Top-Ranked Team Moves Closer to Olympic Berth

Tarzana’s Annett Davis and Jenny Johnson Jordan advanced to today’s final against Brazil’s Adriana Behar and Shelda Bede at the women’s FIVB event in Marseilles, France.

Davis and Johnson Jordan strengthened their hold on the top spot in the U.S. Olympic volleyball qualification rankings, increasing their point total to 2,642. The top two teams qualify for the Sydney games.

The No. 2-ranked U.S. team of Misty May, formerly of Newport Harbor High, and Holly McPeak did not play at Marseilles. May, who is nursing a stomach muscle injury, and McPeak have 2,402 points.

Liz Masakayan and Elaine Youngs, formerly of El Toro High, lost to fifth-place finishers Lisa Arce and Barbra Fontana, 15-9, in an elimination match. Masakayan and Youngs (2,284 points) finished seventh, but needed a fourth-place finish or better to improve their No. 3 U.S. Olympic qualification ranking.

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San Juan Capistrano’s Adam Jewell and Newport Beach’s Nick Hannemann advanced to the winner’s bracket semifinals of the Assn. of Volleyball Professionals event in Belmar, N.J., Saturday.

Jewell and Hannemann defeated Eric Fonoimoana and Dain Blanton, formerly of Laguna Beach High, 15-7, in the quarterfinals of the double-elimination tournament. Blanton and Fonoimoana are playing in their first AVP event since they were suspended last month.

Canyon Ceman and Mike Whitmarsh defeated San Clemente’s Adam Johnson and Huntington Beach’s Brian Lewis, 15-4, in another quarterfinal. Johnson’s usual partner, Karch Kiraly, who has had a groin/abdominal muscle injury, sat out for the second consecutive week.

Brandon Taliaferro, formerly of San Clemente High, and partner Reid Priddy won two matches to continue to advance through the loser’s bracket. Casey Jennings, formerly of Golden West College, and partner Matt Fuerbringer, formerly of Estancia High, finished tied for 17th.