Friday was a day of minor upheaval in the men’s bracket of the AVP Huntington Beach Open, while the favorites remain among the women.
One of the day’s biggest surprises was the withdrawal of Phil Dalhausser and Nick Lucena. One of the top duos in the tournament, the pair forfeited after Lucena injured his shoulder in their first match of the day. The withdrawal was described as a precaution.
Then there was the No. 1-ranked pair of Ryan Doherty and John Mayer, who lost to No. 8 Billy Allen and Theo Brunner. Doherty and Mayer hadn’t lost this AVP season, yet they fell to a pair playing together for the first time this tournament.
Another top pair, Jake Gibb and Casey Patterson, defeated Olympian Todd Rogers and his partner, Robbie Page, in one of the most significant matches of the day.
1/24
Emily Stockman can’t reach the ball during a match against Whitney Pavlik and Sheila Shaw on Saturday at the AVP Huntington Beach Open.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 2/24
Casey Patterson keeps the ball in play during a match against the Bomgren brothers at the AVP Huntington Beach Open on Saturday.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 3/24
Summer Ross, left, and Lane Carico celebrate thier victory over Kim DiCello and Kendra Van Zwieten on Saturday at the AVP Huntington Beach Open.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 4/24
Jake Gibb and Casey Patterson celebrate their victory over the Bomgren brothers at the AVP Huntington Beach Open on Saturday.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 5/24
Riley McKibbin kicks up some sand as he unsuccessfully tries to keep the ball in play during a match against Ryan Doherty and John Mayer on Satuday at the AVP Huntington Beach Open.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 6/24
Madison McKibbin is covered in sand as he prepares to serve to the team of Ryan Doherty and John Mayer at the AVP Huntington Beach Open on Saturday.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 7/24
Ryan Doherty, right, tries to block a shot by Riley McKibbin during their match on Saturday at the AVP Huntington Beach Open.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 8/24
Madison McKibbin makes a pass during a match against the team of Nick Lucena and Phil Dalhausser during the AVP Huntington Beach Open on Friday.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 9/24
Teammates John Mayer and Ryan Doherty go after a serve during their match against Curt Toppel and Miles Evans on Friday at the AVP Huntington Beach Open.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 10/24
Miles Evans digs the ball out of the sand during a match against John Mayer and Ryan Doherty on on Friday at the AVP Huntington Beach Open.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 11/24
Robbie Page celebrates a victory with teammate Todd Rogers over Hudson Bates and Mark Burik at the AVP Huntington Beach Open on Friday.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 12/24
April Ross, left, and Kerri Walsh Jennings celebrate a point against the team of Avery Bush and Carol Welcher on Friday at the AVP Huntington Beach Open.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 13/24
April Ross tracks down a shot during a match against the team of Avery Bush and Carol Welcher on Friday at the AVP Huntington Beach Open.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 14/24
A beach volleyball player leaps to make a serve under stormy skies during the AVP Huntington Beach Open on Friday.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 15/24
Brian Bomgren reacts after spiking the ball against the team of Billy Kolinski and Casey Jennings on Friday at the AVP Huntington Beach Open.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 16/24
Spectators look on as Billy Kolinski tries to dig the ball during a matach against the team of Tim and Brian Bomgren at the AVP Huntington Beach Open on Friday.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 17/24
Brian Bomgren tries to make a pass during a match against the team of Billy Kolinski and Casey Jennings on Friday at the AVP Huntington Beach Open.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 18/24
Nick Lucena tries to power the ball past Madison McKibbin during a match at the AVP Huntington Beach Open on Friday.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 19/24
Miles Evans of Manhattan Beach dives to make a dig during a qualifying match at the AVP Huntington Beach Open on Thursday.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) 20/24
Fans watch beach volleyball players attempt to qualify for the main draw during the first day of the AVP Huntington Beach Open.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) 21/24
Teams compete on side-by-side beach volleyball courts during the AVP Huntington Beach Open qualifying rounds on Thursday.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) 22/24
Danko Iordanov, left, of Lakewood and Miles Evans of Manhattan Beach battle at the net as their teams try to qualify Thursday for the main draw at the AVP Huntington Beach Open.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) 23/24
Harry Maskell, a 16-year-old from Sydney, walks past advertisements for the AVP Huntington Beach Open while heading to the ocean to do some paddleboarding on Thursday.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) 24/24
A solitary fan watches Curt Toppel, who is on the beach volleyball tour, spike the ball Thursday during a qualifying match for the AVP Huntington Beach Open.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) Like Doherty and Mayer, Rogers and Page will need three wins Saturday to advance to the semifinals Sunday.
The women’s side, by comparison, went mostly chalk. Four of the top six seeded teams went undefeated.
Kerri Walsh Jennings and April Ross needed less than a half hour to win each of their two matches. They have won 43 matches in a row.
Follow Zach Helfand on Twitter: @zhelfand
