvolleyball.com | 2014 #3

DiG 2014 #3 • digbeachvolleyball.com

BEACH BATTLER: AVP pros got the season kicked off in St. Petersburg in May.Photo: Robert Beck / AVP

COVER: Kerri Walsh JenningsPhoto: Don Liebig

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CONTENTS

2014 #3 | digbeachvolleyball.com 7

10 THE INSIDE STUFFCasey Patterson loses to a friend in well-attended Florida final

14 BODY BLOGBlend up some big-time nutrition smoothie style

16 SAND IN MY SUITKatrina takes to the court tosoak in the BarryBob karma

22 DIG INTERVIEWBrad Keenan capitalizes in Florida fi nale after a series of chances

24 BEACH FASHIONChelsea Rashoff looking goodas she starts her comeback rehab

26 COVER: GRAND SLAMAmericans ready for foreigninvasion in Long Beach

40 FITNESSMaking a pitch for the correctway to do classic push-ups 42 CLINICBrad Keenan talks about some simple blocking keys

44 REWINDTy Tramblie squares off with Gary Hooper in tale of the net

46 BEACH SMACKWill Montgomery hails from same training beach as Karch

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For your nearest Paul Mitchell Focus or Signature Salon, check out www.paulmitchell.com

2014 Volleyball EventsDate EventJuly 4-6 AVP Milwaukee Open • Milwaukee, Wis.

July 10-12 National Volleyball League • Cincinnati, Ohio

July 22-27 ASICS World Series of Beach Volleyball • Long Beach, Calif.

Aug. 7-10 AVP Salt Lake City Open • Salt Lake City, Utah

Aug. 15-17 AVP Manhattan Beach Open • Manhattan Beach, Calif.

Aug. 16-17 National Volleyball League • Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Aug. 27-Sept. 1 42nd Annual Motherlode • Aspen, Colo.

Aug. 28-31 AVP Cincinnati Open • Cincinnati, Ohio

Sept. 5-7 AVP Atlantic City Open • Atlantic City, New Jersey

Sept. 18-21 AVP Huntington Beach Open • Huntington Beach, Calif.

Sept. 19-21 National Volleyball League • Hermosa Beach, Calif.

Oct. 3-4 National Volleyball League • Port St. Lucie, Fla.

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www.paulmitchell.com

2014 Volleyball EventsDate EventJuly 4-6 AVP Milwaukee Open • Milwaukee, Wis.

July 10-12 National Volleyball League • Cincinnati, Ohio

July 22-27 ASICS World Series of Beach Volleyball • Long Beach, Calif.

Aug. 7-10 AVP Salt Lake City Open • Salt Lake City, Utah

Aug. 15-17 AVP Manhattan Beach Open • Manhattan Beach, Calif.

Aug. 16-17 National Volleyball League • Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Aug. 27-Sept. 1 42nd Annual Motherlode • Aspen, Colo.

Aug. 28-31 AVP Cincinnati Open • Cincinnati, Ohio

Sept. 5-7 AVP Atlantic City Open • Atlantic City, New Jersey

Sept. 18-21 AVP Huntington Beach Open • Huntington Beach, Calif.

Sept. 19-21 National Volleyball League • Hermosa Beach, Calif.

Oct. 3-4 National Volleyball League • Port St. Lucie, Fla.

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1.AVP St. Pete. This year, the AVP changed the location of its Florida event to Spa Park, and the layout was much closer together. It gave fans a chance to sit and watch all three outer courts at the same time. There was an awe-some energy from the fans all week. It was a great move by the AVP to play that tournament earlier in the year to avoid the storm season, although I wouldn’t

have minded an extended weather delay this year like we had last year at the Florida stop. Which leads me to No. 2 …

2. In St. Pete, Brad Keenan won his first tourna-ment. John Mayer and Brad played an amazing tournament and finals. They were serving teams off the court and playing great team defense.

I had mixed emotions after losing in the finals. I played with Brad for the 2011 season on the FIVB, so we are good buds. I might be the worst loser on the planet and hate it more than any-thing, but I was stoked for Brad. It was a very weird feeling because my hatred for losing was dulled by my happiness for Brad. I mean, nine second-place finishes? It’s got to feel pretty good for him to get that W, and it’s well-deserved. So a belated congrats to Brad and his wife, April Ross, for going down in history as the third married couple to win both women’s and men’s titles at one tournament. That’s pretty freaking cool.

3. Adrian Carambula is coming in hot for the 2014 season. He worked really hard in the off-season and is playing better than ever. He put in a lot of time in the weight room and is moving like a sand panther. Personally, I think his sky ball is the toughest I have ever had to pass, and he is really

fun to watch. He’s a guy who’s bringing talent and entertainment to the table. It’s so good for the sport, and fans love it. Look for Adrian to have an even better season this year than last.

4. On the FIVB world tour while on the road we have a lot of down time. We like to arrive a couple of days early to adjust to the time difference and get used to the sand and playing conditions. So with only practice and lifting in the first couple of days, we play a lot of games. Cards, Yahtzee

and hacky sack here and there. It’s a great way to get to know other players on tour and build friendships. For instance, we played Mafia in Russia for two hours while waiting for the shuttle back to the hotel. The crew we had was awesome. Kerri Walsh Jennings, April Ross, Sarah Pavan and Heather Bansley (from Canada), then Rich Lambourne, Tyler Hildebrand and Jake Gibb. It was one of the most entertaining games of Mafia I have played. Kerri and April are just as aggressive during games as they are on the court. So fun to be around! So whenever you’re at any type of volleyball tournament, have some fun games in mind in case you have some downtime to kill.

10 digbeachvolleyball.com | 2014 #3 2014 #3 | digbeachvolleyball.com 11

the stuff

TEN THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW

ABOUT BEACH VOLLEYBALL

BY CASEY PATTERSON

Emily Day Photo: Peter Brouillet

AVP St. Pete Open Photo: Robert Beck

Casey Top Ten3.indd 2 6/26/14 9:33:49 AM

5.One thing I really hate on the world tour is the rule about the length of the men’s shorts. It has improved, but there’s nothing more frustrating than being a professional beach volley-ball player and having to roll your shorts up so you can play. It’s not like we’re playing in oversized basketball shorts. Not sure that I understand how Speedos would be OK to play in

but not shorts that barely go over my knee. It’s probably just something that bothers me, but I just don’t like the fact that we are playing the greatest lifestyle sport in the world and the length of my shorts is a problem. Let us play and compete in whatever we are most comfortable in.

6.Playing stress free. I’m talking about players who are able to play in big matches with huge crowds like it’s a Tuesday morning in Huntington Beach. The Italian team of Nicolai and Lupo are a perfect example of this. They both play with a calm and stress-free style. It’s very fun to

watch. Gaining the ability to be more comfortable in a stressful environment is key to success in this sport and any sport. Training in a way that lets you simulate stress and pressure is key to becoming more comfortable in big matches and to beating big teams.

7. The world tour players are getting very excited for the Long Beach Grand Slam (July 22-27). Not only because it has a million dollar prize purse but because it does not conflict with Eu-

ropean championships. A lot of teams missed out last year and there has been a buzz around the players about coming to play. I am excited to have a full field and some serious cash to play for.

8. The Huntington Beach AVP championships has been moved one week sooner and the players couldn’t be happier. Previously, it conflicted with the Brazil grand slam and we were all having serious conversations about what to do. I’m

so glad that AVP owner Donald Sun has made that decision for us. He is genuinely concerned with our sport and maintaining a good relation-ship with the FIVB. Since the majority of the players live in So Cal, it’s always special to be able to play at home. So I thank Donald and the AVP for working around the clock to make adjustments so we can all make it to my favorite AVP tournament.

