HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. (AP) — Jennifer Fopma and Brooke Sweat won their first women’s title, and Theodore Brunner and Nick Lucena took the men’s title at the $200,000 AVP Championships on Sunday.
Kerri Walsh Jennings missed a chance to set the career record for victories by a female beach volleyball player, when she and teammate April Ross lost in the semifinals. The top seeds were beaten by third-seeded Lauren Fendrick and Brittany Hochevar, 21-15, 21-17. Walsh Jennings and Ross lost for just the second time in 20 matches together.
Walsh Jennings has 112 career tournament victories, tying her with former partner Misty May-Treanor, who retired after they won their third straight Olympic gold medal last year.
Fourth-seeded Fopma and Sweat beat Fendrick and Hochevar in the final 21-19, 15-21, 15-9.
Fourth-seeded Brunner and Lucena beat No. 3 seed Tri Bourne and John Hyden, 23-21, 7-21, 15-13. It was Brunner’s first AVP victory and Lucena’s first since 2010.
