{"id":322389,"date":"2026-08-16T02:52:55","date_gmt":"2026-08-16T02:52:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/322389\/"},"modified":"2026-08-16T02:52:55","modified_gmt":"2026-08-16T02:52:55","slug":"avp-manhattan-beach-open-paul-lotman-miles-partain-overcome-injury-to-reach-semifinals-daily-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/322389\/","title":{"rendered":"AVP Manhattan Beach Open: Paul Lotman, Miles Partain overcome injury to reach semifinals \u2013 Daily News"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Miles<\/p>\n

Miles Partain and Paul Lotman play against Taylor Crabb and Andy Benesh in the AVP Manhattan Beach Open on Saturday August 15, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Miles<\/p>\n

Miles Partain and Paul Lotman play against Taylor Crabb and Andy Benesh in the AVP Manhattan Beach Open on Saturday August 15, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Paul<\/p>\n

Paul Lotman rallies for a wild ball with Miles Partain as they play Taylor Crabb and Andy Benesh in the AVP Manhattan Beach Open on Saturday August 15, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Miles<\/p>\n

Miles Partain and Paul Lotman play against Taylor Crabb and Andy Benesh in the AVP Manhattan Beach Open on Saturday August 15, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Miles<\/p>\n

Miles Partain and Paul Lotman play against Taylor Crabb and Andy Benesh in the AVP Manhattan Beach Open on Saturday August 15, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Trevor<\/p>\n

Trevor Crabb and Chase Budinger play against Timothy Brewster and Ryan Ierna in the AVP Manhattan Beach Open on Saturday August 15, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Miles<\/p>\n

Miles Partain jumps into Paul Lotman\u2019s arms after the No. 6 seeded duo defeated No. 1 seed Chase Budinger and Trevor Crabb 22-20, 22-20 on Saturday, August 15, to advance to the AVP Manhattan Beach Open semifinals. (Photo by Kai Dizon\/SCNG)\n<\/p>\n

\"Taryn<\/p>\n

Taryn Brasher and Kristen Cruz play against Maddie Anderson and Alaina Chacon in the AVP Manhattan Beach Open on Saturday August 15, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Taryn<\/p>\n

Taryn Brasher and Kristen Cruz play against Maddie Anderson and Alaina Chacon in the AVP Manhattan Beach Open on Saturday August 15, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Taryn<\/p>\n

Taryn Brasher and Kristen Cruz play against Maddie Anderson and Alaina Chacon in the AVP Manhattan Beach Open on Saturday August 15, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Taryn<\/p>\n

Taryn Brasher and Kristen Cruz play against Maddie Anderson and Alaina Chacon in the AVP Manhattan Beach Open on Saturday August 15, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Taryn<\/p>\n

Taryn Brasher and Kristen Cruz play against Maddie Anderson and Alaina Chacon in the AVP Manhattan Beach Open on Saturday August 15, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Taryn<\/p>\n

Taryn Brasher and Kristen Cruz play against Maddie Anderson and Alaina Chacon in the AVP Manhattan Beach Open on Saturday August 15, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Chaim<\/p>\n

Chaim Schalk and James Shaw play against Seain Cook and Will Rottman in the AVP Manhattan Beach Open on Saturday August 15, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Evan<\/p>\n

Evan Cory and Derek Bradford play against Troy Field and Ryan Wilcox in the AVP Manhattan Beach Open on Saturday August 15, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Chaim<\/p>\n

Chaim Schalk and James Shaw play against Seain Cook and Will Rottman in the AVP Manhattan Beach Open on Saturday August 15, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Evan<\/p>\n

Evan Cory and Derek Bradford play against Troy Field and Ryan Wilcox in the AVP Manhattan Beach Open on Saturday August 15, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Derek<\/p>\n

Derek Bradford reacts to losing with Evan Cory against Troy Field and Ryan Wilcox in the AVP Manhattan Beach Open on Saturday August 15, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Timothy<\/p>\n

Timothy Brewster digs for the ball as he and Ryan Ierna play against Trevor Crabb and Chase Budinger in the AVP Manhattan Beach Open on Saturday August 15, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Troy<\/p>\n

Troy Field and Ryan Wilcox set the ball against Evan Cory and Derek Bradford in the AVP Manhattan Beach Open on Saturday August 15, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Evan<\/p>\n

