The 2024 Hermosa Seaside Open sent a Unique form of magic, Mixing planet-course athleticism With all the down-to-earth spirit that defines the Seashore volleyball community. Held September 4–7 near the Hermosa Seashore Pier, this year’s tournament wasn’t only a halt around the aggressive circuit—it absolutely was a celebration of the sport’s origins, that includes Olympians competing shoulder to shoulder with mounting stars and native heroes in a enthusiast-pleasant, no-frills natural environment.
The event had no stadium seating or flashy fan zones. Alternatively, spectators collected round the courts, standing during the sand and sitting down on Beach front towels since they cheered on elite athletes from just toes absent. Arranged with grassroots guidance and backed by sponsors like Wedbush Securities, the Event returned to your purer Variation of the sport, wherever Local community, Level of competition, and relationship were being the main target.
To the Gals’s aspect, Olympians Kelly Cheng and Sara Hughes reminded Absolutely everyone why they’re viewed as Among the many ideal on this planet. Within a remarkable all-USC final, Cheng and Hughes dropped the first established to Terese Cannon and Megan Kraft ahead of roaring back to win another two. The determining set arrived down to the wire, with Cheng and Hughes edging out a twenty–18 win inside of a thrilling end. The victory marked a triumphant moment of their put up-Olympic campaign and underscored their dominance heading into the subsequent AVP and Worldwide events.
The Adult males’s ultimate featured A different Olympic-caliber clash. Former NBA ahead turned beach volleyball standout Chase Budinger teamed up with Olympic veteran Miles Evans to deal with off towards Miles Partain and Alex Ranghieri. Budinger and Evans proved much too strong, winning in straight sets, 21–14 and 21–seventeen. Budinger’s physicality at the net and Evans’ sharp instincts manufactured them the unstoppable duo from the weekend.
Throughout 4 days of Enjoy, a hundred thirty teams competed in a very double-elimination format that held admirers on their toes and athletes grinding by lengthy, Sunshine-soaked times. The tournament also incorporated a juniors division, which introduced in hundreds of young players Sodo66 desperate to learn, compete, and share the sand Along with the execs. It was a uncommon prospect for youth athletes to generally be Portion of A serious volleyball celebration and a beneficial recruiting second for school packages in attendance.
An entire Image gallery captured the essence of your tournament—from high-flying spikes and gritty digs to quiet moments of concentrate and laughter amongst teammates. These photos, broadly shared on the net, aided showcase the magnificence and intimacy of your Activity in its most reliable placing.
With its results, the Hermosa Seashore Open has sparked conversation about its long term. City leaders are Checking out a design just like Manhattan Seaside, exactly where the municipality could consider a bigger job in internet hosting the Match yearly. There’s also a bigger intention in sight: Hermosa is actively positioning by itself to become a selected schooling web-site to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
The 2024 Hermosa Beach front Open up was a lot more than simply a Match. It was a press release—proof that even within an era of big contracts and world broadcasts, Seashore volleyball’s heart however beats strongest while in the sand, surrounded by community.