BRIEFLY IN SPORTS

Wacholder, Turner reach semis

The oldest beach volleyball event “” the Manhattan Beach Open, which is the considered the top stop on the Assn. of Volleyball Professionals Crocs Tour “” celebrated its 46th year with a four-day tournament that ended Sunday.

Laguna Beach High products Rachel Wacholder (Class of 1993) and Dain Blanton (1990) competed at the event.

Wacholder and partner Tyra Turner, the No. 4 seed, reached the women’s semifinals but were eliminated from the title chase following a 16-21, 21-15, 15-11 loss Saturday to top-seeds and eventual champion Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh.

Wacholder and Turner had won all three of their previous matches before their semifinal defeat.

May-Treanor and Walsh went on to rally past No. 2-seeds Elaine Youngs and Nicole Branagh, 15-21, 21-7, 15-12, in the final.

It was the third consecutive triumph at Manhattan Beach for May-Treanor and Walsh and their 10th of the current Crocs tour.

For the second-straight year, Todd Rogers and Phil Dalhausser won the men’s title. The duo, the No. 3 seed, defeated eighth-seeded Dax Holdren and Sean Scott, 20-22, 21-16, 15-11, in Sunday’s final.

It was the seventh tour tournament victory of the year for Rogers and Dalhausser.

The pair also became the first men’s team to win consecutive Manhattan Beach Open titles since Karch Kiraly and Kent Steffes won back-to-back titles in 1991-92.

Blanton and partner Paul Baxter, the No. 19 seeds, finished tied for 17th place. They went 1-2 in the tournament.

The winners of the tournament have their names commemorated on a plaque on the Manhattan Beach Pier.

Beach volleyball workouts offered

Main Beach Laguna Volleyball Club is holding summer evening open workouts in Laguna Beach for all high school-aged players.

Workouts are held from 7 to 9 p.m. Monday and Wednesday weekly through Aug. 29.

For more information, including cost and directions, call (949) 715-9130.

Summer tennis lessons underway

Summer tennis lessons for all ages are underway in Laguna Beach.

Two-week sessions for pee-wee through teen, beginning and intermediate classes, as well as competitor training for players 10-16, will run Monday through Thursday of each week.

To register, contact the Laguna Beach Recreation Dept. at (949) 497-0716, ext. 6.

For more information, call Julie Heussenstamm, a teaching professional with United States Professional Tennis Assn., at (949) 933-4850, or by e-mail at [email protected].