Kessy, Dalhausser win Best of the Beach championship

LAS VEGAS (AP) -- Jennifer Kessy defended her title with a victory over Dianne DeNecochea in the championship match of the AVP Tour Best of the Beach tournament Saturday.

No. 4 seed Kessy and partner Tyra Turner posted a 21-13, 25-23 win over No. 5 DeNecochea and Elaine Youngs. Kessy received $23,700 at this individual all-star competition that includes the top 16 female and male players on the Tour.

Turner, who was selected by Kessy before the final match, had 20 kills and led all four players with five blocks. She had back-to-back blocks that allowed her side to take a 13-10 lead in the second game.

"Tyra was my first pick after April (Ross, her regular partner who couldn't play with Kessy due to a tournament rule)," Kessy said. "We've played together a couple times and have unbelievable chemistry, just like I have with April. Tyra and I always had it. She sided out amazingly and blocked five balls. I'm so proud of her."

Kessy, who ended a match with a kill, had a finals-best 10 digs and was the first of four foes to defeat DeNecochea in the second round.

In the men's championship match, No. 2 Phil Dalhausser completed a 4-0 second-round run with a 21-16, 21-10 win over No. 8 Jeff Nygaard. Dalhausser, who had nine kills, three blocks, and no errors, earned $24,700.

Dalhausser picked John Hyden, who claimed the previous two titles, as his partner while Nygaard selected Dalhausser's regular-season partner, Todd Rogers.

"I picked him (Hyden) because he's playing the best ball of his career and giving us a run for our money for the Team of the Year (award)," Dalhausser said. "It worked out just as I planned. He sides out great and made them work for sideouts. It was perfect."