	Knopf and Straton win local tourey
Knopf and Straton win Local Tourney in Long Beach, CA Over the weekend, Knopf and new, new, new partner Sarah Straton took home the championship prize winning the AVP Quali-tournament. This was a two day tournament in Long Beach, were the top four teams were guaranteed spots into the upcoming AVP events in Boulder and New York. The duo already would be eligible to play those without the tournament but the AVP allows teams ranked 14th and below to play, so they decided to play to hopefully win some money to help with all their travels around the country. This was the second tournament for the partnership of Knopf/Straton who finished 13th in the previous weekend's AVP stop in Hermosa Beach, CA. After quite a few shake downs of partners Knopf paired up with Straton after the AVP in Atlanta. So far, this new duo is playing well together. "Sarah and I wanted to play in this local tournament to get more games together under our belt. I feel like I have been in the latest soap opera of "As the AVP world turns," but I think Sarah is really great and wanted to improve on some things this weekend. The tournament started on Saturday and Knopf and Straton would have a tough first round game against an improving team Amy and Stephanie who beat Angela and Sarah in the first game. However, Knopf and Straton stepped up in games two and three winning the 3rd game 15-6 to move ahead to the next round. Their next two matches they played tough teams, but battled well together. Angela also had to play against two former partners in those wins. "It's tough to play against those girls I used to play with, but I am quickly learning I'm probably going to have to play against all my partners and with how many I have played with this year, I might have to play a "former partner" just about every weekend! Just kidding!" With those three wins, Knopf and Straton made it to the next day, Sunday. They would play in the semi-finals of the winner's bracket against Angela McHenry and Brooke Langston. Game one was very close, but Angela and Sarah pulled off the win 21-19, then 21-15. Their next match would be the "cross-over" to determine who plays in the finals and Knopf and Straton would beat Janelle Koester/Jennifer Fopma 21-15, 21-14 to make it to the finals. The championship match would be against Angela McHenry and Brooke Langston again who battled back from the Contenders' bracket to make it back to the finals. However, Knopf and Straton would be too much for them again and Angela and Sarah took the final match 21-16, 21-14. "This was a great weekend. Even though it was long and hot, I am glad that Sarah and I got to work on some things. Sarah sided-out amazingly all day today and it felt great playing with her. I am excited for this next weekend in Belmar. Hopefully we can continue to play well." This upcoming Friday, June 20th, Knopf and Straton will be competing in the 8th stop of AVP tour in Belmar, New Jersey. To track their matches you can click onto http://www.avp.com/, or http://www.bvbinfo.com/. Stay tuned to see how this pair finishes in their third tournament together!

Knopf and Straton win local tourey

Knopf and Straton win Local Tourney in Long Beach, CA

Over the weekend, Knopf and new, new, new partner Sarah Straton took home the championship prize winning the AVP Quali-tournament. This was a two day tournament in Long Beach, were the top four teams were guaranteed spots into the upcoming AVP events in Boulder and New York. The duo already would be eligible to play those without the tournament but the AVP allows teams ranked 14th and below to play, so they decided to play to hopefully win some money to help with all their travels around the country.

This was the second tournament for the partnership of Knopf/Straton who finished 13th in the previous weekend's AVP stop in Hermosa Beach, CA. After quite a few shake downs of partners Knopf paired up with Straton after the AVP in Atlanta. So far, this new duo is playing well together.

"Sarah and I wanted to play in this local tournament to get more games together under our belt. I feel like I have been in the latest soap opera of "As the AVP world turns," but I think Sarah is really great and wanted to improve on some things this weekend.

The tournament started on Saturday and Knopf and Straton would have a tough first round game against an improving team Amy and Stephanie who beat Angela and Sarah in the first game. However, Knopf and Straton stepped up in games two and three winning the 3rd game 15-6 to move ahead to the next round. Their next two matches they played tough teams, but battled well together. Angela also had to play against two former partners in those wins. "It's tough to play against those girls I used to play with, but I am quickly learning I'm probably going to have to play against all my partners and with how many I have played with this year, I might have to play a "former partner" just about every weekend! Just kidding!"

With those three wins, Knopf and Straton made it to the next day, Sunday. They would play in the semi-finals of the winner's bracket against Angela McHenry and Brooke Langston. Game one was very close, but Angela and Sarah pulled off the win 21-19, then 21-15. Their next match would be the "cross-over" to determine who plays in the finals and Knopf and Straton would beat Janelle Koester/Jennifer Fopma 21-15, 21-14 to make it to the finals.

The championship match would be against Angela McHenry and Brooke Langston again who battled back from the Contenders' bracket to make it back to the finals. However, Knopf and Straton would be too much for them again and Angela and Sarah took the final match 21-16, 21-14.

"This was a great weekend. Even though it was long and hot, I am glad that Sarah and I got to work on some things. Sarah sided-out amazingly all day today and it felt great playing with her. I am excited for this next weekend in Belmar. Hopefully we can continue to play well."

This upcoming Friday, June 20th, Knopf and Straton will be competing in the 8th stop of AVP tour in Belmar, New Jersey. To track their matches you can click onto http://www.avp.com/, or http://www.bvbinfo.com/. Stay tuned to see how this pair finishes in their third tournament together!