9. Huntington Beach High School boys volleyball team went undefeated the last two seasons. TJ Defalco, who moved to Huntington at age 14, has been a rising star since he was bouncing curtain at ASC when other kids could barely hit

a ball in the court. TJ qualified for the beach Junior Olympics for USA this spring and will be competing this summer for the world title. So stoked for him, and I know he will be competing on the AVP sooner than later. TJ, let me know if you want a Huntington Beach pro am title on the resume as well because I’m looking to get my fourth. Ha, ha.

10.Emily Day is on a mission. I have had a chance to see her all off-season and during tournaments, and she is determined to win. Emily and Summer Ross had a great season last year, finishing No. 1 on the

AVP and as the second-ranked U.S. team on the FIVB. Emily is doing all the right things and leaving nothing to chance. Her work ethic is one of the best I have ever seen. She is focused on being a successful beach player, and I believe she will be for a long time.


DiG

Adrian Carambula Photo: Rick Atwood

Kerri Walsh Jennings& April Ross Photo: Peter Brouillet

Brazil’s Talita Antunes Photo: Peter Brouillet

Daniele Lupo & Paolo Nicolai Photo: FIVB

Casey Top Ten3.indd 3 6/26/14 9:34:18 AM


91.7 Winning percentage for Kerri Walsh Jennings/April Ross after the pair

dropped a quarterfinal match to Brazil’s Maria Antonelli/Juliana Felisberta at the FIVB Berlin Grand Slam. The Americans were 22-2 in FIVB matches on the year.

9 Years between youth international silver medals for the Dykstra family. Lara Dyk-stra took second with Jace Pardon at the FIVB U23 World Championships in

Myslowice, Poland, after losing to Australia’s Ni-cole Laird and Mariafe Artacho. Her brother, Joey, teamed with Mark Van Zwieten to earn a silver at the U19 championships in France in 2005.

76 Points scored in first set of qualifier match between Steve Vanderwerp/Trevor Crabb and Mike Maghy/Mat-

thew Hilling. Vanderwerp/Crabb lost the set 39-37, but went on to win the match by prevailing 21-19, 15-11 in the last two sets and advancing to the main draw.

$8,930 More money John Hyden won at the

FIVB Berlin Grand Slam than he had in his previ-ous 19 FIVB starts. Hyden split $57,000 with partner Tri Bourne after winning just $19,570 in his international career prior to that breakout event. Hyden and Bourne were also 20-9 in FIVB matches in 2014.

2 Straight wins for Priscilla Lima and Karolina Sowala in the National Vol-leyball League’s events in Dallas and Atlanta. Lima and Sowala were a perfect

10-0 in the first two tournaments, losing just one set. Each victory was worth $2,150 per player. Josh Binstock and Sam Schachter of Canada had swept the same two events on the men’s side.

3 Unprecedented three teams reaching the podium at the FIVB Berlin Grand Slam after starting in the qualifier. John

Hyden/Tri Bourne (Q7) led the way with the gold medal, followed by compatriots Ryan Doherty/Nick Lucena (Q3) in second and Brazil’s Alison Cerutti/Bruno Oscar Schmidt (Q1). DiG

BY THE NUMBERS

THE SCENE

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AC Volleyball Courts on the boardwalk at New Jersey Ave (between Revel & Showboat)

ALL PART OF THE TOUR

SEPTEMBER 5-7, 2014 Olympians and other pro

beach volleyball superstars will wow spectators when the AVP Tour, the most prestigious pro beach volleyball series, comes to Atlantic City for its only stop on the east coast. In 2013, players including New Jersey native Ryan Doherty, Olympians Kerri Walsh Jennings, April Ross, Jen Kessy, Sean Rosenthal, Jake Gibb, Phil Dalhausser, Todd Rogers and three-time Manhattan Beach Open champion Whitney Pavlik battled along the Boardwalk.

General admission is FREE. VIP ticket packages will be available.

www.DoAtlanticCity.com

Some people might think that writing about something you’re truly pas-sionate about is easy. To be fair, it’s

easier than writing about why, adjusting for inflation, the gross domestic prod-uct needs to be reduced by 0.1%. I love talking about health, nutrition, longevity research and anything food related. If I wrote like I talked, I’d probably have fewer readers. I swear too much, so I have to spend more time writing my thoughts with non-offensive words – dammit.

This has got to be the most fun article I’ve written in a long time. Smoothies have become commonplace in American culture.

Chains with hundreds of locations that serve them are almost as popular as Starbucks. I see the appeal, but I don’t go to them anymore.

Why? Well, as I’ve gone deeper down the rabbit hole, I want to consume my calories from as many superfoods as possible. When I consider spending money on convenience, I think twice

because of the value I can get from the superfoods in my kitchen.

If you’re going to spend money anyway, you’ll get more bang for your buck by making it yourself.

These are some of my favorite smoothie recipes. They are easy to make at home and can add a serious amount of nutrition to your diet – and a serious amount of boost to your performance as an athlete,

weekend warrior or everyday activities.I try to take omega-3s with each smoothie. Whether it’s fish

oil or a plant-based omega-3, these oils are fragile and prone to oxidation, which damages them and their effectiveness.

All these recipes are packed with anti-oxidants to help protect the oils and let them do their thing better.

I like to use smoothie No. 1 as a day-starter or pre-workout drink. Maca has been used for centuries to increase endurance. Cacao is rich with magnesium, which helps ward off cramp-ing. Lucuma is a mineral-rich superfood sweetener that pairs perfectly.

Want to take it next level? Get some Mucuna powder. It pairs nicely with cacao, and it adds l-dopa, which your body converts to dopamine. You’ll sleep better after a long day.

Smoothie No. 2 has a whopping 7 grams of omega-3s! I’ve found that many tropical fruits go very well together. The coconut oil helps build healthy growth hormones, so this is a great work-out recovery smoothie.

The pea protein has some rice protein mixed in, which gives it an amino acid makeup much like human muscle. All of this together is very anti-inflammatory.

Want to take it another level up? Add an EBOOST for a natural caffeine kick from green tea and green coffee bean. That’ll get you through the day!

If you understand how good greens are for

your health, smoothie No. 3 has more green nutrition than a lot of people get all week!

The apple and lemon add crucial vitamin C, which helps to buffer the spinach and increase iron and calcium absorption. The avocado adds creami-ness along with reducing bitterness from the greens.

Here’s one more level: Try drinking this twice a day, twice per month. Greens are awesome for detoxing and the alkalinity and chelating effects from this smoothie would be amazing for your long-term health.

All of these smoothies have about $5 worth of ingredients. If you compare that to what you spend on a fancy cup of coffee or what you really get at a

juice bar, I think you’ll agree that “next level” is where it’s at!

Russ Marchewka’s commitment to better nutrition has earned him the nickname “Mr. Healthy” on the tour. He has spent the last eight years study-ing how nutrition affects his volleyball game. For more, visit his website, WorldHealthHub.com or check out: Instagram.com/WorldHealthHub.


body blogBY RUSS MARCHEWKAPHOTO BY PETER BROUILLET

MAKE YOUR SMOOTHIES COUNT

DiG

By using nutrient-packed ingredients, you can concoct delicious blended drinks at home that are good for your health and good for your game

2. TROPICAL FRUIT OMEGA BOOST SMOOTHIE

12 oz almond or coconut milk1 frozen banana1/2 cup fresh pineapple1/2 fresh mango3 or 4 frozen strawberries1 tbsp coconut oil2 tbsp Ascenta NutraVege Oil2 tbsp sprouted chia powder1 scoop Rainbow Vibrance2 scoops Growing Naturals Vanilla Pea protein

3. GOING GREEN SMOOTHIE

12 oz water and a 1/2 cup of ice1 handful of spinach2 scoops Green Vibrance1 scoop Rainbow Vibrance1 green apple1 lemon (peeled)1 avocado

1. CHOCOLATE PEANUT BUTTER SMOOTHIE

12 oz almond or coconut milk1 frozen banana2 tbsp raw cacao1 tbsp maca1 tbsp lucuma1 heaping tbsp of organic peanut butter2 scoops Growing Naturals Vanilla Pea protein

Body blog#3.indd 1 6/25/14 8:57:50 PM

BeachBeachBeach

Labor Day WeekendAugust 30-31

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Can you seriously roll up to a tournament where fathers and sons, Olympic legends

and up-and-comers, and NBA players are all playing alongside one another? Why yes, yes you can. But you won’t find it looking in no travel guide.

