Crabb/Gibb Look to Defend AVP Hermosa Beach Crown

AVP Hermosa Beach

• July 26-29, 2018
• Entry List
• Qualifier Bracket
• Schedule/Results
• Preview

Top seeded John Hyden/Theo Brunner and No. 2 Jake Gibb/Taylor Crabb will battle it out for a shot at the AVP Hermosa Beach title, while No. 3 seed Ryan Doherty/Billy Allen will take on No. 5 seed Ed Ratledge/Rafu Rodriguez in the other semifinal.

Crabb/Gibb will be looking to secure their second straight Hermosa Beach title, after besting Trevor Crabb/Sean Rosenthal for the crown in 2017. The duo already has one AVP title on its 2018 resume, having won the Seattle Open on June 24, and was the runnerup at the AVP New York on June 10. Crabb/Gibb moved on to the semifinals with a 21-16, 21-18 win over Allen/Doherty.

Ratledge/Rodriguez are vying for their second consecutive AVP title, following a $15,000 win at AVP San Francisco on July 8. The pair bested Hyden/Brunner 14-21, 22-20, 15-13 to stay in the winner’s bracket on Saturday.

Allen/Doherty finished third in San Francisco and New York. The duo bounced back from its loss to Crabb/Gibb with a tiebreak win over Trevor Crabb/John Mayer in the contender’s bracket 21-17, 17-21, 15-10.

Hyden/Brunner were third in Seattle and New York. The pair played their way into the final four with a 23-21, 21-10 contender’s bracket win over Phil Dalhausser/Jason Lochhead after falling to Ratledge/Rodriguez in the final winner’s bracket match.

On the women’s side, the top four seeds made their way to the semifinals. Top seeded Sara Hughes/Summer Ross will play No. 2 Kelly Claes/Brittany Hochevar, while No. 3 seed April Ross/Alix Klineman and No. 4 Geena Urango/Caitlin Ledoux will face off in the other semifinal.

Hughes/Ross are looking to follow up their AVP New York gold medal (June 10). The pair played their way through the winner’s bracket, finishing up with a 21-17, 21-18 win over Ledoux/Urango.

Klineman/Ross remained in the winner’s bracket with a 17-21, 21-15, 15-13 victory over Claes/Hochevar, and will vye for their second AVP crown of the year following AVP Austin. The duo finished third in New York and San Francisco (July 8). Ross also teamed up with Ledoux for the runnerup spot at the Seattle Open (June 24). The

Claes/Hochevar, who were third in New York and in Seattle, claimed their spot in the semifinals with a 21-16, 21-13 win over Karissa Cook/Katie Spieler in the final contender’s match.

Ledoux/Urango, who were the runnerup in San Francisco, stayed alive with a contender’s bracket win over Nicole Branagh/Allie Wheeler (21-19, 21-17),

Action begins at 9:15 a.m. PT (12:15 ET) with Ross/Klineman vs. Urango/Ledoux. Hughes/Ross take on Hochevar/Claes at 10:15.

The men’s semis follow at 11:15 a.m. (Ratledge/Rodriguez vs. Doherty/Allen) and 12:15 p.m. (Hyden/Brunner vs. Crabb/Gibb).