AVP Hermosa Beach Open

( Hermosa Beach, CA - Saturday, August 8, 2009) Tyra Turner strains for the ball as she and teammate Angie Akers compete against Nicole Branagh, left, and Elaine Youngs in the the women’s semifinals of the AVP Crocs Slam Bud Light Hermosa Beach Open volleyball tournament.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

( Hermosa Beach, CA - Saturday, August 8, 2009) Elaine Youngs, left, blocks the slam of Angie Akers back for a point in the women’s semifinals of the AVP Crocs Slam Bud Light Hermosa Beach Open volleyball tournament. The team of Youngs and Nicole Branagh defeated Akers and Tyra Turner to advance to the final.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

( Hermosa Beach, CA - Saturday, August 8, 2009) Elaine Youngs scrambles to return the ball during the women’s semifinals of the AVP Crocs Slam Bud Light Hermosa Beach Open volleyball tournament. Youngs and teammate Nicole Branagh defeated Angie Akers and Tyra Turner to advance to the final.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

( Hermosa Beach, CA - Saturday, August 8, 2009) Elaine Youngs goes to her knees to get the ball as teammate Nicole Branagh looks on during the women’s semifinals of the AVP Crocs Slam Bud Light Hermosa Beach Open volleyball tournament. Youngs and Branagh defeated Tyra Turner, left, and Angie Akers to advance to the final.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

( Hermosa Beach, CA - Saturday, August 8, 2009) Elaine Youngs celebrates after hitting the game-winner over Angie Akers, right, to win the women’s semifinals of the AVP Crocs Slam Bud Light Hermosa Beach Open volleyball tournament. Youngs and teammate Nicole Branagh defeated Akers and Tyra Turner to advance to the final.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

( Hermosa Beach, CA - Saturday, August 8, 2009) Elaine Youngs, left, and Nicole Branagh celebrate after winning a point over the team of Angie Akers and Tyra Turner in the women’s semifinals of the AVP Crocs Slam Bud Light Hermosa Beach Open volleyball tournament.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

( Hermosa Beach, CA - Saturday, August 8, 2009) Elaine Youngs, right, sneaks the ball past Angie Akers for a point in the the women’s semifinals of the AVP Crocs Slam Bud Light Hermosa Beach Open volleyball tournament. The team of Youngs and Nicole Branagh defeated Akers and Tyra Turner to advance to the final later in the day.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

( Hermosa Beach, CA - Saturday, August 8, 2009) Elaine Youngs, left, and teammate Nicole Branagh celebrate a victory over April Ross, far left, and Jennifer Kessy in the women’s final of the AVP Crocs Slam Bud Light Hermosa Beach Open volleyball tournament.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

( Hermosa Beach, CA - Saturday, August 8, 2009) Jennifer Kessy launches a serve during the final of the AVP Crocs Slam Bud Light Hermosa Beach Open volleyball tournament. Kessy and teammate April Ross lost to Nicole Branagh and Elaine Youngs.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

( Hermosa Beach, CA - Saturday, August 8, 2009) Elaine Youngs, right, lets out a scream of joy after she and teammate Nicole Branagh, left, win the second game in the final of the AVP Crocs Slam Bud Light Hermosa Beach Open volleyball tournament. Branagh and Youngs went on the win the third and deciding game, beating April Ross and Jennifer Kessy for the championship.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

(Hermosa Beach, CA - Saturday, August 8, 2009) April Ross jumps to block the slam of Nicole Branagh during the women’s final of the AVP Crocs Slam Bud Light Hermosa Beach Open volleyball tournament.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

( Hermosa Beach, CA - Saturday, August 8, 2009) April Ross, left, and Jennifer Kessy embrace as they win the first game against Elaine Youngs and Nicole Branagh, right, in the final of the AVP Crocs Slam Bud Light Hermosa Beach Open volleyball tournament. Branagh and Youngs would rally to win the next two games and the championship.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Two-time Olympic gold medalist Kerri Walsh, right, makes her comeback at the AVP Crocs Slam Bud Light Hermosa Beach Open on Friday. Walsh battles Michelle More at the net.  (Spencer Weiner / Los Angeles Times)

Two-time Olympic gold medalist Kerri Walsh celebrates a point during play Friday in the Hermosa Beach Open.  (Spencer Weiner / Los Angeles Times)

Redondo Beach residents Michelle More and Suzanne Stonebarger, left, go on the attack against Kerri Walsh and Rachel Wacholder on Friday in the AVP Crocs Slam Bud Light Hermosa Beach Open.  (Spencer Weiner / Los Angeles Times)

Rachel Wacholder, left, and partner Kerri Walsh meet in the middle of the court as they go for a dig Friday in the Hermosa Beach Open.  (Spencer Weiner / Los Angeles Times)

Kerri Walsh, who gave birth to her first child earlier this year, makes her beach volleyball comeback at the AVP Crocs Slam Bud Light Hermosa Beach Open on Friday.  (Spencer Weiner / Los Angeles Times)

Kerri Walsh, left, celebrates a point with new partner Rachel Wacholder on Friday at the Hermosa Beach Open. Both are new mothers making a return to the court together. Walsh’s longtime teammate, Misty May-Treanor, is recovering from an Achilles tendon injury.  (Spencer Weiner / Los Angeles Times)

Two-time Olympic gold medalist Kerri Walsh with her son Joseph Michael Jennings after her comeback match at the AVP Crocs Slam Bud Light Hermosa Beach Open. Walsh’s husband, Casey Jennings, is also a beach volleyball star.  (Spencer Weiner / Los Angeles Times)

Beach volleyball fans cheer for “Team Gorgeous,” as Redondo Beach residents Michelle More and Suzanne Stonebarger are known. The pair won their early-round to advance in the AVP Crocs Slam Bud Light Hermosa Beach Open on Friday.  (Spencer Weiner / Los Angeles Times)

Brad Keenan rises above Nick Lucena for a spike on Friday during early-round action at the AVP Crocs Slam Bud Light Hermosa Beach Open.  (Spencer Weiner / Los Angeles Times)

Dane Jensen, right, goes for a spike against the defense of Brad Keenan during competition at the AVP Crocs Slam Bud Light Hermosa Beach Open on Friday.  (Spencer Weiner / Los Angeles Times)