World Series of Beach Volleyball – Images from Day 1

The World Series of Beach Volleyball kicked off today in Long Beach, California.  The FIVB-sanctioned exhibition format of this year’s tournament is USA vs the World. Teams from the USA, Brazil, Canada, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Poland and Spain are competing.

Day One of pool play took place today with the US teams facing each other while the international teams battled. On the men’s side, 7 teams went 2-0: Nick Lucena/Phil Dalhausser (USA), Theo Brunner/Casey Patterson (USA), John Hyden/Ryan Doherty (USA), Taylor Crabb/Jake Gibb (USA), Pablo Herrera/Adrian Gavira (Spain), Sam Pedlow/Sam Schachter (Canada) and Piotr Kantor/Bartosz Losiak (Poland).

In the women’s pools, Brooke Sweat/Summer Ross (USA), April Ross/Lauren Fendrick (USA), Sara Hughes/Kelly Claes (USA), Talita/Larissa (Brazil), Laura Ludwig/Kira Walkenhorst (Germany) and Heather Bansley/Brandie Wilkerson (Canada) won both their matches.

For complete results, visit wsobv.com.  Pool play finishes tomorrow with the quarterfinals starting later in the day.

Be sure to follow all the live action on ESPN2 and ESPN3.  The women’s finals will be aired Sunday, July 16 at 12pm EST on ABC. 

Below are some photos from Day One of Pool Play.

Kerri Walsh Jennings and Nicole Branagh
Kerri Walsh Jennings and Nicole Branagh
Kelly Claes and Sara Hughes celebrate victory over Kerri Walsh Jennings and Nicole Branagh
Kelly Claes and Sara Hughes celebrate victory over Kerri Walsh Jennings and Nicole Branagh
Sophie van Gestel (Netherlands)
Emily Stockman (USA)
Brooke Sweat (USA)
Brittany Hochevar and Emily Day (USA) celebrate a point
Brittany Hochevar and Emily Day (USA) celebrate a point
Brandie Wilkerson and Heather Bansley (Canada)
Brandie Wilkerson and Heather Bansley celebrate on their way to a 2-0 day (Canada)
Betsi Metter Flint (USA)
Betsi Metter Flint (USA)
U.S. Olympians April Ross and Lauren Fendrick
U.S. Olympians April Ross and Lauren Fendrick
Trevor Crabb (USA) and Theo Brunner (USA) battle at the net
Trevor Crabb (USA) and Theo Brunner (USA) battle at the net
Billy Allen (USA)
Billy Allen (USA)
Alex Ranghieri (Italy) tried to hit past Saymon Barbosa of Brazil
Alex Ranghieri (Italy) tried to hit past Saymon Barbosa of Brazil
Saymon Barbosa (Brazil) lets his feet do the talking
Saymon Barbosa (Brazil) lets his feet do the talking