I wouldn’t even be telling this story if I hadn’t set my alarm clock the night before. You see, with the Los Angeles Kings defeating the New York Rangers to claim the Stanley Cup in excruciating, double-overtime fashion, that left little to no sleep for us South Bay hockey fans. I couldn’t believe it was already morning. After packing the beach essentials and blending a quick smoothie, I was out the door and riding the 1.9 mile commute to Manhattan Beach.

When I arrived, a schoolhouse of beach cruisers and hybrids had already assembled on the sand. Bright umbrellas blended into the seascape as people young and young at heart huddled at check-in. The BarryBob Invitational—formerly known as a 4-person tournament and beach vol-leyball old timers day, less formerly known as an excuse to gather with family and friends under sunshine and over Bud Light—was created out of remembrance for Barry Walmer and Bob Cleary, two players and family men embedded in the community.

Soon after retiring from the 9-to-5 grind in the late 1970s/early 1980s, Barry and Bob enjoyed traveling to select AVP tournaments to watch their two sons compete together. “I can remember playing the Manhattan Beach Open and looking up at the bike path and seeing them standing next to the railing watching,” reflects Kevin Cleary. “Between matches they’d head up to Ercole’s for a beer.” Following their passing, the two families remained as close as ever, and it was second eldest son Marc Walmer who first had the idea of putting together a tournament in their honor. Welcome to the 16th Annual BarryBob Invitational.

As is the case with most of these 4-man tour-naments, you don’t know who you will be play-ing with until you check the board the morning of. I see that my squad will include the talented Jeff Urton, USA Olympian Barbra Fontana, and her brother Greg, a.k.a. G-Man (you’re nobody until you have a nickname). Shortly after, we are

all called up for “opening ceremonies” where the official MC, Jim Arico (Rico Suave), welcomes everyone, shares some comforting words, and leads a moment of silence for all the dads who have been sorely missed.

Fast-forward through pool play and playoffs and one thing remains constant: everywhere you look, family is present. From grandmothers to nearly-newborns, mustaches to knee-high socks, this is not a vacation. This is a lifestyle. Like pay-ing homage to a time when players competed for nothing more than a t-shirt and a cooler. “This is what’s all about,” Tim Hovland “The Hov” leans in to tell me, “My favorite tournament of all the local ones.” He’s on a team comprised of former

partner (5 MBO wins) and Olympic Silver Medalist Mike Dodd, his daughter, Dominic, and Olympic Bronze Medalist Bob Samuelson.

After the Juniors Division plays out their championship match, the baton is passed back to the grown-ups for the final faceoff of the day: Luke Walton against Jon Hackett. The two power-hitters actu-

ally train regularly on the beach together—as if this tournament needed another element of friendship. Everyone makes one last beer run to the Strand House, claims their real estate in the sand, and escalates their sideline banter for the finals. Is that Pete Carroll watching from a distance? Why, of course it is. Back on the court, Luke and his team have a surge late in the game with three unanswered points, making the crowd wonder if there will be a comeback. But Jon and his squad prove to be too much, and they end the day with a 15-12 victory. Clicks of cameras and pops of champagne immediately follow the final point as center court turns into a dance party for the generations.

It was the first time in tournament history that father and son have played on the winning team, a fact that Jon admitted is what really motivated him to perform. The USC grad has the most refreshing poise and character, and I think everyone was pleased to see him come out on top that day. “Playing Luke in the finals, I wouldn’t have it any other way,” he said to me later on at Shellback. With a drink in our hands and summer in our bellies, this is how you end a good ‘ol classic volleyball tournament. DiG

*Follow Katrina on Instagram at @sandinmysuit


CAN YOU DIG IT?

sand in my suitBY KATRINA ZAWOJSKIPHOTO BY PETER BROUILLET

BarryBob Invitational 2014Champions:

Jon Hackett, Gene Anselmo, Matt Anselmo, Rick Deckart.

Number of participants: 100 adults, 80 kids

Last man standing: Kevin Cleary, Shellback Tavern

For the past decade, DiG has been the premier magazine of beach volleyball. Only $22 for five issues. Subscriptions, back issues and more available at digbeachvolleyball.com

1.866.368.5652 digbeachvolleyball.comGet DiG on the net — literally. DiG competition outdoor nets are available in yellow/red and blue/white @ digbeachvolleyball.com

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Chasing KarchNow that she’s No. 1 all-

time on the women’s career pro beach victories list with 116 titles, the next frontier for Kerri Walsh Jennings is becoming No. 1 all-time irrespective of gender. That would mean passing three men’s players: Randy Stoklos (122), Sinjin Smith (139) and the all-time leader, Karch Kiraly, who retired with 148.

It’s very possible it could happen for Kerri, and you might even call it likely. Yes, she’ll be 36 on August 15. But she has won 6 of her first 10 tournaments with new partner April Ross, and they’re still smoothing out the rough spots.

If her victories stay steady at that 60 percent rate, she’d get to 149 in 55 tournaments, which would likely come at some point during the 2017 season. That’s before she turns 40. Barring injuries, a tall athlete like Walsh (she’s 6-2 and change) who trains as diligently as she trains would still be fit to win and win a lot at that point in her career.

Behind Walsh on the women’s leader board at No. 2-5 respectively are Misty May-Treanor (112), Holly McPeak (72), Karolyn Kirby (67) and Brazil’s Jackie Silva (60).

NVL teams up with musician Kelley James

Musician Kelley James, whose style is described on his website as a “mash-up” that draws from rock, pop and the beachside vibe of his home state of California, has signed

a two-year deal to be the voice of the NVL beach league.

James is developing a theme song for the NVL and will perform at its events this season and next. His most recent album, “The Pattern Transcending” was released in October of 2013.

Remaining events on this year’s NVL schedule: Midwest Championships in Cincinnati (July 10th-12), Milwaukee (Aug. 15-17), Hermosa Beach, Calif. (Sept. 19-21) and Port St. Lucie, Fla. (October 3-4).

John Hyden: 41 and formidable

John Hyden is 41 years old and will be 42 in October, but age is apparently not an issue for the veteran of 14 pro beach seasons and two indoor Olympics. In mid-June, Hyden and partner Tri Bourne went wire to wire at the FIVB Berlin Grand Slam, starting in the qualifier and winning eight consecutive matches – including two against Brazil’s Emanuel Rego and Pedro Salgado – to take the title and split a first-place check of $57,000.

With the win, Hyden remained the second-oldest men’s pro beach player to win a tournament. He was already second on the list after his last win, which came two weeks before his 40th birthday alongside Sean Scott at a Jose Cuervo Huntington Beach tourney on Sept. 23, 2012.

Not surprisingly, first on the age list is Karch Kiraly.

He won an AVP tournament with Mike Lambert in August of 2005 at the age of 44 and 9 months. That’s amazing, of course. But a strong case could be made that Hyden’s win is even more impressive considering it came at an international grand slam with a full field of the world’s top teams.

