Youngs denies Walsh in AVP volleyball tourney

Kerri Walsh was unable to retain her title Friday night as Elaine Youngs posted a 23-21, 14-21, 15-11 victory in the championship match of the AVP Crocs Tour Gods and Goddesses of the Beach volleyball tournament at Caesars Palace.

Youngs, who played with Jenny Johnson Jordan, defeated Walsh, who was with April Ross, in the championship match. Youngs won $23,500, and Walsh got $19,750.

Youngs and Walsh selected their partners a few minutes before the final match.

In the first game, Youngs and Jordan were one point from winning at 20-15, but Walsh and Ross went on a 6-1 run to tie the score at 21 before Youngs and Jordan each recorded a kill.

Walsh and Ross ran off seven consecutive points in the second game to increase a 10-8 lead to 17-8.

In the final game, Youngs and Jordan held onto the lead after breaking a 9-all tie. Youngs had kills on the 14th and 15th points.

“(Jordan) dug ’em,” Youngs said about her side’s last two points. “That was most important. I have a great defender in Jenny, and we both served pretty well in the match. And I think our blocking and defense worked really well on April.

“(The win is) great because I played Kerri twice in these (Las Vegas finals), and to beat her here this time is awesome. I can’t describe it.”

Walsh, the top seed, advanced to the championship match because she was the only player to go 3-0 in Pool Y in Friday’s second-round matches. She had received a bye from Thursday’s first round by being one of the top four seeds.

Walsh and Ross defeated Rachel Wacholder and Jennifer Boss 21-12, 21-14 in Walsh’s third match. Her two previous matches had gone three games each.

Walsh and Wacholder opened with a 21-16, 20-22, 15-8 win over Ross and Boss, who are regular-season players allowed to play together because of a scheduling fluke that occurred when top seed Misty May-Treanor withdrew before the first round.

The rule for this tournament was that no player could be paired with his or her regular-season partner, and he or she must have a different partner for each round. But the first part of the rule was waived when May-Treanor withdrew.

Walsh’s second victory was when she and Boss defeated Wacholder and Ross, 21-16,

20-22, 15-13.

Youngs, the second seed, advanced to the final with a 2-1 mark in Pool Z. Her second victory came in her third match, against previously unbeaten Nicole Branagh. Youngs and Jordan defeated Branagh and Tyra Turner, 23-21, 20-22, 15-12.

The men’s final is scheduled for 9:15 tonight.