Another local, Costa Mesa resident April Ross, suffered a similar fate in the women’s final. The Newport Harbor High product and partner Jen Kessy, seeded No. 2, also fell to top-seeded Elaine Youngs and Nicole Branagh, 21-19, 21-17.
Rosenthal and Gibb were decided underdogs against Dalhausser and Rogers, who won Olympic gold last year in Beijing and have won four of the first five events on the AVP Tour this season. But there they were late in the first game, up 20-19 and Rosenthal with a chance to set up a possible game-winning kill.
The dig attempt skidded under the net, though. Then Dalhausser pounced, getting a big block on Gibb’s smash then a kill of his own to take the opening game.
“It was going to be my easiest dig of the match, and I missed it,” Rosenthal said. “I’d love to have that one back. You’ve got to take advantage of any break you can get on those guys. There’s a reason they’re the best team in the world. They prove it, week in and week out, and I don’t like it ... Phil’s the best, most dominant player ever to play this game, in my opinion. And Todd’s the best defensive player. You can’t fall behind on that team.”
Dalhausser and Rogers went up 12-7 in the second game before Rosenthal and Gibb rallied to 13-13 on Gibb’s service ace. But they could never actually take the lead, despite the defensive wizardry both teams showed that created some great action.
“It was all about ‘Rosie’ and I, dig for dig for dig,” Rogers said. “Crazy digs too. Sprawling on cut shots, or just major hammers and popping it up. That’s what makes this game fun for me. I had a lot of fun just battling back and forth with him.”
