Posted at 5:17 p.m., Sunday, May 6, 2007
Lambert, Metzger battle back for beach volleyball title
Advertiser Staff
Hawai'i's Mike Lambert and Stein Metzger, who were upset in the first round, battled their way through the contenders' bracket to capture an AVP Tour event today, an unprecedented feat since match-by-match statistics have been available starting in 2002.The second-seeded Lambert and Metzger, both Punahou alums, beat third-seeded Jake Gibb and Sean Rosenthal, 21-17, 21-18, in the final of the Crocs Tour Jose Cuervo Gold Crown Huntington Beach Open in Huntington Beach, Calif.
"When we lost in the first round, it was like, 'OK, it's gut-check time. What are we going to do about this mess we're in?' " Metzger said. "To be able pull this off was a great turnaround. We knew we still had it, but we just needed to fight for it."
They pocketed $20,000 in winning the third stop of the AVP 2007 Tour.
"I think we peaked during the finals. That was the best we played," Lambert said. "I don't really get it, because we played so many games — two on Friday, four (Saturday) and two this morning. It takes a toll on your body. We finally got a little bit of a break before the finals and went back into the tent for massages and loosening up. When we got out there, it was like, 'Wow, it feels like Wednesday or something.' "
Top-seeded Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh won their second consecutive tournament when they defeated second-seeded Elaine Youngs and Nicole Branagh, 21-13, 21-13, in the women's final.
