UCLA alumnus continues to dominate beach volleyball

By Regina Yeh
Daily Bruin Contributor
[email protected]

Three-time Olympic gold medalist and UCLA alumnus Karch Kiraly,
who has barely paused throughout his prolific professional
volleyball career, took a moment to stand back after setting
another record on the Association of Volleyball Professionals (AVP)
tour.

“I was really happy with the way it went and how I
played,” Kiraly said. “It was a really special victory,
mine and Brent’s (Doble) first together.”

The Michelob Light Open, played on June 14-16, was a three-day
event and the third stop on the AVP tour. With his partner
Brent Doble, Kiraly achieved his 143rd career win by taking first
place in Santa Barbara.

The pair got off to a slow start, losing to the Brazilian team
of Eduardo Bacil and Frederico Souza before coming back and
sweeping the next two matches to capture the win.

“(The victory) was special because it was where I grew up
and learned to play the sport, in my own town of Santa Barbara with
my family around me on Father’s Day,” Kiraly said.

Seeded fifth, Doble and Kiraly upset the fourth-ranked team of
Albert Hannemann and Bruin alumnus and UCLA volunteer coach Jeff
Nygaard. It not only reestablished Kiraly’s dominance in the
sport of volleyball but also the record for the oldest AVP event
champion at 41.

While volleyball commentators and sports journalists speculate
about Kiraly being the greatest beach volleyball player of all
time, he still denies any connection to that title, and instead
insists on just playing his best in the tournaments. 

“I loved my time at UCLA. I had a great time, playing with
the other masters of volleyball,” Kiraly said.  “I
really enjoyed the hundreds of hours I spent with all the other
Bruins on the team.”

Within the Michelob Light Tournament itself, other alumni like
Nygaard also demonstrated their athleticism.

Kevin Wong, who currently holds the top-seeded position in the
AVP tour, looks up to volleyball icons like Kiraly and Sinjin Smith
with admiration for their achievements in the sport.

“I think they have such unique and extreme characteristics
and are both such great competitors,” Wong, another former
Bruin, said in an AVP interview. “That, and they both went to
UCLA and have always been supportive of us fellow
Bruins.”

Wong finished fifth in the Michelob Light Tournament with
another ex-Bruin, partner Stein Metzger.

Kiraly, Wong, and Metzger competed again in Belmar, N.J., on
June 30, but all lost in the semifinal round. Four UCLA alumni
““ Holly McPeak, Elaine Youngs, Annett Davis and Jennifer
Johnson-Jordan ““ competed in the women’s doubles final,
won by McPeak and Youngs.

Despite the loss, Kiraly continues to disregard the high
expectations that follow him. He acknowledges his gift and embraces
the opportunity to play professionally.

“As it happens for some and not for others, I feel
it’s a rarity and a great blessing to earn your living
competing in a sport,” Kiraly said.

With reports from J.P. Hoornstra, Daily Bruin Senior Staff