Get up to speed on professional volleyball’s recent four-day visit to San Francisco right here. And read on to see what it was like yesterday during the Finals.
Pro beach volleyball with gold medal Olympians under the golden Sun - what better use could you have for the old Piers of San Francisco? Click to expand:
Let’s pass by the sponsor’s tent to see the rainbow of Crocs shoes…
…and here’s the mise en scene at Centre Court in the mini-stadium. This is a pretty good transformation of Piers 30-32. You don’t get the total SoCal experience as you might in counties Los Angeles, Orange (yes, The O.C.) 0r Fun Diego, but it isn’t bad at all:
First the Women’s Final. (Results here and better photos here.) Nicole Branagh and Elaine Youngs took on Jen Kessy and April Ross. See how high above the net they can get?
You don’t know where the spike is going to go. Will the ball go to the left or the right…
…or just slam right through your arms? (NB: KGC stands for Kentucky Grilled Chicken)
And on to the Men’s Final, with John Hyden and Sean Scott taking on recent gold medalists Todd Rogers and Phil Dalhausser. Here’s Phil the Thrillhissself:
These fellows are a little tall. See? Todd Rogers injured finger didn’t seem to slow him down too much:
And here’s the “Beast of Beijing” flying along above the sand:
Guess who won?
Joe Gallo presenting the giant check. Barefoot Wines is owned by Gallo? Did not know that.
So there you have it – an accessible, world-class sporting event that doesn’t cost and arm and a leg, right here in our little town. That’s the AVP San Francisco Open.
See you next year!
