Hermosa Beach Open Recap: Olympians Capture Titles in Return to Roots
Hermosa Beach Open Recap: Olympians Capture Titles in Return to Roots
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The 2024 Hermosa Beach front Open sent a Unique form of magic, Mixing environment-class athleticism While using the down-to-earth spirit that defines the Seaside volleyball Local community. Held September four–7 near the Hermosa Seashore Pier, this 12 months’s Event wasn’t simply a quit to the aggressive circuit—it had been a celebration on the sport’s origins, featuring Olympians competing shoulder to shoulder with soaring stars and local heroes inside of a admirer-friendly, no-frills environment.
The celebration had no stadium seating or flashy supporter zones. Alternatively, spectators gathered round the courts, standing while in the sand and sitting down on Seaside towels since they cheered on elite athletes from just ft absent. Organized with grassroots support and backed by sponsors like Wedbush Securities, the Match returned to some purer Variation of the game, the place community, Levels of competition, and relationship were being the main target.
Over the Females’s aspect, Olympians Kelly Cheng and Sara Hughes reminded Anyone why they’re deemed Among the many best on earth. In the spectacular all-USC ultimate, Cheng and Hughes dropped the main established to Terese Cannon and Megan Kraft right before roaring again to earn the subsequent two. The deciding established came all the way down to the wire, with Cheng and Hughes edging out a 20–18 win inside a thrilling finish. The victory marked a triumphant instant inside their submit-Olympic marketing campaign and underscored their dominance heading into the following AVP and international events.
The Adult men’s ultimate showcased A different Olympic-caliber clash. Former NBA ahead turned Beach front volleyball standout Chase Budinger teamed up with Olympic veteran Miles Evans to confront off versus Miles Partain and Alex Ranghieri. Budinger and Evans proved far too highly effective, winning in straight sets, 21–14 and 21–seventeen. Budinger’s physicality at the net and Evans’ sharp instincts made them the unstoppable duo with the weekend.
Across four days of Perform, a hundred thirty groups competed within a double-elimination structure that saved followers on their toes and athletes grinding by way of extensive, sun-soaked days. The tournament also provided a juniors division, which introduced in hundreds of young gamers desperate to learn, contend, and share the sand with the execs. It absolutely was a exceptional option for youth athletes to be A part of A significant volleyball occasion as well as a worthwhile recruiting minute for college applications in attendance.
An entire Photograph gallery captured the essence of the Event—from significant-flying spikes and gritty digs to silent moments of aim and laughter between teammates. These photos, greatly shared on the internet, served showcase the elegance and intimacy with the Activity in its most authentic environment.
With its results, the Hermosa Beach Open has sparked conversation about its long run. City leaders are exploring a model just like Manhattan Beach front, where the municipality could just take a bigger job in web hosting the Event yearly. There’s also a bigger aim in sight: Hermosa is actively positioning by itself to be a specified schooling site for your 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
The 2024 Hermosa Beach Open up was more than simply a Match. It had been a statement—evidence that even within an era of big contracts and global broadcasts, beach volleyball’s coronary heart continue to beats strongest during the sand, surrounded by Local Sodo66 community.