San Diego’s top-seeded favorite Matt Olson of Rancho Santa Fe reached the semi-finals of the Association of Volleyball Professionals (AVP) final tournament of the season at Manhattan Beach Sept 19-21. The best on the beach were playing for a record $1 million. Olson and his 7th-seed partner Kevin Wong broke through the ranks when they defeated Olympians Jake Gibb and Sean Rosenthal, the No. 2-seeded team. They were bumped out of the winners bracket by gold medalists Phil Dalhausser and Todd Rogers, but not before they took the No. 1 seed to three games. In the semi-finals, Olson/Wong claimed third place and bagged a purse of $44,500. On the women’s side, San Diegan Dianne DeNecochea, teamed with Barbra Fontana, were only taken out of the winners bracket by Olympic gold medalists Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh — the eventual champions. DeNecochea/Fontana reached the quarter-finals where they finished 5th to split a $26,000 purse. In what was likely the toughest volleyball level of competition in the world this year, 6-foot 4-inch DeNecochea was again in the top 5 in blocks and ace serve stats among 64 players. Other successful women from San Diego included Angela Lewis who partnered with Priscilla Lima to finish 13th, tied with Lisa Rutledge who made it to the fourth round of play. Paige Davis, partnered with Alicia Polzin, also qualified into the prestigious tournament and finished 17th. Also earning a paycheck on the men’s side were Mike Morrison of Encinitas and Mike Placek out of Torrey Pines High School partnered with Russ Marchewka from University High. They each reached the 3rd round to tie for 17th. Players from throughout the San Diego area regularly practice in South Mission Beach. The Manhattan Beach Open is the oldest continuous beach volleyball tournament. Champions have their names placed on plaques and attached to the Manhattan Beach Pier. May-Treanor/Walsh got their fourth plaque while Dalhausser/Rogers also added a new chunk of brass to the monument. The Olympic champions prevailed again. The final AVP event of the season is a shootout in Glendale, Ariz., this weekend where players are matched with a partner through a lottery and play to determine the king and queen of the beach. Information about the AVP, tournaments and players is available at www.avp.com. Volleyball attention now turns indoors, where colleges and high schools are competing during the fall and growing the next generation of beach players with all-around great skills.