BEACH VOLLEYBALL : Kirby, Masakayan Win at Hermosa Beach

Hermosa Beach was not a good pro beach volleyball tournament site for Karolyn Kirby and Liz Masakayan last year. Kirby placed fifth with former partner Angela Rock, and Masakayan finished third with former partner Linda Carrillo.

On Sunday Kirby and Masakayan teamed up to win the Hermosa Beach Open and split the $5,300 first prize.

Kirby and Masakayan, top seeded, defeated second-seeded Barbra Fontana and Lori Kotas, 15-7, in the final.

Masakayan, a former UCLA All-American and Santa Monica native, had never won a local event, though she was named the tour’s most valuable player last year. She has won six of seven tournaments with Kirby on this year’s tour.

“Feels great,� Masakayan said. “Can you believe it? I won in L.A.!�

Kirby and Masakayan got off to a slow start, though. Fontana and Kotas recorded the first three points before Kirby and Masakayan picked up their game.

At 3-4, Kirby served for three consecutive points and that marked the beginning of the end for Fontana and Kotas, who had played a lengthy losers’ bracket final half an hour earlier.

“They’re a great team,� Fontana said. “You really have to give them credit, but they’re not unbeatable by any means. You do have to play great to beat them, though.�

Fontana and Kotas had a difficult time with Kirby’s serving and Masakayan’s hitting. Both women also blocked well.

At 8-5, Kirby served for six points and a 14-5 lead. Masakayan got an ace for game point.

“We came out a little flat,� Kirby said. “But we got a little (angry). We decided we had to be aggressive and go for it.�

Kotas and Fontana will split $3,900. Janice Harrer and Deb Richardson earned $2,700 for third, and Elaine Roque and Gail Castro got $1,900 for fourth.