Walsh, May-Treanor Win in Chicago

Kerri Walsh and Misty May-Treanor capped the Assn. of Volleyball Professionals regular season with a 21-16, 21-16 victory over Brazilians Semirames Marnis and Tatiana Minello on Sunday in the Chicago Open.

It was the ninth AVP title in 12 events for Walsh and May-Treanor, who have played in the final of all 12 events. They won $21,000 each from the season’s richest purse and also clinched the season points title with 6,300 and each won a sport utility vehicle.

Walsh and May-Treanor have won 13 of 16 events worldwide this year and 16 of 19 since winning the 2004 Olympic gold medal in Athens.

Elaine Youngs and Rachel Wacholder, the only other women’s team to win this season, lost to Walsh and May-Treanor in the semifinals and finished third. It was the first time in the last seven events that they did not reach the finals. Youngs and Wacholder finished second in the season points race with 5,688.

All four are among the top 12 individuals who qualified for the Best of the Beach invitational next week in Las Vegas. The season ends Oct. 1-2 in Hawaii with an invitational tournament that features the top eight teams in the points standings.

-- Peter Yoon