Beach volleyball storylines to follow

As we embark on August, the most-packed and most-crucial month of the beach volleyball season, there are a number of storylines to follow. Here are eight:

1. Will the AVP finish its season?
Rumors circulated in Long Beach last weekend that the AVP doesn't have enough funds for the remaining five events on the 2010 schedule, and thus, those tournaments may be canceled. The AVP admitted it's looking for a new investor, but remains positive a deal will be reached. Sure, one or two events could be dropped, but all five? They haven't even played the granddaddy of them all yet, Manhattan Beach, where there's been a pro event every year except two since 1960. Is this really a possibility? Apparently so.

2. Can Todd and Phil be beat on the AVP Tour?
Todd Rogers and Phil Dalhausser are 34-0 this year on the domestic circuit and could lay claim to an undefeated season if the AVP really does call the rest of the year off. But if the remaining tournaments are played, Rogers doesn't think their streak will last. "There's too many good teams out here," he said over the weekend. "Yeah, we're playing good but good teams will be on fire, and if we're not on fire to match it, we're going to lose."

3. Will Misty May-Treanor and Nicole Branagh go on a run?
The duo switched sides in Long Beach -- May-Treanor to the left, Branagh to the right -- and it resulted in their first title since the first weekend of the season. They're two of the best individuals in the game, and if they've found what works best now as a team, they're capable of collecting more than the occasional victory.

4. Is Kerri Walsh returning this season?
Two weeks ago at Hermosa Beach she said she was planning on coming back for the San Francisco stop, possibly teaming with Brooke Hanson, but that can obviously only happen if there's actually an event. Odds are against her rejoining May-Treanor this year, and possibly ever, as Misty won't commit to any future plans.

5. Will Gibb and Rosie ever win another title?
Beijing Olympians Jake Gibb and Sean Rosenthal teamed up in 2006 and won at least two titles in each of their first three seasons, with four coming in 2008. But they only won one tournament last year, and midway through this season they have zero -- and only one appearance in a final. They're ranked sixth in the AVP and 11th in the FIVB, raising speculation that a split may be imminent. That's not likely, but they're no lock to be London Olympians.

6. What happened to the German world champions?
Julius Brink and Jonas Reckerman, winners of last year's world championships and the World Tour title, started the season with an uncharacteristic seventh place, then advanced to the semis at their next five tournaments, winning four medals but no golds. Their last event was Prague more than a month ago, however, because both of them injured their knees. They could be done for the year.

7. Will a new record be set for single-season FIVB Tour wins?
The mark was raised last year when Brazil's Juliana Silva and Larissa Franca won eight times. In eight appearances this year, they have four titles, with six women's events yet, so they could match or improve. Also with a chance to top the record are Rogers and Dalhausser, who have five international titles (to go with five AVP victories). To do so they'd have to win four of the five men's FIVB events left, but they may not play all of those as three conflict with AVP events. If the AVP season ends early though...

8. Is Brazil going to win anymore men's titles?
The country has only one this season, when Harley Marques and Pedro Salgado won in Shanghai, but it appears to have been a fluke as the duo hasn't sniffed a medal match since. The country's top-ranked team is Alison Cerutti and Emanuel Rego, who have played in three finals, but took 17th at their last event. Alison and Emanuel are the likely Brazilian choices to win one, but only if they don't play Rogers and Dalhausser in the final, where they're 0-3 against the Americans.