Slow start for Laguna’s Pavlik in AVP opener

Laguna Beach resident Whitney Pavlik placed 17th over the weekend at the Assn. of Volleyball Professionals Panama City Open, which started the AVP season.

Pavlik and partner Stacy Rouwenhorst, seeded No. 15, fell in the first round of the winner’s bracket to No. 18 Saralyn Smith and Beth Van Fleet, 21-16, 21-15. There was no contender’s bracket, as the event was abbreviated due to bad weather.

Pavlik, the 2008 AVP Rookie of the Year, earned $600.

Last season on tour, Pavlik was top 10 in 10 of 15 tournaments entered, including a career-best fifth-place finish in Boulder, Colo.

The AVP Tour will continue with the Riverside Open, beginning April 17.

Laguna native Rachel Wacholder is not currently playing on the tour, as she recently had a baby. Her husband is men’s player Sean Scott.

“” Matt Szabo