Gibb/Patterson, Day/Hochevar Take 57th AVP Manhattan Beach Open Championships

MANHATTAN BEACH, Calif. - July 17, 2016 - PRLog -- The top-seeded men's tandem of Jake Gibb and Casey Patterson and the sixth-seeded duo of Emily Day and Brittany Hochevar battled to victories in the biggest event on the AVP calendar, the 57^th Annual Manhattan Beach Open, today at the Manhattan Beach Pier. The Rio-bound duo Gibb and Patterson dropped #3 seed Tri Bourne and John Hyden 17-21, 21-18, 16-14 in a spirited, nationally-televised (NBC) men's final, while Day and Hochevar upset #1 seeds Lane Carico and Summer Ross 21-16, 19-21, 19-17 for their first AVP title together.

For Gibb and Patterson, it was the 13^th AVP title together and third of 2016. Combined with their triumph at the AVP San Francisco Open last month, the Olympians became the first men's back-to-back winners on Tour this year. While today's win marks Gibb's 3^rd win at the Manhattan Beach Open, all with different partners, this marks the first time Patterson will have his name enshrined on the historic Manhattan Beach Pier.

On the women's side, Day and Hochevar won in just their second AVP event together this season and fifth overall as a duo. With this win, Hochevar becomes just the 4th player ever (since the AVP began) to record their first career victory in Manhattan Beach. This marks Day's 5th Manhattan Beach Open, and she has placed 3rd three times previously to go with a fifth-place finish. Today's victory marks the first time both Day and Hochevar have claimed the championship title at the Manhattan Beach Pier, solidifying both their names on the celebrated Manhattan Beach Pier.

In the men's semifinals earlier today, Gibb and Patterson advanced when Olympians Phil Dalhausser and Nick Lucena forfeited following a calf injury to Dalhausser during the first set. Bourne and Hyden defeated Taylor and Trevor Crabb in the other semifinal, 23-21, 19-21, 15-10, to set up the final.

On the women's side, Carico and Ross took out Olympians Lauren Fendrick and Brooke Sweat, 21-15, 16-21, 15-11, while Day and Hochevar upended #2 Kim DiCello and Kendra VanZwieten 21-15, 21-19 to earn their spots in the final.

Between matches, the AVP honored retiring superstar Todd Rogers, who won 80 titles in the U.S. and abroad in more than 20 years in the sport. Rogers teamed with Stafford Slick at this week's MBO for a seventh place finish. Known as 'The Professor', Rogers will be continuing his career in volleyball as the Beach Volleyball Head Coach at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.

Full results and brackets from the entire tournament can be found here:

Men: http://avp.com/stats/mens-manhattan-beach-open-2016/

Women: http://avp.com/stats/womens-manhattan-beach-open-2016/

Following the Olympic beach volleyball competition in Rio de Janeiro (August 6-11), the AVP will host its final event of the 2016 season, the AVP Championships in Chicago, September 1-4, at Oak Street Beach on famed Lake Shore Drive.

The AVP thanks its partners: Barefoot, Jaybird, Samuel Adams, Smartypants Vitamins, Wescom, Hydro Flask, Obrigado, Ocean Spray, UCLA Health and Wilson for their support of the AVP Manhattan Beach Open.

ABOUT THE AVP:

The AVP, entering its 33rd season, is the premiere American professional beach volleyball tour and exclusive U.S. beach volleyball home of the nation's top male and female athletes, including those who have won gold, silver and bronze medals in the Olympic Games. Under the ownership of Donald Sun since 2012, the AVP held seven tournaments across the U.S. in 2014, eight in 2015 and eight throughout 2016.