The 2024 Hermosa Beach Open up delivered a Exclusive kind of magic, blending planet-class athleticism with the down-to-earth spirit that defines the beach volleyball community. Held September four–seven near the Hermosa Beach Pier, this calendar year’s Event wasn’t only a cease about the competitive circuit—it absolutely was a celebration of your Activity’s origins, that includes Olympians competing shoulder to shoulder with growing stars and local heroes in a lover-pleasant, no-frills setting.
The occasion experienced no stadium seating or flashy admirer zones. As an alternative, spectators collected round the courts, standing inside the sand and sitting down on Seaside towels since they cheered on elite athletes from just feet away. Structured with grassroots assist and backed by sponsors like Wedbush Securities, the Event returned into a purer Variation of the game, the place community, competition, and connection ended up the main target.
Around the Gals’s facet, Olympians Kelly Cheng and Sara Hughes reminded Every person why they’re thought of among the greatest on the globe. Inside a remarkable all-USC ultimate, Cheng and Hughes dropped the 1st set to Terese Cannon and Megan Kraft in advance of roaring back again to acquire the following two. The deciding set came all the way down to the wire, with Cheng and Hughes edging out a 20–eighteen win within a thrilling finish. The victory marked a triumphant minute within their write-up-Olympic campaign and underscored their dominance heading into the next AVP and Intercontinental situations.
The Gentlemen’s last highlighted another Olympic-caliber clash. Previous NBA forward turned Seaside volleyball standout Chase Budinger teamed up with Olympic veteran Miles Evans to encounter off versus Miles Partain and Alex Ranghieri. Budinger and Evans proved far too strong, profitable in straight sets, 21–14 and 21–17. Budinger’s physicality at The web and Evans’ sharp instincts produced them the unstoppable duo with the weekend.
Throughout four times of play, one hundred thirty groups competed within a double-elimination structure that kept enthusiasts on their own toes and athletes grinding by way of long, Sunlight-soaked times. The Event also integrated a juniors division, which brought in hundreds of young players wanting to master, contend, and share the sand Together with the execs. It absolutely was a rare possibility for youth athletes being part of a major volleyball occasion plus a precious recruiting minute for school packages in attendance.
A complete photo gallery captured the essence from the tournament—from higher-traveling spikes and gritty digs to tranquil moments of concentrate and laughter among teammates. These images, greatly shared on line, aided showcase the attractiveness and intimacy in the Activity in its most authentic location.
With its results, the Hermosa Beach Open up has sparked dialogue about its foreseeable future. Town leaders are exploring a design similar to Manhattan Seaside, where the municipality could just take a bigger function in internet hosting the Match annually. There’s also a bigger target in sight: Hermosa is actively positioning alone to be a designated instruction web page for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
The 2024 Hermosa Seaside Open was a lot more than just a tournament. It was a statement—evidence that even within an period of huge contracts and world wide broadcasts, Seashore volleyball’s heart Sodo66 even now beats strongest from the sand, surrounded by Local community.