“Other than loving to compete, I always felt there was something out there that could put a stamp on my career,” Hyden said. “I wanted to do something no one else had ever done! I just didn’t know what that was. Hope-fully, this is just the beginning of that list.”

It was career victory No. 23 for Hyden and the first victory for Bourne, a 25-year-old blocker who grew up in Aiea, Hawaii, and played collegiately at the Uni-versity of Southern California.

AVP Huntington Beach schedule change

The AVP has pushed up its Huntington Beach, Calif. event to Sept. 18-21. This is the final stop on the tour’s 2014 schedule, and it was originally scheduled for the fol-lowing weekend, but it was moved because it conflicted with an FIVB Grand Slam event in Brazil.

Blood and gutsWho says beach volleyball

isn’t a contact sport? The National Volleyball League’s Erin Gray took a spike off the face delivered by Jessica Stubinski in the semifinals of the Atlanta event, but rallied to win her match with partner Heather Lowe.

Gray and Lowe lost the championship match to Priscilla Lima and Karolina Sowala, but split $1,150 for second place. Gray was later diagnosed with a concussion.

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The wait was long, but the payoff was sweet for Brad Keenan, who scored his fi rst career victory at the AVP’s season-opener in St.

Petersburg, Fla., on June 1 following eight very good seasons that produced nine seconds and 25 thirds but never a fi rst.

Making it cooler still, he and beach partner John Mayer, both of whom played indoor ball at Pep-perdine, earned their fi rst-place check of $15,000 by toppling the tour’s top teams. � ey beat Phil Dalhausser and Sean Rosenthal to get to the fi nals and then took down Jake Gibb and Casey Patterson for the title.

Another cool thing: Both those matches went three games, and they advanced to the Dalhausser-Rosie match by being on the right side of a Sunday morn-ing three-gamer against Casey Jennings and Jeremy Casebeer that extended to 20-18 in the third.

And still another cool thing: All of those wins came after they rebounded from a 21-15, 21-10 pounding late Saturday from Tri Bourne and John Hyden.

Oh, and one last one: Keenan’s wife, Olympic silver-medalist April Ross, got a victory in St. Pete too alongside her new partner, Kerri Walsh Jennings, which means that Keenan and Ross join a very elite club that includes a total of just three couples who have won the same tournament on the same week-end. � e other two are Mike and Patty Dodd and Kerri and Casey Jennings.

All in all, not a bad weekend.“Felt really great,” says Keenan, 32. “I defi nitely

had some opportunities in previous years where some of the tournaments didn’t have a full fi eld, but it never worked out. We’ve been working on a lot of little things with our coach, Beau Daniels, and they all kind of came into play in the fi nals. Everything went right that day.”

INTERVIEW BY DON PATTERSONPHOTO: PETER BROUILLET

Takin’ care of business

Nine years after bidding farewell to a secure but sterile career in accounting, former AVCA Player of the Year Brad Keenan is getting the job done on the beach


Q&A-Keenan.indd 2 6/26/14 9:12:33 AM

� e 6-8 Keenan, who played middle blocker at Pepperdine and was the AVCA Player of the Year in both 2002 and 2003, talked with DiG recently about his unusual journey from the top of the college indoor game to the beach winner’s circle, which included a career detour into the business world that left him a whole bunch of pounds above his playing weight.

DiG: Congrats on your win. Anything you can point to that you did before this season that helped you take the fi nal step to a tournament victory?

About a month and a half ago, our practices weren’t going well, and John and I sat down with our coach, Beau Daniels, and we just to-tally changed our mindset. It became more like, “Every ball counts. All the little things count.” And from there, practices got better.

Is there anything specifi c that you changed in your game?

I think it was more on the mental side for us. We would kind of get down on ourselves, but in volleyball you’re going to make mistakes. We decided we had to just forget about those mistakes and not give up runs of points. You give up one point, fi ne; that’s going to happen. But you have to side out the next ball. And that was our big focus.

After playing at Pepperdine, you took a job in the business world. How did you end up on the beach tour?

I went to the national team for about a month or two after college. My shoulder was hurting all the time, and it would keep me up at night, and I was just tired of it. I didn’t think I was ever going to play volleyball again. I was done with it. I got a regular job doing account-ing, and I found that it was boring. At the end of the summer of ’05, I was talking to an agent about going to Europe to play professionally and the contract was all lined up. I quit my job and then the agent called me a day later and said they couldn’t get the work visa processed in time. Luckily, Mayer called me and it all worked out in the end.

So you had a fairly long layoff.I hadn’t really played for 2 ½ years. � e fi rst

year and a half (working as an accountant), I didn’t work out, and I gained quite a bit of weight. So I had to start working out again.

How much weight did you put on?I got up to about 280. I was 220 at Pepper-

dine.Wow. How did that happen? Too many trips to In-N-

Out? In-N-Out Burger and a lot of eating out.

Not eating right, happy hours. � ose kinds of things.

How tough was it to get back in shape?� e fi rst month or two, I started out by

walking on a treadmill with an incline. And I’d go out and play basketball with friends or play some volleyball. It was tough at fi rst, but once the weight started coming off , it got better. And once I started working out at the beach, it started coming off faster.

Was there a wake-up moment where you got out of breath walking to the mailbox and thought, “I gotta make some changes?”

I was playing basketball in our company’s basketball league, and I had a breakaway, and I missed a dunk. At 6-8, I shouldn’t have been missing a dunk when I was 24 years old. � at was my wake-up call.

In Florida, you guys bounced back from a lopsided loss to Bourne and Hyden. Tell us about that.

We started the match, and then they called it off because the weather was coming in. And they evacuated the site, and we came back 20 minutes later and it was pretty windy, and we were awful and they were really good. But we had the whole night to get ready and know who we were playing the next day. Maybe it was a blessing that we lost that bad because we didn’t use much energy and we had to work really hard on Sunday to win.

Extra sweet to beat the two top teams to win it?Yeah. I can’t imagine too many teams beating

Phil and Rosie and Casey and Jake back-to-back, so it was pretty awesome.

So, unbelievable coincidence that you probably know about, but there’s another Brad Keenan who plays vol-leyball in Southern California (a former libero at USC) who happens to be born on the same date you were (Aug. 10) but eight years later.

Yeah, it’s ridiculous. I knew there was a guy at USC with my name, and I looked at his profi le, and he has the same birthday. Ridiculous. I was a middle, and he was a libero – complete op-posite positions.

Have you ever gotten together with him for a beer?I don’t think I’ve ever met him, but I know

he’s really good friends with Tri Bourne, so maybe he’ll be at one of the tournaments this year.

Here’s a scouting report on you. See if you agree. “Dangerous when he’s on, great jump serve, hard to stop offensively, prone to hitting errors when he’s off.”

� at’s about right. I think the biggest thing I’ve cut down on is the hitting errors part. We worked a lot on making sure to stay behind the ball, and that way you have some vision. Also, we’re listening to each other’s calls a lot more. And if we’re in a bad situation, we give the ball back to the other team and make them side out.

So in the past, you tried to do too much with balls that were off the net or weren’t good looks?

I would try to do some extreme thing to get the kill instead of just giving them the ball back and relying on our defense.

Being a strong jump server, do you like the wind?To a point. Ten to 15 (miles an hour) is really

good for the jump serve. Much more than that and it’s hard to toss, and the ball starts moving all over the place.

Phil is one of the world’s best jump servers. Give us a comparison between a Dalhausser jump serve and a Keenan jump serve.

Phil jumps a lot higher. [Laughs] Phil has a great middle to middle serve. I think I’m more of a sideline server. I’m not Phil, but I’ve got a pretty good jump serve.

