Hermosa Beach Open serves up men’s, women’s volleyball teams

The Jose Cuervo Pro Beach Volleyball Series hits the South Bay this weekend, when 32 men’s and 32 women’s teams will be vying for a piece of the $100,000 purse in the Hermosa Beach Open, Friday through Sunday.

None of the 2012 Olympic qualifiers will be competing, as they’ve been overseas since June, but several notable players will be present.

On the women’s side, Jenny Kropp and partner Whitney Pavlik, runners-up in Hermosa last year, have won the first three Cuervo tournaments this year in dominating fashion.

Among the men, 7-foot-1 Ryan Doherty and partner Casey Patterson have won two straight Cuervo events, despite being one of the lower-ranked teams. They’ll look to continue their upset trend, though the duo of Sean Scott and John Hyden, one of the top U.S. pairs, will be one of their main competitors.

The event is the first of three West Coast professional beach volleyball events the series will host this year. The others are the Manhattan Beach Open from Aug. 24 to 26 and the National Championships in Huntington Beach on Sept. 21 to 23.

Last year, Jose Cuervo held three tournaments, but this year it has more than doubled its schedule and is holding seven, culminating with the event in Huntington Beach.

Qualifying rounds are Friday from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday’s main draw will be from 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. and Sunday’s semifinal matches will be held from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., followed by the championship matches, from 2:15 to 5 p.m.

The event, just north of the Hermosa Pier, is free to the public.

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