Loiola-Rego Have All the Answers

Jose Loiola never knew where he would hear The Question.

Maybe it would come from his neighbor. Or from the guy behind him in the checkout line. Or the woman dining at the table next to him.

Inevitably, Loiola heard it again and again last year: “Why aren’t you winning in the Assn. of Volleyball Professionals tour?”

After claiming seven AVP tournament titles in 1998 and 12 in 1997, Loiola failed to win one last year, finishing third three times and second twice.

That might soon change.

Loiola and partner Emanuel Rego looked strong Saturday in advancing to the championship of the winners’ bracket at the Hermosa Beach Open.

The duo defeated top-seeded Dain Blanton and Eric Fonoimoana in a winners’ semifinal, 15-12, scoring the final five points.

“I’m sick and tired of people saying, ‘When are you going to start winning here in America,’ ” said Loiola, a native of Brazil who has succeeded in international tournaments and is guaranteed a spot in the Olympics, but went empty-handed last year in the AVP. “I don’t have to prove anything to anyone.”

Loiola and Rego, who have not won an AVP event since the Seal Beach Open in July 1998, play Canyon Ceman and Brian Lewis today. The winner plays the champion of the losers’ bracket for the tournament title.

Ceman-Lewis nearly blew a 9-3 lead against Karch Kiraly and Adam Johnson, but advanced with a 16-14 victory.

Nancy Mason and Rachel Wacholder were the surprise team in the Beach Volleyball America tour, a first-year women’s pro beach organization.

Mason-Wacholder, seeded No. 8, defeated top-seeded Nancy Reno and Linda Hanley, 15-12, and advanced to the semifinals with a 15-10 victory over Karolyn Kirby and Karrie Poppinga.