A couple of weeks after you and April both took home fi rst-place prize money in Florida, April and Kerri grabbed a huge winner’s check by winning an FIVB Grand Slam in Moscow. Are you going to splurge on something now, or does the accountant in you recom-mend investing the money and enjoying the gains in 20 years?

If we splurge, we’ll try to pay down our house. We don’t do anything crazy. We do one or two vacations a year, but one of them is go-ing to Montana, and we have a free place to stay there. We’re not big spenders. Maybe we’ll have a nice dinner. I did tell myself that I would play (golf at) Pebble Beach if I won a tournament, so after I won, April reminded me of that. So maybe I will.

Is it good advice for pro volleyball couples to not give much volleyball advice to their spouse?

Yeah. Don’t criticize unless they ask what you think is wrong. It’s not good just to come out straight with a criticism.

What’s ahead for you over the next fi ve years or so?I just started a master’s program in coaching

at Concordia. I’m on my second class right now. I would love to go into coaching when I’m done playing.

Beach or indoor?Wherever. I would love to get into a college

that has a beach program. Is coaching something you’ve wanted to do for

awhile?I’ve been coaching club the whole time I’ve

been playing, and I realized I don’t want to go back into an offi ce to do accounting. I feel like coaching would be a good opportunity. I can take one class at a time to get the master’s, so it’s nothing crazy. Right now I have the time, so I might as well do it.

So you’re taking steps to avoid being hunched in front of a computer for the next 25 years?

Exactly.

Takin’ care of business

Nine years after bidding farewell to a secure but sterile career in accounting, former AVCA Player of the Year Brad Keenan is getting the job done on the beach


DiG

Q&A-Keenan.indd 3 6/26/14 9:12:55 AM

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Fashion-spread3.indd 3 6/25/14 6:44:33 PM


ASICS World Series of Beach Volleyball provides stage for biggest event of 2014

With a record million-dollar purse, blanket coverage (much of it live) by NBC Sports, NBCSN, and Universal Sports and all of the

world’s best beach volleyball players in attendance, the FIVB Grand Slam in Long Beach is the single most important tournament held on U.S. soil since the 1997 World Championships at UCLA.

� ere will be something for everybody at the ASICS World Series of Beach Volleyball in Long Beach, including USA Volleyball Junior Beach Tour’s West Coast Championship, collegiate sand competition, co-ed fours, six-man (and woman) events as well as live music performances. In other words it will be a total celebration and festival of beach volleyball.

� e competition in the Grand Slam should be fi erce in a year without a World Championship or Olympics, making the Long Beach event the

defacto event of the year.� e 2014 international season

has been anything but predictable evidenced by John Hyden and Tri Bourne’s breakout event at the Berlin Grand Slam in June when they beat fellow Americans Nick Lucena and Ryan Doherty in the championship match. � e prospect of the Americans going one-two in an FIVB event without Phil Dalhausser/Sean Rosenthal or Jake Gibb/Casey Patterson factoring in on the podium did not seem possible prior to the season. � at increases the stakes for the two Olympic spots in 2016 in Rio de Janeiro and makes the Long Beach event a critical 24-month barometer.

Following are some teams worthy of keeping an eye on in both genders:

MEDAL MANIAJohn Hyden and Tri Bourne were the center of atten-tion in Berlin and compatri-ots Ryan Doherty and Nick Lucena joined them on the podium for an American one-two fi nish. (Photo: FIVB)

Men’s teams to watch

Global consequences

by Tom Feuer

Beach wrap.indd 8 6/26/14 8:55:57 AM


Aleksandrs Samoilovs/Janis Smedins • LatviaYou will constantly hear elite players talk about the level of parity on the

FIVB World Tour. A team can be on the podium one week and then not make it out of their pool the next. Consistency is a virtue on tour, and perhaps the steadiest team in the world on the men’s side is Samoilovs, 29, and 2012 Olym-pic bronze medalist Smedins, 26. � ey also may be one of the most versatile as both players can block and defend.

Interestingly, the Latvians are both coached by their fathers and have spent off seasons training in Egypt to escape the cold Baltic winters.

Samoilovs, 6-5, known aff ectionately as the “Lion King,” has a huge mane of thick blond hair and one of the most unusual serves in the game. His approach is part gallop and part ballet before he lets fl y with a jump fl oaty.

Smedins, 6-3, is one of the most approachable and sportsmanlike players on the tour and has a rifl e for a left arm. He receives few serves because he is a sideout machine.

Together this tandem was the “team of the year” on last year’s FIVB tour with six podium placements in 13 events. So far in 2014, at press time, they garnered the silver medal at the European Championships and won the FIVB Open in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Last year in Long Beach they fi nished fi fth, dropping a three-set thriller to Daniele Lupo and Paolo Nicolai of Italy.

Daniele Lupo/Paolo Nicolai� ere was shock and dismay when reigning Olympic gold medalists Phil

Dalhausser and Todd Rogers lost to this young duo in the elimination rounds in London in 2012. � at defeat in hindsight has been much more about an

Men’s teams to watch

WELL ARMEDPhil Dalhausser will be ready to defend his Long Beach Grand Slam title with partner Sean Rosen-thal but will face a solid Italian wall in the form of Paolo Nicolai. (Photo: FIVB)

Global consequences

LATVIAN WALLAleksandrs Samoilovs put up a big wall against Brazil’s Bruno Schmidt at the 2013 WSOB. Samoilovs and partner Janis Sme-dins are one of the top teams in the world (Photo: Peter Brouillet)


FIVB tournament, with Casey Jennings in Sao Paulo. Rosenthal’s back was balky for much of the 2013 season and he now must

make the adjustment to the right side. Everyone thought this duo was going to be the dream team and while it has not been a nightmare thus far, Long Beach will be a crucial test to measure the effi cacy of this partnership.

Bruno Oscar Schmidt/Alison Cerutti� e best phrase to describe any Brasilian men’s team on the FIVB is “Ay

Carimba!” So far 2014 is setting up to be the worst year in the annals of this South American country on the sand.

In six FIVB events only twice has a Brasilian men’s team ascended to the podium, and that was when Bruno and Alison took second in the very fi rst event in April in Fuzhou, China and then a third in the Berlin Grand Prix. Neither Vitor Felipe/Evandro, Ricardo/Alvaro Filho or Emanuel/Pedro have produced especially noteworthy performances. � is is probably the single most stunning development on the FIVB this season.

Nevertheless, it says here that Long Beach will be the breakthrough tour-nament for one of these teams and it most likely will be Bruno and Alison.


emerging power team than an upset of Biblical proportions.

Nicolai (6-8) could be the top “big man” in the world right now. He is an excellent

blocker with exceptional footwork who can move off the net with ease. He terminates on off ense with a power game accented by fi nesse when necessary.

Lupo (6-5) is the wild card in this relationship. When he is “on” he is a steady sideout player with precise ball control and fi ne shotmaking. At times his play is desultory as if he has lost interest. With maturity those mo-ments may become fewer and far between.

At press time this duo was the best team in the world, having swept the fi rst two FIVB events in China as well as winning the European Champion-ship. What is truly scary is that Lupo, 23 and Nicolai, 25, seemingly both a few years away from their primes. Last year they defeated Jake Gibb and Casey Patterson for the bronze medal in Long Beach.

Phil Dalhausser/Sean RosenthalHomecourt advantage is a powerful stimulus on the FIVB Tour, and with

the 6-9 Dalhausser and the 6-4 Rosenthal, the defending champions in Long Beach, they have to be considered a favorite, if not THE favorite.

However, this team, as Winston Churchill once said, is a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma. � e “� in Beast” and “Rosie” have not won a tournament since last August in Salt Lake City, and have not stepped to the top of a podium in an FIVB event since last year in Long Beach.

