Rogers, Dalhausser take Manhattan again

Beijing Beast.

Those were words heard over and over Sunday afternoon from the announcer, ringing through the greater area of the Manhattan Beach Pier. More specifically, a certain patch of soft sand featuring one growing volleyball dynasty.

Wonder if finalists Nick Lucena and Sean Scott might be hearing those words in their sleep after losing to recently minted Olympic gold medalists Phil Dalhausser and Todd Rogers in the championship of the AVP Crocs Tour Manhattan Beach Open. It was their third consecutive title here.

If you want to keep with the Olympic theme, then perhaps “the Great Wall” might have been a better way than “Beast” to describe the 6-foot-9 Dalhausser, he of the seven blocked shots in a 21-16, 21-16 victory.

He is hardly one-dimensional, as noted by someone who should know better than anyone else.

“Phil has sweet hands,” Rogers told the crowd after the final, which lasted just under an hour.

Dalhausser and Rogers, who split $100,000, joined three other teams to win this event at least three consecutive times. Mike Bright-Mike O’Hara, Mike Dodd-Tim Hovland and Karch Kiraly-Kent Steffes were the others.

“Illustrious company right there,” said Rogers, whose usual superb court coverage resulted in 17 kills and 14 digs in the final. “Very illustrious. If you know your history of volleyball, those are the names on the beach.”

The newest names on the beach are not in danger of being washed away any time soon. Dalhausser and Rogers also won the Crocs Cup, the tour’s season-long championship, and recorded 11 wins in 14 domestic events they played this year. It was their 35th win as a team and 29th on the AVP Tour.

Which is why they hardly panicked after dropping the second game in the semifinals against Matt Olson and Kevin Wong. That, coupled with the realization that Wong was battling cramps, which forced Olson and Wong to retire when they were trailing, 10-2, in the third.

Lucena and Scott noticed the air of confidence carried by Dalhausser and Rogers, an obvious byproduct of winning. After all, Scott used to play with Rogers and Lucena once partnered Dalhausser.

“You can tell even if you start to score a few points on them, they usually don’t get rattled,” Scott said.

It was an efficient performance, so much so that it took away much of the suspense, and the victory celebration was fairly muted.

“We were running around,” said Rogers, remembering the first Manhattan Beach title. “It’s just a matter of how close the match is too. We were stoked [Sunday]. But you win a 28-26 battle in the third versus a 21-16, 21-16, it’s not quite the same.”

And they are tired after a long season and gold-medal journey. So where are those gold medals from Beijing?

“In my car right now, maybe,” Rogers said.

“Mine’s in the closet. I hear you can get on EBay . . . some Russian gymnast made $85,000,” said Dalhausser, musing. “Mine’s in the closet with the rest of my trophies.”

This being the end of the season, it was time for career perspective. They reflected on past trophies, in particular, a cowbell trophy in Switzerland and one Nordic weapon.

“The Viking sword from Norway,” Dalhausser said. “It was actually made in Spain.”

Said Rogers, smiling: “Why did you tell me that? I was all fired up.”

Full disclosure. The secret of any good team, on and off the sand.

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lisa.dillman@latimes.com