AVP Beach Volleyball: Austin

Sports Illustrated contributing photographer Robert Beck captured the action at the second installment of the AVP 2017 tournament in Austin, Texas. Phil Dalhauser and teammate Nick Lucena won for the men, while April Ross and teammate Whitney Pavlik won for the women.

SI Staff | May 22, 2017

AVP Beach Volleyball: Austin /

AVP Beach Volleyball: Austin

Jennifer Fopma

Jennifer Fopma reaches for the sky. The tournament saw moments of brilliant skies and hours of delays due to lightning in the area.

Irene Pollock

Irene Pollock with one of her first day 28 digs.

Mark Burik

Mark Burik averaged 5.29 digs per game for the weekend.

Nicollete Martin

Nicollete Martin had 15 digs in her first match and a whopping 21 in her second round victory.

Kelley Larsen vs. Amanda Dowdy

Kelley Larsen (L) and Betsi Flint came in as the number one seeds. Amanda Dowdy (with the block) and partner Irene Pollock stunned them in their opening match 21-16 and 21-18.

Ed Ratledge

Ed Ratledge (R) held the fourth highest hitting percentage in the tournament...swatting at a .504 clip.

Kelly Reeves

Kelly Reeves is one of many bright young stars on the women's side. This week she had 70 digs to go along with 64 kills.

Mark Burik

Mark Burik giving his partner the serving signals.

Aurora Davis and Bree Scarbrough

Aurora Davis somehow gets the ball up with her elbow in front of partner Bree Scarbrough. Bree had 24 kills in her second match on Friday.

Sean Rosenthal vs. Kevin McColloch

Sean Rosenthal (L) skies for one of his 80 kills for the weekend. Kevin McColloch reaches for a block.

April Ross

April Ross (R) led all ladies with 102 kills.

Sean Rosenthal

Nobody had more attacks than "Rosie"...128 for the tournament. Here he squeaks a shot by Stafford Slick.

Irene Pollock

Irene was all over the court during her matches. She tallied 71 digs in clawing to the semis.

Nick Lucena vs. Jeremy Casebeer

The sun came out after a 6 hour lightning delay during Saturday's play.. Nick Lucena (L) pops the ball over Jeremy Casebeer.

April Ross

April Ross can do it all. She was the leader in kills and service aces for the weekend and chipped in 61 digs in leading team mate Whitney Pavlik to the title.

Billy Allen vs. Phil Dalhauser

Billy Allen (R) gives it all he has to try and get the ball past the reach of the Beast of the Beach...Phil Dalhauser.

Irene Pollock

One of Irene Pollock's 71 digs.

Stafford Slick

Stafford Slick wears special goggles when he plays. He also plays the game a little higher than most. He and team mate Billy Allen made it to the semis this week.

Jeremy Casebeer vs. Trevor Crabb

Jeremy Casebeer with a drive past Trevor Crabb. Jeremy, a former UCLA indoor star, splits time between the beaches of Rio and playing on the AVP Tour.

Irene Pollock

Irene Pollock with the secret serving signals...good enough to get her to the semis.

Nick Lucena

This is Nick Lucena's 16th season on the sand. The Austin victory was his 15th.

Karolina Marciniak

Karolina Marciniak averaged 1.54 digs per game.

Amanda Dowdy and Irene Pollock

Dowdy's Rowdies (in the red shirts) rallied around the Texas duo of Dowdy and Pollock.

Karolina Marciniak and Amanda Dowdy

Marciniak (L) and Amanda Dowdy plating in one of Saturday's late weather delayed games.

Amanda Dowdy

Amanda Dowdy sweating in the late sun.

Jeremy Casebeer

Jeremy Casebeer serves it up during the only night match during the main draw.

Reid Priddy

Reid Priddy (L) has spent most of his volleyball career with the US National Indoor team. Now he's giving the beach a go. So far he's holding his own. He has 54 kills and 45 digs this week playing alongside Maddison McKibbin.

Emily Stockman and Kim Dicello

Emily Stockman (L) and Kim DiCello were tough to play all week. Their only loss of the tournament came in the finals where they lost to Ross/Pavlik in three.