BEACH VOLLEYBALL : Kirby Begins Quest for Fifth Consecutive Title

Karolyn Kirby has proved through the years that she is the best player in women’s pro beach volleyball.

The 33-year-old has been ranked No. 1 for the last four seasons and has won a record 51 tournaments with eight partners.

At 5 feet 11 she is powerful, quick and consistent. Today in Manhattan Beach, Kirby will begin a quest to win her fifth consecutive World Championship title.

She has won the season-ending event with four partners, including her current one, Liz Masakayan, in 1993.

“Karolyn is an exceptional athlete,” said Deb Richardson, who is seeded third this weekend with partner Dennie Knoop. “That’s why she can win with anybody and that’s why she’s at the top.”

Masakayan, a former UCLA All-American, and Kirby have dominated the Women’s Professional Volleyball Assn. tour for the last two seasons.

This year they’ve won 10 of 11 tour events, shutting out most of their opponents in the process. And in July, Kirby and Masakayan won the gold medal at the Goodwill Games in St. Petersburg, Russia.

They are seeded No. 1 in the 31-team World Championships, which begin today at noon. The final, Sunday at 11 a.m., will be televised live on CBS.

“This event has always been way physically harder than any other,” Kirby said. “It’s always in August, so it’s always hot and it’s the end of the season when we’re tired. Also, the sand is deeper than anywhere in the world.”

Because the third-ranked team of Gail Castro and Elaine Roque will miss the championships to compete in an international event in Puerto Rico, the only team expected to really challenge Kirby-Masakayan is second-seeded Barbra Fontana and Lori Kotas.

Fontana, a Manhattan Beach native, and Kotas beat Kirby-Masakayan in a tournament final in Myrtle Beach, S.C., in late May.

Last week Masakayan was hospitalized because of a pelvic infection that prevented her from training for several days.

“I have no more aches and pains and my body is completely recovered,” she said. “But I haven’t really been able to work out.”