Volleyball: Locals advance in AVP event

Costa Mesa resident Jennifer Fopma and UC Irvine product Whitney Pavlik both advanced with separate partners Friday in the Assn. of Volleyball Professionals Manhattan Beach Open beach volleyball tournament near the Manhattan Beach Pier.

Fopma and Jennifer Kessey, the No. 4-seeded entry, defeated No. 20-seeded Lynne Galli and Briana Hinga, 21-10, 21-13, in the second round of the main draw. Earlier, Fopma and Kessey topped Nicole Bateham and Kimberly Smith, 21-19, 21-11.

Fopma and Kessy will face No. 5-seeded Angela Bensend and Geena Urango in Round 3 on Saturday at 8 a.m.

Pavlik and Amanda Dowdy, the No. 7-seeded pair, will face No. 2-seeded Kim DiCello and Kendra VanZwieten in Round 3 on Saturday at 9 a.m.

Pavlik and Dowdy defeated Kady Forbes and Danielle Jacobson, 21-8, 21-10, in the first round on Friday, then handled No. 10-seeded Janelle Allen and Megan Wallin-Brockway, 21-17, 21-19, in Round 2.

In the men’s main draw, Newport Harbor High product Ty Tramblie and partner Curt Toppel, the No. 10- seeded duo, were eliminated.

Tramblie and Toppel defeated No. 23-seeded Dan Buehring and Spencer Sauter, 21-18, 21-14, in the first round.

But Tramblie and Toppel fell to No. 7-seeded Jeremy Casebeer and Sean Rosenthal, 21-15, 21-17, in Round 2, then were upset by No. 24-seeded Daniel Dalanhese and Joe Hillman, 21-19, 21-18, in the contender’s bracket.

Former UCI standouts Connor Hughes and Travis Woloson, who came out of the qualifier on Thursday, were defeated by No. 2-seeded Phil Dalhausser and Nick Lucena, 21-13, 21-17, in the first round on Friday.

The former Anteaters then lost to No. 15-seeded Jason Lochhead and Russ Marchewka, 21-19, 21-16, in the contender’s bracket and were eliminated from the tournament.

— From staff reports

— From staff reports