Former Olympian Pat Powers Wins on the Pro Tour With New Partner

In 1984, Pat Powers was winning the gold, playing on the Olympic champion United States volleyball team.

Four years later, Powers is opting for the green.

Powers and his partner, Jon Stevenson, won the $40,000 Club Sportswear Open volleyball tournament at Laguna Beach Sunday, defeating defending champions Mike Dodd and Tim Hovland, 15-11, in the championship match of the double-elimination tournament.

For their weekend of work, Powers and Stevenson will split a first-place prize of $10,000. It was the pair’s second tournament victory on the 1988 Assn. of Volleyball Professional’s tour. One month ago, Stevenson and Powers won the biggest purse to date on the circuit: $50,000 for first place at Clearwater, Fla.

“No, I don’t have any regrets about leaving the national team,” Powers said.

Powers turned professional in 1986, when he played on the European circuit. Last season, he played the beach tour with eight different partners.

This season, Powers appears to have found the winning combination. Stevenson, known for his scrappy defensive play, is a perfect compliment to the power game.

“They’re definitely a team to be reckoned with,” Dodd said. “They blend together so well, Powers with his big block and Stevenson with his defense behind it.”

In the final match, seven of Powers’ blocks translated directly into points.

Stevenson and Powers fell behind Dodd and Hovland early in the match, trailing 4-2, but Powers’ strong play at the net brought them back.

With the score tied, 7-7, Stevenson and Powers scored three straight points--two on Powers’ stuffs--and the team never struggled again.

“Pat took charge and won the finals,” Stevenson, who also switched partners several times last year, said. “I played four excellent matches today and one mediocre match. My mediocre match was in the final.”

Earlier in the day, in the semifinal match of the winners’ bracket, Stevenson and Powers had beaten second-seeded Dodd and Hovland a little more easily, 15-6. Then they rested for more than three hours, while Dodd and Hovland moved into the losers’ bracket to play another match before the final.

In the semifinal of the losers’ bracket, Dodd and Hovland defeated top-seeded Sinjin Smith and Randy Stoklos, 15-11.

Notes

Though beach volleyball continues to grow in popularity, some other sports are still bigger. Midway through the semifinal match, play was interrupted for several minutes while the final seconds of the Laker-Piston game was broadcast over the loudspeaker. “I didn’t mind,” said Mike Dodd, a former basketball player at San Diego State who was drafted by the then-San Diego Clippers. “I wanted to hear the final, too.” . . . Sean Fallowfield of Costa Mesa and partner Al Janc finished fourth in the tournament.