The 2024 Hermosa Seaside Open up sent a Unique style of magic, blending entire world-course athleticism Along with the down-to-earth spirit that defines the beach volleyball Neighborhood. Held September four–seven close to the Hermosa Beach Pier, this yr’s Match wasn’t simply a quit about the aggressive circuit—it absolutely was a celebration from the sport’s origins, that includes Olympians competing shoulder to shoulder with mounting stars and native heroes in a enthusiast-helpful, no-frills ecosystem.
The event had no stadium seating or flashy enthusiast zones. As a substitute, spectators collected within the courts, standing in the sand and sitting on beach towels as they cheered on elite athletes from just toes absent. Structured with grassroots aid and backed by sponsors like Wedbush Securities, the Event returned to the purer Variation of the sport, where by Group, competition, and connection were the main target.
Over the Women of all ages’s facet, Olympians Kelly Cheng and Sara Hughes reminded everyone why they’re deemed One of the ideal on the globe. Inside a remarkable all-USC last, Cheng and Hughes dropped the 1st set to Terese Cannon and Megan Kraft ahead of roaring back to acquire the following two. The deciding set arrived all the way down to the wire, with Cheng and Hughes edging out a 20–18 gain in the thrilling finish. The victory marked a triumphant instant inside their publish-Olympic marketing campaign and underscored their dominance heading into the following AVP and international gatherings.
The Gentlemen’s last showcased Yet another Olympic-caliber clash. Previous NBA forward turned Beach front volleyball standout Chase Budinger teamed up with Olympic veteran Miles Evans to experience off against Miles Partain and Alex Ranghieri. Budinger and Evans proved far too potent, profitable in straight sets, 21–14 and 21–17. Budinger’s physicality at The online and Evans’ sharp instincts created them the unstoppable duo of your weekend.
Across 4 times of Engage in, a hundred thirty teams competed in the double-elimination structure that stored admirers on their toes and athletes grinding by way of long, Sunlight-soaked times. Sodo66 The Event also integrated a juniors division, which brought in many hundreds of young players wanting to learn, compete, and share the sand Along with the execs. It was a uncommon prospect for youth athletes to generally be A part of A serious volleyball celebration and a beneficial recruiting second for school packages in attendance.
An entire Image gallery captured the essence of your Event—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 the Activity in its most reliable placing.
With its accomplishment, the Hermosa Seashore Open has sparked conversation about its future. Town leaders are Checking out a design much like Manhattan Seaside, exactly where the municipality could consider a bigger purpose in internet hosting the tournament yearly. There’s also An even bigger target in sight: Hermosa is actively positioning by itself to become a selected teaching internet site to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
The 2024 Hermosa Beach front Open was much more than simply a Match. It was a press release—proof that even within an era of massive contracts and world wide broadcasts, Seaside volleyball’s coronary heart even now beats strongest inside the sand, surrounded by Group.