KENNER, Louisiana — Weather permitting — and the weather is expected to be a major factor here at Coconut Beach on Saturday — the AVP New Orleans continues with some showcase matches.
The big one is on the women’s side when top-seeded Kelly Cheng and Sara Hughes, who allowed a total of 59 points in two sweeps Friday, play fourth-seeded hometown faves Taryn Kloth and Kristen Nuss.
There’s also pro beach volleyball in Brazil and pool play continues at the Volleyball World Saquarema Challenge.
AVP New Orleans
Cheng, the Tokyo Olympian, and her former USC teammate, Hughes, destroyed Aurora Davis and Lydia Smith 21-8, 21-11 before rolling over the Brazilian pair of Larissa and Lili 21-16, 21-14.
“We’re finding a good groove,” Hughes said. “It’s our first AVP of the year. We want to bring it and be aggressive every match. So far it’s working out.”
To say the least.
Cheng, who won this event last year with Betsi Flint, and Hughes paired late last season. They were the winningest all-time teammates at USC and started their pro careers together before going separate ways.
“Every day Kelly and I are learning and getting better. Obviously we’re still a new team together,” she said with a laugh. “I know and obviously there’s great chemistry, but we really are a new team and figuring out the little things.”
Kloth and Nuss, the former LSU teammates, opened with a 21-16, 19-21, 1-5-8 win over Katie Horton and Brooke Bauer. Then they overpowered Sarah Sponcil — Cheng’s Olympic partner in Tokyo — and Terese Cannon — a USC teammate of Cheng and Hughes — 21-18, 21-13.
The crowds Friday were sparse, but — again if the weather holds — area beach and LSU fans normally come out to support TKN, as they’re called. Nuss is from Metairie, an adjacent town.
“Just some first-match jitters,” Kloth said. “And when you’re at home and there are so many people that are hyping you up all week long, we’re so excited. And we really do want to play well for them but I think there were a lot of pregame jitters. After we got through that we just kind of settled in.”
Even though TKN won, any time Nuss and Sponcil are on the sand together you can be assured of spectacular defense plays from the two. They simply get balls that others can’t and make plays that astound. They’ve had some epic battles the past year.
“It’s always fun playing…
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