Olympics on May-Treanor’s mind

Tournament championship No. 100 should be a big deal for Misty May-Treanor, but there are other numbers occupying her mind.

There’s 15, as in the amount of days her husband, Florida Marlins catcher Matt Treanor, has been put on the disabled list with a left hip strain since Tuesday.

Yet probably the most important numbers for May-Treanor, the former Newport Harbor High standout, deal with the upcoming Beijing Olympics.

There are 31 days until beach volleyball begins at the Olympics, where May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh will try to win the gold medal for the second straight time.

Before then, May-Treanor will continue to use tournaments, such as the one in Chicago this weekend, to prepare for the Games and to further establish herself as the best female beach volleyball player of all time.

The latter is of little significance to her, at least in his point in time anyway.

“I haven’t really thought about it,” May-Treanor said of her chance to reach 100 tournament title wins this weekend to become the first women to accomplish such a feat. “I think it should be [important], but I’m so focused on playing in the Olympics. I think everybody has been thinking about 100 more than I have.”

Just four players in history have reached the century mark, but with a victory in the Assn. of Volleyball Professionals Chicago Open final on Sunday, May-Treanor would become the fastest to hit 100. She would be doing it in her 153rd event entered. To put that in perspective, legend Karch Kiraly needed 180 events to get to 100.

Already AVP representatives are prepared to give May-Treanor a gift and show a special video message following Sunday’s final.

NBC will air the women’s final at 12:30 p.m. and May-Treanor will most likely be there. May-Treanor and Walsh are the world’s No. 1 team.

Perhaps some more numbers for her to think about?

The duo is on an 84-match winning streak, which has won them a record tying 15 straight tournament titles, championships won on the AVP Tour and internationally. This weekend would be their record-breaking 16th tournament title, and if they go undefeated, they’ll tie their match-streak record in the semifinals and break it in Sunday’s final.

“We’re using these events to get better, trying to get in our rhythm,” said May-Treanor, who was officially named as part of the top tandem for Team USA on Tuesday. “I’m excited about going to Beijing. It’s going to be fun.”

The official cut-off date for Olympic qualification for beach volleyball is not until July 20th, but May-Treanor and Walsh are already on the team, as are Costa Mesa resident Jake Gibb and his partner Sean Rosenthal.

No surprise there.

The only shock would be if May-Treanor doesn’t reach 100 on Sunday.

But May-Treanor doesn’t care about that. She’s thinking about the Olympics.

STEVE VIRGEN may be reached at (714) 966-4616 or by e-mail at [email protected].