May-Treanor queen of the beach

HERMOSA BEACH — Misty May-Treanor may have beach volleyball down to a science.

After her record-setting 73rd professional tournament win on Sunday afternoon at the Assn. of Volleyball Professionals Hermosa Beach Open, she had a mathematics formula, too.

“My favorite number is five,” May-Treanor said. “So, seven plus three is 10, divided by two is five. I don’t know. I’m glad it’s over … it was always just about volleyball.

“For me, the team is the most important thing.”

The Newport Harbor High graduate has been somewhat reluctant to talk about her pursuit of the record, but she was definitely enjoying herself after she and longtime partner Kerri Walsh were dominant in the 21-15, 21-11 win over Rachel Wacholder and Tyra Turner.

May-Treanor, 29, beamed as she wore a T-shirt commemorating the occasion, which includes 46 domesticand 27 international wins. She smiled as well when she watched a special video presentation with comments from other AVP players.

And, though she may have just broken her former partner Holly McPeak’s record, May-Treanor looks to have plenty more tournament wins down the road. May-Treanor and Walsh, the AVP Team of the Year the last three seasons, have now won four straight tournaments after suffering a semifinal loss at the season-opening tournament in Miami. They have won 11 of the last 12 AVP events.

“It’s great to break the record here,” May-Treanor said to the fans. “I would rather break it here than in Louisville, I think,” she added, referring to the AVP’s next event which begins Thursday.

Minutes later, while speaking to reporters, she came up with another goal.

“We want to beat Sinjin and Randy’s record,” May-Treanor said with a smile, referring to men’s beach volleyball legends Sinjin Smith and Randy Stoklos, who won 114 tournaments together. May-Treanor and Walsh now have 67 tournament wins together.

May-Treanor and Walsh split $20,000 for the Hermosa Beach win, but it almost didn’t come to be after another Sailors alumna had her say. Newport Harbor High grad April Ross and partner Jennifer Boss, the No. 5 seed, beat top-seeded May-Treanor and Walsh in a fourth-round championship bracket match, 21-23, 13-21, 15-11, on Sunday morning.

May-Treanor and Walsh, who suffered just their second loss all year, then had to win a contender’s bracket match, 21-15, 21-10, over No. 11-seeded Paula Roca and Sarah Straton. They won the semifinal, 21-15, 21-17, over second-seeded Nicole Branagh and Elaine Youngs to advance the final.

“We came out at 8 a.m. this morning and played very flat,” Walsh said. “I think we just turned up our determination.”

Ross and Boss, meanwhile, were edged in the other semifinal by Turner and Wacholder, 21-17, 16-21, 18-16. They tied for third — matching the Huntington Beach Open for their best result of the year — and split $9,500.

In the championship match, May-Treanor appeared tight early. She had three hitting errors that helped Turner and Wacholder to a 7-6 lead.

“Not so much nervous, but we were waiting in the tunnel for longer than usual,” May-Treanor said. “We were like, ‘OK, are they going to ask us out yet? Are they going to ask us out yet?’ ”

But, with Turner and Wacholder still ahead, 11-10, May-Treanor had four consecutive kills to help give her and Walsh a 14-11 lead that they wouldn’t relinquish

It was easier in Game 2, when May-Treanor and Walsh led throughout and extended their lead to 10 points twice, including the last point, when May-Treanor’s crosscourt kill earned her the title.

Wacholder, who won the Hermosa Beach event last year with Youngs, was diplomatic after the match.

“I had no doubt she would break the record at some point,” Wacholder said. “I was just hoping it wasn’t today. But her name will be known on these courts for the rest of time. She’s just a great beach volleyball player, she’s one of the greats.”

McPeak said she’s still happy that if she has to lose the record, she loses it to May-Treanor.

“She’s a great role model,” McPeak said. “She talks to everyone, signs everyone’s autographs. She’s really modest and down to earth.”

And McPeak, who finished tied for ninth at this year’s Hermosa Beach Open with partner Logan Tom, said fans shouldn’t count her out yet.

“The new chase begins,” she told May-Treanor half-jokingly. “Now I’m chasing you.”

MATT SZABO may be reached at (714) 966-4614 or at [email protected].