Beach Volleyball Team Nets Hometown Win | IXGAMES

Bodog-sponsored Jennifer Kessy and April Ross entered last weekend’s AVP Huntington Beach Open in California as reigning beach volleyball world champions, gold medalists of the year’s first FIVB grand slam and four-time AVP winners in 2009. Yet their victory on Sunday over the top-ranked team of Misty May-Treanor and Nicole Branagh was arguably their most important win to date. That’s because the duo grew up in Orange County and attended the University of Southern California. And winning Huntington was their first-ever victory on tour in the area, which is the United States’ hub of beach volleyball.In front of dozens of friends and family, Kessy and Ross beat May-Treanor and Branagh in the women’s final, 14-21, 21-12, 15-11, for a cool $20,000 winner’s check. It was their 14th victory worldwide since teaming up in 2007 and their fourth win in four tries against top-ranked team of May-Treanor and Branagh this season. “This is such an emotional moment for me,” said Ross to the Orange County Register. “We’ll take any win … but it’s super tough in Southern California. Everyone wants to win here. Everyone’s from here and trains here, and all our friends and family are here.” “It means a lot,” said Kessy to the Register. “I’m an Orange County local. My parents both are from San Clemente and went to San Clemente High School, so it’s something huge. I came down here in high school and watched tournaments and always dreamed of being in this final and winning it – my dream has become a reality, which is amazing.” Kessy and Ross are currently in action in the Moscow Grand Slam as part of the FIVB World Tour; they won a silver medal in the Russian stop in 2007 and lead the FIVB points standings this year. Last season they were the only American team to win on the international tour. The next stop on the AVP tour is June 18-20 in Virginia Beach, Va.  The next chance for Kessy and Ross to win on their home turf comes July 16-18 in Hermosa Beach.