Olympians return as play resumes with AVP in Ohio

MASON, Ohio — Fresh off winning gold at the Beijing Olympics, Misty May-Treanor, the former Newport Harbor High star, resumed play in the Assn. of Volleyball Professional Crocs Cup Shootout Friday.

May-Treanor and Walsh, the gold-medal winning duo, won twice to advance to today’s quarterfinals, where they will take on Annett Davis and Jenny Johnson. April Ross, also a former Newport Harbor standout, and her partner Jen Boss also advanced to the quarterfinals. Ross and Boss will face Nicole Branagh and Elaine Youngs today.

On the men’s side, Jake Gibb, a Costa Mesa resident, and Sean Rosenthal — who both competed in the Olympics — kicked off the night, taking the first match over seventh seeds Anthony Medel and Fred Souza, 21-18, 21-18. Gibb and Rosenthal advanced to the quarterfinals and will play against John Mayer and Jeff Nygaard.

Matt Fuerbringer, an Estancia High product, and his teammate Casey Jennings had to go up against Olympic gold medalists Phil Dalhaussser and Todd Rogers and lost, 21-12, 21-11. But Fuerbringer and Jennings will try to bounced back today, competing in the contender’s bracket.

Costa Mesa’s Russ Marchewka and Mike Placek defeated Ty Tramblie, a Newport Harbor product, and Mike Morrison in the first round Friday. Newport Beach resident Jason Ring and his partner Costa Mesa resident Hans Stolfus also won in the first round, as did Newport Beach’s Ty Loomis.

Those first-round winners lost in the second, but will play in today’s contender’s bracket.

— From staff reports