Trojans past and present took a bite out of the Big Apple last weekend as the AVP Tour hit Manhattan (not Manhattan Beach) for the first time ever. USC alum Jennifer Kessy won the inaugural title, the 15th of her AVP career, with her partner Emily Day, but reigning collegiate champions Sara Hughes and Kelly Claes were the breakout stars of the tournament as the rising juniors made it to the semifinals, including a win over USC legend April Ross and her partner Jennifer Fopma, the top seed.
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Hughes and Claes, making their professional main draw debut, went 6-2 over the weekend, earning their stripes against the game's best. They were beaten by Ross and Fopma in their opening match, but fought their way out of the qualifying bracket to upset the Olympic silver medalist and her new partner (playing for the injured Kerri Walsh-Jennings) in the contender's bracket.
Along with Kessy, Ross, Claes and Hughes, USC beach volleyball's first-ever scholarship student-athlete Geena Urango also competed in the historic tournament in New York City.
Click here for more.
Hughes and Claes, making their professional main draw debut, went 6-2 over the weekend, earning their stripes against the game's best. They were beaten by Ross and Fopma in their opening match, but fought their way out of the qualifying bracket to upset the Olympic silver medalist and her new partner (playing for the injured Kerri Walsh-Jennings) in the contender's bracket.
Along with Kessy, Ross, Claes and Hughes, USC beach volleyball's first-ever scholarship student-athlete Geena Urango also competed in the historic tournament in New York City.
A photo posted by Sara Hughes (@sarahughes14) on
