Hyden, Scott attempt to continue winning ways

This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.

These beach volleyball nets are only so high, not high enough to keep a 6-foot-9 monster like Phil Dalhausser at bay. He and partner Todd Rogers have won the last three Assn. of Volleyball Professionals Manhattan Beach tournaments. But they’ve been stopped short of a tournament win twice this season, by John Hyden and Sean Scott.

Scott has lost to Dalhausser and Rogers in the Manhattan Beach finals the last two years. He knows what the toughest part of playing them is.

‘Phil is the biggest challenge,’ he said. ‘I think he’s the best in the world.’

When the duo beat Dalhausser and Rogers in Ocean City, Md., the first of two wins against them this season, they didn’t give up any aces.

‘There was a guy on our side who blocked eight balls,’ Hyden said, motioning to Scott. ‘Sean played exceptionally well.’

The two were on the beach today to get some practice in before tomorrow’s match. They said if they don’t know the team they’re playing (which they won’t because they face a team that qualified today in the first round) they develop a game plan and try to serve tough. Scott said he focuses on his responsibilities before the match.

‘Ninety percent of the balls are coming to me,’ he said. ‘I focus on moving my feet, see the balls, keep balls in front of me.’

Note:

• When Hyden was 2 years old, he lost his father, David, in a military accident. To help other families in similar situations, the team promotes F.U.B.A.R, an acronym for an energy bar that stands for Fueled Up Beyond All Recognition. A portion of the bar’s proceeds go to Warrior’s Promise, a nonprofit that assists military families in need. ‘[The makers of the bar] still wanted to work with the military and understood what it’s like to come home and need help,’ Hyden said.

--Bill Brink

tournament this year. Photo credit: Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times.