So what’s up? Unrealistic expectations by us pundits may have set the bar too high. For instance, last season, Dalhausser and Rosenthal led all FIVB teams with an 81.8 win percent-age. Even though they won “only” three international events, it was still more than any other partner-ship.

� is year Phil has moved back to the leftside. Last year in the only non-Rosenthal event he played, he took second on the left, in arguably the strongest fi eld of any

CIVIL WARAgeless John Hyden battled Ryan Doherty in Berlin when two American teams advanced out of the qualifi er to reach an FIVB Grand Slam fi nal. Hyden and Tri Bourne captured the gold. (Photo: FIVB)

FAST TRACKFormer USC star Tri Bourne has been moving up the FIVB rank-ings with veteran John Hyden at whirlwind pace in 2014. (Photo: FIVB)

Global consequences



Bruno, 27, played last season with Pedro Salgado and had an exceptional season with six podium fi nishes in 13 events. But due to some skullduggery by the CBV, the Brazilian beach volleyball federation, he fi nds himself play-ing this season with the “Wooly Mammoth” Alison rather than Salgado. It is a shame, because Bruno has a skill set to die for. He is a great defender, has every shot in the book and has hands like butter.

Alison, 28, the Olympic silver medalist from London with Emanuel, quite simply is not the same dominant player he was in 2011 and 2012. He had only one podium fi nish in 2013 and at times looked simply awful on the sand.

� e ultimate insult was that this team was playing in qualifi ers this year on the FIVB tour. Imagine that!

� is partnership has too much talent and they are still too young not to be a major force for the Long Beach tournament.

Adrian Gavira/Pablo HerreraWhen healthy, the Spaniards are very tough to beat.

� ey are also hard to tell apart, both in appearance and in their skill set.

For those that have argued Sean Scott and John Hyden would have had a consistently hard time on the FIVB tour because height-wise they were tweeners at 6-5, this Spanish duo are both 6-4, but have the versatility to do ev-erything on the court that their taller (and, in the case of defenders) shorter counterparts can.

Herrera, 31, has a remarkable history. Ten years ago in Athens, he and then-partner Javier Bosma, the 15th seeds, made it all the way to the gold medal match at the Olympics before falling to Emanuel and Ricardo in the fi nal. At that point many victories were predicted for the then-21 year old wunderkind. However, it was not to be, and Herrera has not won a tourna-ment in the last six years and only two total.

Herrera and Gavira partnered for the fi rst time fi ve years ago and one of their highlight performances was a second last year in Long Beach.

So far in 2014 they have two fi fths and two ninths on the FIVB circuit but they also took a fourth in a very tough fi eld in the European Championships.

CROWD PLEASERCasey Patterson has the game to fi re up the Ameri-can crowd in Long Beach, but through the Berlin Grand Slam was still seek-ing his fi rst podium fi nish of 2014. (Photo: Peter Brouillet)

WOMen’s teamS to watch

Kerri Walsh Jennings/April Ross“Big wheel keep on turnin’ and proud Kerri keeps on burnin.” It is hard to

see anything but injuries slowing this pair down. April brings a new weapon to the team dynamic: a jump-serve to make this truly a fi ve-tool partnership.

At press time, Ross and Walsh-Jennings had won almost two-thirds of the tournaments they had played together, a percentage which compares favorably to the 11-year run by Kerri and her three-time Olympic gold medal partner Misty May-Treanor.

Walsh Jennings had to make the biggest sacrifi ce of the partnership by switching to the right side. So far she has struggled at times passing and set-ting but she is still as dominant as ever hitting and blocking. She is as hungry for titles as she has ever been and despite the fact that she will be 36 in August there appears to be fuel left in the tank.

Ross, 32, is in her playing prime, and interestingly enough there have been tournaments where Kerri is receiving the majority of the serves. April’s defense behind the block is getting better and her mental game is almost on the same level as Walsh’s. If a match goes to a third set, count on Kerri and April to win: they are 12-1 as a team in those situations.

Larissa Franca/Talita AntunesFor the Brazilian women the 2014 campaign has played out like a season of

“Game of � rones.”Franca “retired” after a 2012 season when for the third time in four years

she won the FIVB points title with then-partner Juliana Felisberta Silva. Like Jim Brown and Rocky Marciano, Larissa, with 46 titles, second most ever on the FIVB tour, was going out on top.

However, the real reason she stepped away from the game was a dispute with the Brazilian (CBV) federation’s insistence that she be required to attend mandatory training camps and not have the fi nal say in partner selection.

In mid-May the CBV backed away from those requirements, which prompted Larissa to get back in the game. What partner did she pick? Only

THE JOURNEYKerri Walsh Jennings and April Ross have started their journey to Rio de Janeiro with the best winning percentage on the FIVB Tour. (Photo: FIVB)



Talita Antunes, the better half of the top team in the world in 2013. Last sea-son Antunes and Taiana Lima won fi ve of 12 events and made it to the podium in two others. One of their wins was in Long Beach, where in an all-Brazilian fi nal they beat the Salgado sisters in three tight sets. � e one blemish last year was a big one, 17th in the World Championships, the fi rst time that Lima and Antunes played together in a signature event.

On paper, Franca and Antunes are a terrifi c team. Franca is a crafty right-side player with a gorgeous cut shot and incredible court sense. Antunes is an excel-lent blocker, can jump very well and has a sizeable wingspan.

Larissa is 32 and Talita will be the same age in August. If this partnership plays to its potential, Kerri and April will be pushed to the limit.

Juliana Felisberta Silva/Maria AntonelliJuliana is Larissa’s former partner, and Maria is Talita’s ex, so it stands to

reason that this team has powerhouse potential as well. Juliana has won 45 FIVB tourneys in her illustrious career and Antonelli has nine victories under her belt.

Juliana, 5-10, and in her prime at 31, may have the best vertical leap among the world’s elite players and she hits a very heavy ball. Maria, 5-9 and 30 years old, does not stand out in any one facet of the game, but is consistent, and plays good defense behind the block. She will also receive almost all of the serves as no one wants to be on the receiving end of Juliana’s missiles.

� is team has had to work very hard this season. In four of the fi rst six events they started out in the qualifi er due to the wacko seeding formula the FIVB utilizes. On top of that, they are one of the few elite teams that have played in all of the Opens as well as Grand Slams. At press time they had three second-place fi nishes to their credit.

In order to ascend to the top of the podium they will need to have their potent serves facilitate passing errors on the other side.

Karla Borger/Britta ButheButhe, 26, and Borger, 25, could be the future face of volleyball in Europe.

In the World Championships last year they produced a stunning performance, winning a silver medal and taking China’s experienced Chen Xue and Xi Zhang to overtime in the third game before succumbing. Shortly thereafter, a Buthe stomach injury killed the team’s momentum and they took ninths in the only two tournaments they played the rest of the summer.

So far in 2014 their performances have been solid but with no breakthroughs like at last year’s World Championships.

Borger, 5-11, is like a Hoover vacuum on defense and when she is “on” may be the best in the world playing behind the block. Buthe, 6-1, is strong and extremely physical, a real intimidating presence. Long Beach will be a home-

coming of sorts for her as she was born in the U.S. in Dearborn, Michigan.

Marketa Slukova/Kristyna KolocovaAnother Euro partnership to keep an eye on is the Czech duo of Marketa

Slukova and Kristyna Kolocova. Kolocova, 26, has played her entire nine-year career with her “Czech mate,” the duo having started on the European Conti-nental and FIVB junior circuits dating all the way back to 2005.