Evan Cory and Derek Bradford play against Troy Field and Ryan Wilcox in the AVP Manhattan Beach Open on Saturday August 15, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Chaim<\/p>\n

Chaim Schalk and James Shaw play against Seain Cook and Will Rottman in the AVP Manhattan Beach Open on Saturday August 15, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Alexis<\/p>\n

Alexis Durish and Audrey Koenig play against Isabella Martinez and Toni Rodriguez in the AVP Manhattan Beach Open on Saturday August 15, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Evan<\/p>\n

Evan Cory and Derek Bradford play against Troy Field and Ryan Wilcox in the AVP Manhattan Beach Open on Saturday August 15, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Evan<\/p>\n

Evan Cory and Derek Bradford play against Troy Field and Ryan Wilcox in the AVP Manhattan Beach Open on Saturday August 15, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Taryn<\/p>\n

Taryn Brasher and Kristen Cruz play against Maddie Anderson and Alaina Chacon in the AVP Manhattan Beach Open on Saturday August 15, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Timothy<\/p>\n

Timothy Brewster digs for the ball as he and Ryan Ierna play against Trevor Crabb and Chase Budinger in the AVP Manhattan Beach Open on Saturday August 15, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Trevor<\/p>\n

Trevor Crabb and Chase Budinger play against Timothy Brewster and Ryan Ierna in the AVP Manhattan Beach Open on Saturday August 15, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Trevor<\/p>\n

Trevor Crabb and Chase Budinger play against Timothy Brewster and Ryan Ierna in the AVP Manhattan Beach Open on Saturday August 15, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Shade<\/p>\n

Shade is a valuable commodity during the AVP Manhattan Beach Open on Saturday August 15, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Trevor<\/p>\n

Trevor Crabb and Chase Budinger play against Timothy Brewster and Ryan Ierna in the AVP Manhattan Beach Open on Saturday August 15, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Trevor<\/p>\n

Trevor Crabb and Chase Budinger play against Timothy Brewster and Ryan Ierna in the AVP Manhattan Beach Open on Saturday August 15, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Alexis<\/p>\n

Alexis Durish and Audrey Koenig play against Isabella Martinez and Toni Rodriguez in the AVP Manhattan Beach Open on Saturday August 15, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Trevor<\/p>\n

Trevor Crabb sits in the sand after a lost point as he and Chase Budinger play against Timothy Brewster and Ryan Ierna in the AVP Manhattan Beach Open on Saturday August 15, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Trevor<\/p>\n

Trevor Crabb and Chase Budinger play against Timothy Brewster and Ryan Ierna in the AVP Manhattan Beach Open on Saturday August 15, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Alexis<\/p>\n

Alexis Durish and Audrey Koenig play against Isabella Martinez and Toni Rodriguez in the AVP Manhattan Beach Open on Saturday August 15, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

Show Caption<\/p>\n

1 of 36<\/p>\n

Miles Partain and Paul Lotman play against Taylor Crabb and Andy Benesh in the AVP Manhattan Beach Open on Saturday August 15, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

Expand<\/a><\/p>\n

MANHATTAN BEACH \u2014 Paul Lotman and Miles Partain defeated the AVP Manhattan Beach Open\u2019s No. 1 seed with an arm tied behind their back Saturday.<\/p>\n

Despite Lotman playing with a taped \u2013 and retaped \u2013 injured right shoulder, the No. 6-seeded duo defeated Chase Budinger and Trevor Crabb 22-20, 22-20 at Manhattan Beach Pier\u2019s stadium court.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe had a good strategy coming in and we executed it as best we could, given the circumstances,\u201d Lotman said. \u201cReally fun match to play.\u201d<\/p>\n

Along with Lotman and Partain, No. 2 seed Andy Benesh and Taylor Crabb, No. 3 seed Chaim Schalk and James Shaw, and No. 12 seed Gage Basey and Thomas Hurst all made Sunday\u2019s men\u2019s AVP Heritage Major semifinals.<\/p>\n

In the women\u2019s tournament, No. 1 seed Taryn Brasher and Kristen Cruz, No. 2 seed Kelly Cheng and Megan Kraft, No. 12 seed Madelyne May Anderson and Alaina Chacon, and No. 14 seed Torrey Van Winden and Abby Van Winkle survived to be one of the four teams remaining.<\/p>\n

Lotman was facing Schalk and Shaw in Round 3 when he reaggravated a hurt shoulder he entered the tournament with. The 40-year-old was left bent over on the ground, wincing in pain after a rally in the second set.<\/p>\n

