Lyles, Luyties Nearly Knock Off Top Team

After posting two consecutive 17th-place finishes, Ricci Luyties and Matt Lyles looked as if they were ready to improve on that Saturday at the Assn. of Volleyball Professionals Huntington Beach Open.

Luyties, from UCLA, and Lyles, who went to Orange Coast College, appeared to have top-seeded Brian Lewis and Canyon Ceman on the ropes during their second-round match, taking a 14-11 lead.

But Lewis and Ceman rallied to win, 18-16, and the top-seeded team stayed on schedule to make a run at their first AVP title together.

“They got a couple of aces and got right back in it,” Lyles said. “They’re the best serving team out here.”

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The AVP is making its first appearance in Huntington Beach, and the players and organizers are pleased with the attendance and new venue.

“We’re looking forward to coming back here,” AVP CEO Bill Berger said.

The featured court had a retro feel to it. There are no bleachers, yet it is situated close enough to the pier that spectators can also watch the top matches from above.

There is also ample room for fans to sit courtside with their towels or chairs. The VIP section simply featured several rows of beach chairs.

“It seems more accessible,” Karch Kiraly said. “It’s great. That’s part of the legacy and history of beach volleyball.

“I love that there are five stops in [Southern] California; the game is getting back to its roots.”