Student turned teacher this past week as pro beach volleyball player Mike Lambert instructed all-time great Karch Kiraly about some key facts.

"He taught me where the shady side of the court is at the Outrigger, and the rainy side of the island," Kiraly said.

Lambert, originally from Kane'ohe, and Kiraly are in the Paul Mitchell AVP Best of the Beach tournament at Queen's Surf Beach.

The invitation-only, season-ending tournament features the top eight teams, men and women, based on points earned during the season.

Other players from Hawai'i in the event are Stein Metzger, Sean Scott, and Scott Wong, who are all Punahou graduates, along with Lambert.

The women's championship is today at 2 p.m., and the men's is at 3:30 p.m. Other matches begin at 8 a.m.

Lambert and Kiraly lost their opening-round match to Dax Holdren and Jeff Nygaard, 13-21, 22-20, 15-11, yesterday. They were eliminated from the tournament by Phil Dalhausser and Nick Lucena, 21-18, 21-15, later in the day. Metzger and partner Jake Gibb were also eliminated, but Wong and Scott advanced to play today.

It could be the last time Lambert and Kiraly play as a team, because of Lambert's Olympics hopes.

"He aspires to qualify for Beijing," Kiraly said of Lambert. "I'm too old, and my family is too far along for me to travel and play in international tournaments. This could be our last tournament together, but I'm hoping it won't be."

Teams hoping to qualify for the Olympics need to play together for the three years leading up to the event. Kiraly would be 47 at the 2008 Olympics.

"I wish he was younger or the Olympics were this year," Lambert, 31, said. "I wish he picked me up earlier, but he didn't think too much of me then."

Lambert, who was the 2002 AVP Rookie of the Year, was crowned the top male player after winning the Las Vegas Aquafina Shootout last month. Players were teamed with a variety of partners, and Lambert won with Metzger in the final.

With Kiraly, Lambert has won four tournaments.

"It's been a wonderful two years playing together," said Kiraly, 44, the winningest beach volleyball player with 148 tournament wins. "He's young and enthusiastic, and celebrates with good intensity. His youth reinvigorated me."

"He's even-keeled and steady," Lambert said of Kiraly. "Mentally he's really strong, he has great control. Those things can help you. It's great to have enthusiasm and energy, but he's rock steady. I try to remember that when I'm struggling."

After being crowned the AVP Team of the Year last season, Kiraly had shoulder surgery and when the season began, they had "some medium finishes," Lambert said.

"Karch didn't want to hold me back, and recovery wasn't happening as quick as the season allowed. I played with other guys. All of a sudden, he was playing and the timing seemed right."

They celebrated their reunion with a win at the Huntington Beach Open in August.

"Any time you get to play with Karch it's special. Everyone wants a chance to play with the best ever," Lambert said.

MEN

CONTENDERS' BRACKET, SECOND ROUND

No. 4 Matt Fuerbringer/Casey Jennings vs. No. 1 Todd Rogers/Sean Scott; No. 7 Phil Dalhausser/Nick Lucena vs. No. 5 Sean Rosenthal/Larry Witt.

SEMIFINALS

No. 8 Mark Williams/Scott Wong vs. winner of first match; No. 6 Dax Holdren/Jeff Nygaard vs. winner of second match.

WOMEN

CONTENDERS' BRACKET, SECOND ROUND

No. 2 Rachel Wacholder/Elaine Youngs vs. No. 4 Tatiana Marins/Semirames Minello; No. 5 Tyra Turner/Makare Wilson vs. No. 3 Jennifer Kessy/Holly McPeak.

SEMIFINALS

No. 1 Misty May-Treanor/Kerri Walsh vs. winner of first match; No. 6 Dianne DeNecochea/Tammy Leibl vs. winner of second match

Reach Leila Wai at lwai@honoluluadvertiser.com.