� e real breakthrough for this team was the 2012 London Olympics where they pulled off maybe the shocker of the whole tournament defeating the fi fth seeded Brazilian pair Maria Antonelli and Talita Antunes in the single elimination round of sixteen before succumbing to eventual silver medalists Jen Kessy and April Ross in the quarters. � at Olympic 5th place fi nish was one of six they garnered in 2012 and portended big things the following season, but aside from a career-high fourth in the Berlin Grand Slam, most of their other performances were underwhelming in 2013.

� e 2014 season has been a completely diff erent story with two very impres-sive wins to start the season in an Open in Prague and the Berlin Grand Slam (for some reason the German city brings out the best in them).

How have they been able to do it? Kolocova, 5-7, has an array of shots, which she has to employ, because with her short stature she is receiving every single serve. Kolocova is a “Ms. Hustle,” a whirling dervish on defense. She goes after every single ball. Slukova, 25, uses her 6-0 frame very eff ectively both as a blocker and a terminator. She hits a very heavy ball and has a great deal of fi nesse for someone her size.

� is team is unlikely to beat themselves, but Kolocova has to use her com-plete arsenal to great eff ect to come away with another victory in weather that will be more conducive to players from North and South America.

Global consequences

THE CHASERSSummer Ross and Emily Day had a breakout event in Long Beach in 2013, but are off to a slower start this year. Below right: Brooke Sweat has teamed with Lau-ren Fendrick to become one of the most consistent U.S. teams. (Photos: FIVB)

DiG



BRONZED BRAZILIANMaria Antonelli has teamed with Juliana Fells-berta to form one of the FIVB’s most potent teams. Antonelli knocked out two top teams in Long Beach last year. (Photo: FIVB)


GRAND OPENINGThe season’s fi rst AVP tournament featured a plot twist from John Mayer (left) and Brad Keenan, who upset the top two teams (Phil Dalhausser/Sean Rosenthal and Casey Patterson/Jake Gibb) to take the title in St. Petersburg, Fla., on June 1. It was Keenan’s fi rst career victory and Mayer’s second. (Photo: Robert Beck/AVP)

Mayer and Keenan help AVP return to form in St. Pete



KERRI ONKerri Walsh Jennings has another child (her third), a new side of the court (the right) and a new partner (April Ross). But one thing remains the same. She wins.On the FIVB Tour, she and April won two of the fi rst four events, and they also won the AVP opener in Florida on June 1 by posting a 5-0 match record. (Photo: Robert Beck/AVP)

BACK TO THE BEACHMost anywhere in Florida is a good place to play beach volleyball, and St. Petersburg, site of the AVP opener, was no exception. In front of a postcard-perfect backdrop, the top pros in America battled it out May 29 through June 1. Kerri Walsh Jennings and April Ross took home the women’s title, and the men’s bracket was topped by John Mayer and Brad Keenan. (Photo: Robert Beck/AVP)



STYLE POINTSTy Tramblie was out for more than a year with a shoulder surgery, but returned with style in Florida by placing seventh with partner Avery Drost after upsetting Todd Rogers and Theo Brunner in the fi rst round. (Photo: Rick Atwood)

HIGH RISEBrad Keenan needed to go high over the block of Jere-my Casebeer during a tough three-set win that featured a 20-18 nailbiter in the third. Keenan and Mayer went on to win the AVP St. Peters-burg Open with two subse-quent victories. (Photo: Rick Atwood)

34 digbeachvolleyball.com | 2014 #3 2014 #3| digbeachvolleyball.com 35


STYLE POINTSTy Tramblie was out for more than a year with a shoulder surgery, but returned with style in Florida by placing seventh with partner Avery Drost after upsetting Todd Rogers and Theo Brunner in the fi rst round. (Photo: Rick Atwood)

GOOD DAYSarah Day worked hard in Florida for a career-best fi fth place with partner Olaya Perez, good enough for a $5,200 payday for the duo. (Photo: Rick Atwood)

34 digbeachvolleyball.com | 2014 #3 2014 #3| digbeachvolleyball.com 35



FLORIDA HEATFlorida’s Adrian Carambula enjoyed a home tournament in St. Petersburg with partner Andrei Belov en route to a ninth-place fi nish. (Photo: Robert Beck/AVP)

DOUBLE DIPRyan Doherty and Brad Keenan, left, let their fi n-gers do the battling three feet over the net in Florida. Keenan’s wife, April Ross, right, helped the family enjoy a double fi rst-place payday. (Photos: Rick Atwood)


DIG DEEP

2014AVP TOUR

ST. PETERSBURG OPENMay 29-June 1

MILWAUKEE OPENJuly 4-6

SALT LAKE CITY OPENAugust 8-10

MANHATTAN BEACH OPENAugust 15-17

CINCINNATI OPENAugust 29-31

ATLANTIC CITY DO AC INVITATIONALSeptember 5-7

AVP CHAMPIONSHIPS AT HUNTINGTON BEACHSept 19-21

KERRI WALSH JENNINGS

SUMMER ROSS EMILY DAY

CASEY PATTERSON JAKE GIBB

KERRI WALSH JENNINGS

APRIL ROSS

#AVPBEACH

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fitnessTEXT BY CURTIS JACKSON EXERCISES DEMONSTRATED BY CHRISTIAN SEIBERPHOTOS BY DON LIEBIG

Ahhhhhh, the push-up. Walk into any gym in America and inevitably you will find a coach using these as incentive not to lose a drill or to motivate a team

to practice harder. I, for one, am all for it.The problem is that the push-up is a conditionally good and bad exercise. What

I mean is that many times this potentially beneficial exercise is butchered beyond belief and can do way more harm than good to the shoulders and low back. So, in the interest of injury prevention, I have decided to tackle this popular yet possibly injurious exercise.

I have been around volleyball almost 30 years now and I have known way too many volleyball players who have had shoulder surgeries, including my own wife. Hopefully, this article can help prevent future ones.

As many of you may have noticed, I’m kind of a stickler for form, so let’s dig into this staple exercise.

PUSH-UPS THE RIGHT WAYThis timeless exercise can actually do more harm than good if your

technique is wrong. Here’s how to make your push-ups count

THREE COMMON MISTAKESThree of the most common mistakes athletes make when doing push-ups

are: 1) Sagging the butt; 2) Dropping the head; 3) Making a hump between the shoulders.

Fortunately, you can avoid doing any of these things by using a dowel rod, broomstick or PVC pipe (Photo 1). Get into a push up position with hands slightly wider than the shoulders and feet about hip width. Have a friend or teammate gently place the rod (or whatever you choose to use) in line with your spine. Once it’s there, adjust your body so that it’s touching the back of your

head, between the shoulder blades and tailbone. If any of these three spots aren’t touching the stick then your alignment is off. It may take awhile to get in posi-tion, and just getting it in the right spot might be enough to be your workout for the day!

PROPER PUSH-UP TECHNIQUEOnce you have the right position, slowly start lowering your chest to the

ground with your elbows at about a 45-degree angle. Now, you must pay very close attention because the stick will want to move on you. These will be the most controlled push-ups you have ever done. The main benefit of the push-up for shoulder health is that it improves the movement of the shoulder blade. Be aware that you want your shoulder blades pinching together on the way down and then separating on the way up as you lock it out (photos 2 and 3 and then back to 1).

If you read the article on the plank in the last issue, then you know it’s also very important to have the anterior core braced with the glutes and quads contracted. This will keep the body in a straight line and make for a nice, pretty push-up.

