Watch 2018 AVP Austin Open – Pro Beach Volleyball

The 2018 AVP Austin Open – Pro Beach Volleyball was a thrilling event that took place at the Krieg Fields in Austin, Texas from May 17-20, 2018. This four-day tournament showcased some of the best beach volleyball players in the world including Olympic champions, rising stars, and seasoned veterans.

The competition was divided into men's and women's brackets, with each bracket having 16 teams competing for the championship title. The teams were divided into four pools of four teams each, and the top two teams from each pool advanced to the single-elimination playoffs.

The matches took place on four courts, with two being used for the women's games and two for the men's games. The sand was deep and soft, which made it challenging for the players to move around quickly and required a lot of stamina to play at a high level.

Throughout the tournament, the crowds were treated to some exhilarating matches with intense rallies and jaw-dropping saves. The athletes were constantly pushing themselves to their limits, diving for balls, and spiking with incredible force.

The women's bracket was particularly exciting, with several upsets and surprising results. The top seed, Kerri Walsh Jennings and her partner, Nicole Branagh, were defeated in the quarterfinals by the eighth seed, Kelly Claes and Brittany Hochevar. The semi-finals saw a battle between two unseeded teams, Karissa Cook and Jace Pardon versus Kelley Larsen and Emily Stockman, with the latter team pulling off a stunning upset to advance to the finals.

On the men's side, the favorite teams held up well, with top seeds Phil Dalhausser and Nick Lucena advancing to the semi-finals, as did second-seeded John Hyden and Ryan Doherty. In the semi-finals, Dalhausser and Lucena faced off against the fifth-seeded team of Casey Patterson and Stafford Slick. The match was a nail-biter, with both teams playing at an extremely high level. In the end, Dalhausser and Lucena won in two sets to advance to the finals.

The finals of both the women's and men's brackets were thrilling, with the athletes leaving it all on the court. In the women's final, Larsen and Stockman faced off against Alix Klineman and April Ross, who had won the event in 2017. The match was closely contested, with both teams playing exceptional volleyball, but it was Klineman and Ross who pulled out the victory in two sets.

The men's final saw Dalhausser and Lucena going up against Hyden and Doherty. Both teams had played exceptionally well throughout the tournament, and the final did not disappoint. The match went down to the wire, with each team trading points throughout. In the end, it was Dalhausser and Lucena who emerged victorious, winning the match in three sets.

The 2018 AVP Austin Open – Pro Beach Volleyball was a thrilling event that showcased some of the best beach volleyball players in the world. The athletes demonstrated exceptional skill, athleticism, and sportsmanship, putting on a show that left the crowds on the edge of their seats. Overall, it was an incredible event that highlighted the excitement and intensity of professional beach volleyball.