Kevin Love loses in pro beach volleyball debut
Former UCLA Bruins star and current Minnesota Timberwolves All-Star forward Kevin Love made his pro beach volleyball debut Thursday at the Manhattan Beach Open, but it didn’t last too long.
Love and his partner, Hans Stolfus, were knocked out in straight sets, 21-16, 21-15, by the top-seeded team in the tournament, Sean Scott and John Hyden.
“It was a very, very good experience,” Love said. “I look forward to keep playing.”
Scott and Hyden are Olympic hopefuls and took it easy on Love and Stolfus, the lowest-seeded team in the tournament.
Still, the 6-foot-10 Love, who practiced only a few times with Stolfus before the tournament, found a groove by the middle of second set, when he collected three straight kills at one point.
“He’s a quick learner,” Stolfus said.
Hyden said he would advise Love not to quit his day job, especially because the pay is far better, but with the NBA lockout in force, Love technically doesn’t have a day job.
The tournament continues Friday from 8 a.m. until about 7 p.m. with main draw action on 16 courts near the Manhattan Beach Pier.
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