Hurricane Hilary brought winds and rain to Southern California on Sunday, but it didn’t dampen the spirit of fans who came to watch the final — albeit rain-soaked and earlier then usual — action of the Association of Volleyball Professionals’ Manhattan Beach Open.
“The Manhattan Beach Open is like the Super Bowl of volleyball. It’s the biggest one,” said Bob Watters, an Anaheim resident who has been attending the tournament for the last 40 years.
The bleachers at the Manhattan Beach Pier were nearly filled as hundreds of fans, wearing plastic ponchos and huddling under umbrellas, braved the historic weather to watch some of the best players in beach volleyball compete in the annual AVP tournament.
With heavy rain pelting the bleachers, most of the attendees were drenched when the women’s finals, the last match, started around 11 a.m. However, the downpour didn’t dim the enthusiasm of fans, who cheered enthusiastically as the wins notched up.
Rob Christie from Manhattan Beach was one of them.
“It started out kind of nice, and it was just a little misty, and we stuck it out through the whole thing,” he said. “And at the end, that match, it was dumping, and I felt bad for the girls on the court, but boy, they fought hard, and they deserve to win.”
Christie, who has been coming to the tournament for 20 years, said it is “the Wimbledon of beach volleyball,” and that he was “so happy” to be attending even in the rain.
Christie said the sport holds a special place in the hearts of those from Manhattan Beach.
“The courts are here provided for everybody’s enjoyment. So it’s nice that the city does that,” he said. “And it’s good exercise, it’s the best thing you can do with your day (it) is to get out in the sunshine, exercise, and have fun with your friends, play volleyball.”
Al Lau, CEO of AVP, said the turnout at the tournament, which celebrated its 40th anniversary this year, demonstrates the sport’s huge…
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