Beach Volleyball: Laguna Open a hit once again

The 59th annual Men’s Laguna Open beach volleyball tournament drew talented teams and big crowds last weekend at Main Beach.

Some of the high-level talent among the top 28-ranked teams vying for expanded prize money included 32 AAA-rated players, several of them among the top 10-rated players in the stats and 13 of whom hold professional rating points.

Hawk Hatcher of Hermosa Beach, the No. 1-ranked AAA player in the state, teamed with partner Mark Williams of Carlsbad to win the tournament. The duo defeated the team of Andre Belov (Long Beach, Russia) and Adrian Carambula (Miami Beach, Fla.) in a thrilling, double-elimination final that included eight tie scores.

Among the top finishes for local competitors were former Laguna Beach High boys’ volleyball standout Travis Woloson and Connor Hughes of Costa Mesa who finished tied for fifth place, and Mike Garcia (Laguna Beach) and Michael Boag (Lake Forest) who tied for ninth.

The two-day event featured live music hosted by radio station KX 93.5 FM. Among those in attendance were USA Women’s Volleyball National Team coach and three-time Olympic gold medalist, Karch Kiraly, Olympic gold medalist and former Laguna Open champion, Dane Selznick, and former pros Ty Loomis, Leif Hanson, Sean Fallowfield and Brian Wisely.

Selznick’s father, Gene Selznick, won the Men’s Laguna Open six times including the first four tournaments starting in 1955.

The Laguna Open is the world’s oldest, continuously held beach volleyball tournament and will celebrate its 60th year in 2015.

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59th Annual Men’s Laguna Open

First place: Hawk Hatcher (Hermosa Beach)/Mark Williams (Carlsbad).

Second place: Andrei Belov (Long Beach)/Adrian Carambula (Miami Beach, FL.).

Equal third place: Trevor Crabb (Hermosa Beach)/Steven Vanderwerp (Grand Haven, MI.); Pete Aronchick (Los Angeles)/Abel Gustafson (Huntington Beach).

Equal fifth place: Ed Ratledge (Huntington Beach)/Pedro Brazao (Huntington Beach); Connor Hughes (Costa Mesa)/Travis Woloson (Laguna Beach).

Equal seventh place: Ozz Borges (Culver City)/Jorge Martinez (Hermosa Beach); Taylor Crabb (Long Beach)/Robart Page (Los Angeles).

Equal ninth place: Mike Garcia (Laguna Beach)/Michael Boag (Lake Forest); Dane Worley (Tustin)/Chris Long (Tustin); Hylas Smith (San Diego)/Alexi Gabriel (San Diego); Danko Iordanov (Lakewood)/Blaine Nielsen (Corona del Mar).

Equal 13th place: Marcin Jagoda (Santa Monica)/Kevin Lynch (Hermosa Beach); Reuben Danley (San Diego)/Mark Tkaczuk (Los Angeles); Jon Larson (Corona del Mar)/Bobby Jacobs (Newport Beach); Miloslav Rousek (Newport Coast)/Radoslav Dvorsky (Irvine).

Equal 17th place: Landen Tusieseina (Hermosa Beach)/Jake Rosener (Hermosa Beach); Mario Staub (Long Beach)/David Rowker (San Pedro); Dmitriy Yurchenko (La Jolla)/Adam Fleck (San Diego); Gustiano Tuaniga (Long Beach)/Myles Muagututia (Oceanside); Jay Panther (Long Beach)/Jason Medero (Laguna Niguel); Matt Heagy (Hermosa Beach)/Lucas Black (Costa Mesa); Andor Gyulai (Los Angeles)/Kevin Beukema (Redondo Beach); Marcus Molina (Aliso Viejo)/Troy Field (San Clemente).

Equal 25th place: Marc Spitaleri (Huntington Beach)/Jake Nuneviller (Huntington Beach); Jarrett Kessler (Rancho Mission Viejo)/Kurt Blanton (Laguna Beach); Josh Williams (San Diego)/Daniel Schwartz (San Diego); Phillip Friedman (Mission Viejo)/Grant Friedman (Mission Viejo).

— From staff reports