A-Team wins early classic matchup in Chicago – Priddy/Crabb in losers bracket
After the first day of the AVP Chicago Gold Series Championships did mainly bring surprises on the men’s side, Saturday morning saw another episode of this season’s classic matchup on the women’s side. In round 3 of the winners bracket, A-Team Alix Klineman and April Ross went again up against Canadian world champions Sarah Pavan and Melissa Humana-Parades. Both teams won their Friday matches easily and since the Canadians are only seeded 8th in the Chicago AVP event, they met the top-seeded A-Team early in the tournament. Taking into account both AVP and FIVB events, both teams had encountered eight times already with four wins and four defeats on both sides. In the Hamburg world champs and the Manhattan Beach final, the A-team had been defeated by the Canadians.
Different story in Saturday’s match, where it was an easy first set win for the A-Team who was in the lead by 15:6 at the technical timeout. The second set was way more balanced but Klineman/Ross convinced with very consistent play. Taking the lead at 18:17, the A-Team finished the match with their first match point (21:8, 21:19). While the Canadians will now need to go through the contenders bracket, the A-Team will face Sponcil/ Claes who beat Larsen/Stockman in straight sets.
In the men’s competition, Manhattan Beach winners Reid Priddy and Trevor Crabb lost their Friday match to Paul Lotman/ Miles Partain who are seeded 20th (17:21, 23:21, 12:15). Indoor Olympian Reid Priddy and Trevor Crabb whose partner Tri Bourne is still suffering from a broken hand, will now need to go through the contenders bracket in order to reach another Sunday. Number 5-seeds Bomgren/Field were eliminated early after losing to DelSol/Ratledge and Rosener/Vaughan who are now facing Priddy/Crabb in the contenders bracket.