After the five-minute injury timeout expired, Lotman burned his team\u2019s timeout to avoid forfeiting before consulting with the on-site medical staff, who gave him the option to keep playing.<\/p>\n

Lotman and Partain took the first set 21-14, dropped the second 21-19, then rallied to win the third 15-9.<\/p>\n

The team\u2019s offense was essentially reduced to Partain\u2019s left arm, but as Lotman put it, they \u201cfound a way.\u201d<\/p>\n

Their first chance at qualifying for championship Sunday came against Taylor Crabb and Benesh, Partain\u2019s partner from 2023 to 2025.<\/p>\n

The former UCLA standout said there was no bad blood between the two prior to their head-to-head match, and called Benesh the tournament\u2019s best blocker.<\/p>\n

For better or worse, Partain would prove his point. Benesh stifled Partain on three straight spikes at one point as he and Taylor Crabb punched their ticket to Sunday, 21-9, 21-18.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s always tough trying to play against someone that\u2019s injured because you start to focus on them and it makes their partner\u2019s job easier,\u201d Taylor Crabb said. \u201cSo we just had to stay aggressive from the service line and not let them pass it up on to us.\u201d<\/p>\n

Pertain shared a similar sentiment after their win against the No. 3 seed, saying that playing with an apparent injury can be advantageous at times \u2014 with teams showing the \u201cwounded dog\u201d mercy.<\/p>\n

But due to face Trevor Crabb and Budinger \u2014 winners of five straight since dropping their opener Friday \u2014 in the contender\u2019s bracket, it seemed like the sharks, or perhaps crustaceans, were circling.<\/p>\n

The toll of three previous matches Saturday may have tilted the scales, however, with the top-seeded duo falling in straight sets.<\/p>\n

Partain jumped into Lotman\u2019s arms as soon as the win was secured.<\/p>\n

Not long after, the 40-year-old took in the applause of the crowd before flinging his cap in a sidearm, Philip-Rivers-like fashion with his bad arm, covered in black athletic tape \u2014 the joy on his face overpowering whatever pain he was dealing with.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe improvised this match and figured out a system where it\u2019s not just all on him (Partain),\u201d Lotman said. \u201cI can find a way to side out. That being said, he still did a tremendous amount.\u201d<\/p>\n

Brasher and Cruz have faced stiff competition at times, but have yet to drop a single set across their four matches, defeating No. 8 seed Chloe Loreen and Corinne Quiggle 21-19, 21-19 before sending Anderson and Chacon to the contender\u2019s bracket 21-18, 21-15.<\/p>\n

Cheng and Kraft, meanwhile, defeated No. 26 seed Avery Jackson and Sarah Wood 21-14, 21-13 Saturday morning before advancing with a 21-16, 23-21 victory over van Winden and van Winkle.<\/p>\n

Basey and Hurst nixed No. 9 seed Evans and Ranghieri 17-21, 21-19, 15-10 to keep their title hopes alive, and Schalk and Shaw did the same in their match against Evans and Ranghieri 15-21, 21-17, 15-13.<\/p>\n

Brasher and Cruz kick off Sunday with an 8 a.m. match against van Winkle and van Winden for a spot in the 1 p.m. women\u2019s championship, with Cheng and Kraft facing Anderson and Chacon at 9 a.m. for the same honor.<\/p>\n

Lotman and Partain will face Basey and Hurst in the first men\u2019s semifinal match at 10 a.m., with Benesh and Taylor Crabb\u2019s bout with Schalk and Shaw following at 11 a.m. The men\u2019s championship is slated for 2 p.m. Sunday.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt this tournament, every match is just a little extra just because you do want your name on that pier,\u201d Cruz said. \u201cThis is like our Super Bowl.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Miles Partain and Paul Lotman play against Taylor Crabb and Andy Benesh in the AVP Manhattan Beach Open…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":322390,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[35],"tags":[74126,68184,2136,9966,75,84,83,9,24,63,319],"class_list":["post-322389","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-manhattan","tag-avp","tag-beach-volleyball","tag-california","tag-los-angeles-county","tag-manhattan","tag-manhattan-headlines","tag-manhattan-news","tag-new-york","tag-new-york-city","tag-nyc","tag-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/322389","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=322389"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/322389\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/322390"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=322389"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=322389"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=322389"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}