Lewis and Ceman Add Happy Ending to Script

For Brian Lewis, the script was perfect, just like the warm, sunny afternoon at Sunday’s Assn. of Volleyball Professionals Huntington Beach Open.

The fans got what they wanted: a final matching the top-seeded Lewis, playing in front of his hometown crowd with partner Canyon Ceman, against the AVP’s winningest team, second-seeded Karch Kiraly and Adam Johnson.

And the teams delivered a thrilling final, with Lewis and Ceman holding on to win their first AVP title together, 15-13.

Lewis and Ceman nearly squandered leads of 10-3 and 13-7 as Kiraly and Johnson, who have won a combined 183 titles, pulled to within one point on two occasions.

“When you’re facing the competitiveness of a Karch Kiraly,” said Lewis, “with that never-say-die attitude, it’s hard to stamp that ember out.”

But Lewis and Ceman, who had two second- and three third-place finishes together over the past two seasons, finally won, earning $16,000 with the title.

It was the seventh title for Lewis and first since last season at Muskegon, Mich. It was Ceman’s fourth title and first since 1998 at Muskegon.

Lewis and Ceman won Sunday’s title on their fourth game point when Lewis whistled a service winner down the middle.

“They are serving really well and we needed to do a better job of controlling their serve,” Kiraly said. “Canyon may have won the tournament for them in the winners’ bracket final.”

In that earlier game, Kiraly and Johnson led, 14-13, when Ceman--who had five aces and one block to score his team’s final six points in the game--pounded three consecutive aces for a 16-14 win.