Area volleyball stars lose to two of the best
It wasn't the Olympic Games, but it was definitely a golden moment.
Cardinal Mooney High graduate Megan Wallin and Venice High graduate Kristen Batt experienced a lifetime thrill July 4 when they faced Olympic beach volleyball gold medalists Misty May and Kerri Walsh during the Association of Volleyball Professionals (AVP) Crocs Slam Boulder.
Top-seeded May, now going by May-Treanor, and Walsh beat No. 32-seeded Wallin and Batt 21-5, 21-7 in the first round of the Colorado event.
"In most circumstances being seeded last in a tournament is most often viewed as negative," the former Michigan State University standout Wallin wrote in an e-mail. "Kristen and I felt honored to be matched against not only the No. 1 team in the world, but also the team that is favored to bring home yet another gold medal.
"Stepping onto center court listening to our names paired with Kerri Walsh and Misty May is something that will live with us forever; a childhood dream made a reality."
Wallin and Batt, who played for the University of Kentucky, form the SpikeKey team and are under contract to compete on the Toyota Pro Beach Volleyball Tour. They also play through the AVP, Zephyrhills, Extreme Volleyball Professionals, East End Volleyball and California Beach Volleyball Association tours.
"Competing in as many tours as possible with the best athletes in the nation will not only help improve our game but will help us break into the AVP, the most desired and elite professional beach volleyball tour," Wallin said.
They won their Toyota Pro Beach debut in Dewey Beach, Del. Seeded sixth out of eight teams, Wallin said, they defeated the top three seeds to collect the title and $1,600. Weeks later they finished first among eight entries at the Sunshine State Outdoor Volleyball Association (SSOVA) women's open competition in Clearwater Beach.
Wallin said they will compete every weekend through Aug. 23. In addition, they plan to host beach volleyball clinics on Siesta Key Beach and instruct area players.
BY BARBARA KLEMT BOXLEITNER - July 16, 2008 www.heraldtribune.com
