Lambert and Kiraly Call It Splits

Mike Lambert knew that a partner switch was inevitable, he just didn’t think it would happen this soon.

Lambert, the 2004 Assn. of Volleyball Professionals MVP, and beach volleyball legend Karch Kiraly have parted ways because they’ve been unable to carry over last season’s success.

Lambert will play with Eric Fonoimoana next weekend in Santa Barbara and Kiraly will play with Adam Jewell, Fonoimoana’s former partner.

Lambert and Kiraly were the AVP’s top men’s team last year with a tour-best three victories, but in three tournaments this year finished no better than seventh.

“We both came to the same conclusion,” Lambert said. “We were having a tough time making final fours. When you aren’t having the kind of success you expect, you have to look hard at why that is.”

Rumors of a split began when Kiraly, the all-time leader with 147 worldwide beach volleyball victories, aggravated his surgically repaired right shoulder during the season opener in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

It became official when they lost May 1 in Austin, Texas, finishing seventh.

“He was such a gentleman about the whole thing,” Lambert said of Kiraly. “He told me, ‘I don’t want to be the guy holding you back.’ ”

Their split was probably coming after this season, anyway. Lambert, 31, hopes to play in the 2008 Olympics. Kiraly will be nearly 48 by then and has said it’s unlikely he will go through the grueling two-year qualification process.

“I envisioned playing this season with Karch and having success and taking it from there,” said Lambert, who worked out with Jason Ring, Dain Blanton and John Hyden before choosing Fonoimoana. “Now I have to start thinking about some other things.”