Volleyball Duo Decides to Split

In a surprising move that is certain to have a lasting effect on the AVP Pro Beach Volleyball women’s tour, Elaine Youngs and Rachel Wacholder have ended their 18-month partnership, citing personality differences and a need to perform better in international play.

Youngs and Wacholder, No. 2 on the AVP tour’s season money list and points standings, are the only team other than Olympic champions Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh to have won an AVP tournament the last two seasons.

They had two victories this year and three last year. In 22 AVP tournaments together, they had never finished lower than third, but domestic success wasn’t matched overseas.

They played five international tournaments this year, finishing no better than fourth. In the last two, they were ninth and 17th. That, they said, was not good enough when facing the teams who will be at the Beijing Olympics in 2008.

“To me, fourth isn’t doing that well,” Youngs said. “I don’t want to downplay the success we’ve had on the AVP, but we have to look toward the 2008 Olympics and you don’t get on the podium for fourth. You don’t get a medal. We’re just trying to maximize our chances of winning a medal in ’08.”

The poor international finishes were the final straw, but their frustration level had been building all season, resulting in arguments during and after matches. They had a team meeting after a July 16 loss in Birmingham, Ala., but it was only a stopgap.

During their 17th-place finish in Austria last week -- a career worst for the team -- there was another on-court shouting match. They parted ways after the tournament.

“We communicate differently,” Wacholder said. “For a while it worked really well, but you need to have more of a balance for a successful partnership.”

Youngs, who won Olympic bronze with Holly McPeak in 2004, is vocal and animated. Wacholder, the reigning AVP defensive player of the year, is introverted and self-driven. Those differences, despite their successes, were too much to overcome.

“They are just two very different people,” said Liz Masakayan, who has coached the team the last two years. “They’ve had their issues and winning a couple of times took care of some of those, but I think they’re happier moving on.”

The problems were magnified by an intense schedule that would have had them playing tournaments for 20 consecutive weeks, a span that included four trips to Europe for international events. They made it through 14 weeks, but the final trip to Europe two weeks ago did them in.

“Rachel and I had a great run, but it’s tough when you’re with someone that much,” Youngs said. “As time went on, there was just a lot of fighting and head butting.”

Youngs said she called off the partnership but offered to finish out the season with Wacholder, who said she didn’t want to do that.

“It’s just a lot to be dealing with when you’re trying to play,” Wacholder said. “I think looking toward the future and the long term, it’s better for us to try new partners.”

Wacholder and Youngs last won an AVP tournament July 9 in Atlanta. Each said she did not want to bad-mouth the other and they will appear together at a youth clinic this week at the Manhattan Beach Open.

Wacholder will play with Jennifer Boss this week at Manhattan Beach. Youngs is teaming with Nancy Mason, Boss’ former partner, this week, but said she would play with Nicole Branagh after that.

What about next year?

“I’m leaving every door open,” Youngs said. “Is it possible that we might get back together? Yes. You never know what could happen. I’m not planning on burning any bridges.”