PHOTO 1

PHOTO 2

PHOTO 3

PHOTO 4

PHOTO 5

PHOTO 6

Fitness#3.indd 2 6/25/14 4:40:00 PM

MODIFICATION WITH THE MED BALL AND SWISS BALLAnother technique we use at Jackson Strength is to put a small med ball underneath the

chest so our athletes have a consistent place to stop that doesn’t take them too low. Going too low in a push-up can be hard on the anterior capsule of the shoulder, and that’s some-thing no volleyballer needs. As overhead athletes, we are already hard on it.

Once you can complete 10 perfect reps, you’re ready for the progressions. The first one would be to elevate the feet. By now, you should have good kinesthetic awareness and can remove the dowel rod. We don’t typically go above 14 inches with our volleyball athletes because increasing the angle too much can also be hard on the shoulder (photos 4, 5 and 6).

Once you are comfortable with this version, move on to doing them on a Swiss ball (pho-tos 7, 8 and 9). Obviously, we can’t put a med ball on top of the Swiss ball, but it doesn’t matter. Part of the beauty of this version is that the Swiss ball has a natural curve to it that provides a perfect stopping point. Just make sure you aren’t bouncing off the ball to cheat your way up. You can even add the bench to your feet with this version once it gets easy.

SkIp THE kNEE puSH-upSA popular push-up for athletes who can’t do a push-up is to do them from the knees.

Don’t waste your time! It’s out of the scope of this article, but trust me, they don’t do much to improve regular push-ups. Instead, put your hands on a bench to improve the angle. This version will get you doing regular push-ups much quicker!

Hopefully, this article has inspired you to do some proper push-ups to spike harder and stay away from the doctor!

Curtis Jackson is the head strength and performance coach for Jackson Strength in Solana Beach, Calif., where he specializes in vertical jump, speed and high-performance nutrition. If you would like more info on training and nutrition for volleyball athletes, you can sign up for his newsletter at JacksonStrength.com and follow him on Twitter @jacksonstrength.

PHOTO 7

PHOTO 8

PHOTO 9

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Fitness#3.indd 3 6/25/14 4:40:27 PM

clinicBY BRAD KEENANPHOTO BY PETER BROUILLET


PRESSFOR POINTS

xxxxxxxx

Blocking is a lot different on the beach than it is for indoors.

I feel like the eye work is a little different since the blocker is only dealing with one hitter in most situ-ations. First the blocker needs to make sure the pass is not hittable by the setter.

From there it is important to watch the set. If the set is anywhere close to the net, it is im-portant for the blocker to go away from their call, and just try and block the ball.

If everything is in system, the blocker should stay low and mobile, and turn the outside hand slightly toward the court, and the inside hand should press straight over into the court. If you look at the picture you can see my right leg and hip turning off the net. This is not good. It is important to stay square to the net, in order to extend the amount of time the blocker is over the net.

Last thing, as you are jump-ing to block try to press over as soon as possible. The more time you spend over the net, the more chances you have to block the ball.

Brad Keenan, 32, has been a

top pro beach player for nearly a decade after a stellar indoor career at Pepperdine. He picked up his fi rst beach victory in May with part-ner John Mayer.

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Clinic-3indd.indd 1 6/26/14 9:37:11 AM

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rewindBY JON HASTINGSPHOTOS BY PETER BROUILLET& MARTY SMILKSTEIN

McPeak powerEvery beach court has guys who tell stories about how good the old guys used to be. We’re giving readers the chance to pick a defender between Ty Tramblie (2003-active) and Gary Hooper (1972-1984). Which one of these

similar-sized guys do you want scrambling behind your big block? Hooper won 11 times in his 12-year run and Tram-blie has two seconds in his modern era career. Don’t let Hooper’s passing form in this photo fool you – he was just warming up for a 1978 Lake Tahoe event at Kings Beach, inhaling the karma of the era.

TyTramblievs.GaryHooper TaleOfTheNet

Tramblie 4 Quickness Hooper

Tramblie Cut Shot 4 Hooper

Tramblie Digging 4 Hooper

Tramblie 4 Serving Hooper

Tramblie Clutch 4 Hooper

Tramblie 4 Strategy Hooper

Tramblie Hitting 4 Hooper

Tramblie = Hairstyle = Hooper

Tramblie Dialogue 4 Hooper

Tramblie 4 Conditioning Hooper

Tramblie 4 Sponsor friendly* Hooper

Tramblie 4 Intangibles Hooper

* Hooper gets the nod with tobacco companies

Pick your defender

Ty Tramblie

Ht. 6-0

College: Cal State Northridge

Hangouts: Hermosa Beach, Huntington Beach

Known partners: Avery Drost, Mike Morrison, Tyler Hildebrand, Russ Marchewka

Gary Hooper

Ht. 5-11

College: UC Santa Barbara

Hangouts: State Beach, East Beach

Known partners: Steve Obradovich, Fred Sturm, Jim Menges, Tim Walmer

Rewind1.indd 1 6/26/14 9:43:54 AM

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beach smack INTERVIEW BY CONNOR HASTINGS • PHOTO BY DON LIEBIG

WILLMONTGOMERYWhat mental reminder tends to help you the most during a volleyball match?Anything that cues me into the moment. I enjoy some creative dialogue, sometimes more meditative, calm reminders are good, other times it’s along the lines of a “what would a Navy SEAL do?” Each respective situation calls for its own formula. Do you prefer playing opponents that do a lot of talking or none at all?I respect those players with good dialogue, and enjoy the quality of trash talking or heckling they bring to the table. It makes games fun, exciting, and memorable. I feel like Casey Jennings can bring good dialogue and can make an average game something special for players and fans. On the other hand, there are others who have terrible dialogue, and it motivates me to beat them so they have nothing to talk about.

What are your top three sources of motivation?Mastering the moment. Pursuing potential. Never being satisfied.

Which would you be more willing to give up control over: Your diet or your exercise regimen?

Diet, I can mentally overcome the acute side effects of a poor diet but I can’t mentally make myself jump higher. Or at least I don’t think I can. Maybe I’m wrong though.

What’s usually the first thought in your head when you wake up in the morning and your last thought before falling asleep?First thought is something ambitious along the lines of “let’s take over the world”... Last thoughts usually pertain to gratitude or meditation, to calm the racing mind and bring perspective to how fortunate I am.

What’s the most mentally stimulating environment you’ve ever been in?Team whiteboard meetings at UCI. Ideas flowed freely, and covered all kinds of topics from how we were going to be the best team in America, to what it means to become a man. Those meetings helped shape who I am today.

If you had your own radio show, what would the title be and what would be the format?

I suppose I would host a show about people who are extremely successful or unique to their respective field. I would bring on people

from all walks of life to keep it interesting; different professions, passions, ages, nationalities, personalities, etc. The name? “Life Lessons with Monty.”

What’s the most complex do-it-yourself project you could complete?I would love to build a completely furnished and livable treehouse. Maybe just a room for me or later on in life for my kid, but the livable

standard would still be held. I have been fortunate enough to have some great mentors in the field of carpentry and woodwork, and I’m confident I will make it happen when the time is right.

Where do you go when you need to recharge?I grew up surfing, and love everything about it. I don’t get out as much as I used to when I was a kid, but I still do derive that same great feeling from a good session. I’m hearing some buzz about El Niño bringing swell this coming winter though so I’m going to have to get in shape for that.

Will Montgomery, 24, has already played in 58 pro events worldwide after a college career at UC Irvine.46 digbeachvolleyball.com | 2014 #3

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Smack-3.indd 1 6/26/14 9:24:46 AM

CONGRATULATIONS TOCASEY PATTERSON AND JAKE GIBB

USAV BEACHUSAV BEACHUSAV BEACHUSAV BEACHUSAV BEACHUSAV BEACHTEAM OF THE YEARTEAM OF THE YEARTEAM OF THE YEAR

mizunovolleyball.com

@caseypatt

@jakegibb

Insta

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