Misty May-Treanor Photo: Ed Chan

Kerri Walsh Jennings Photo: Brian White

Marcio Araujo Photo: FIVB

Fabio Luiz Magalhaes Photo: FIVB

Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh opened their 2006 United States domestic season by defeating Jen Kessy Boss and Nancy Mason 19-21, 21-19 and 15-9 in Sunday’s final in Fort Lauderdale as the pair won their 27th title in 33 domestic starts. "We're starting the year at a high point," said May-Treanor after the match. "Everybody is gunning for us, so we wanted to do well in the first tournament of the year."

The two-time SWATCH-FIVB World Champions and Athens 2004 Olympic gold medalists, May-Treanor and Walsh won six-straight matches on the South Florida sand, including a 25-27, 21-17 and 15-12 victory over second-seeded Rachel Wacholder and Elaine Youngs.

Kessy Boss and Mason, who finished the 2005 SWATCH-FIVB World Tour with a fourth and three fifth-place finishes, advanced to the finals with a 10-21, 21-16 and 16-14 victory over Olympians Annett Davis and Jenny Johnson Jordan, who missed the 2005 season due to childbirth.

Alex Acco and Hevaldo Moreira became a two-time winner on the Brazilian men’s tour by upsetting Macio Araujo and Fabio Magalhaes15-18, 18-12 and 15-10 in the Porto Alegre. Alex and Hevaldo won last month when Curitiba hosted the second stop of the season.

"Except for the semi-finals, all our matches this week were three-setters,” said Hevaldo, who had never played in a semi-final before this season. “I was very tired in the final. Today’s victory is very important since it proved that our win last month in Curitiba was not a fluke," said Hevaldo.

Marcio Araujo and Fabio, who won the 2005 SWATCH-FIVB World Championships last June in Berlin, were placing second for the second-straight domestic event after losing the Guarulhos title two weeks ago to Athens Olympic champions Emanuel Rego and Ricardo Santos (19-17, 18-16). Emanuel and Ricardo were eliminated Saturday after losing to Benjamin Insfran and Harley Marques (18-16, 18-15).

The third-ranked team on the 2005 SWATCH-FIVB World Tour behind Emanuel/Ricardo and Marcio Araujo/Fabio, Benjamin and Harley claimed third-place Sunday with an 18-13 and 18-8 win over Lula Barbosa and Adriano Garrido. Alex and Hevaldo defeated Benjamin and Harley 24-22 and 18-15 in the semifinals after Marcio Araujo and Fabio posted an 18-13 and 18-9 win over Lula and Adriano.

Juliana Felisberta Silva and Larissa Franca, the 2005 women’s SWATCH-FIVB World Tour point’s champions, won their third-straight Brazilian women’s domestic stop by defeating Renata Ribeiro and Talita Antunes 18-12 and 19-17 Sunday. Renta and Talita upset Juliana and Larissa in February’s season opener (16-18, 18-14 and 15-13) to capture Joinville title.

“With this title, we have already improved our results in comparison with the first four stages last year," remembered Juliana as she and Larissa won twice in the first four events in 2005. "All athletes work hard about victories. Our merit is to always look forward more and more,” added Larissa.

Agatha Bednarczuk and Shaylyn Bede, who dropped a 16-18, 18-16 and 26-24 semi-final decision to Juliana and Larissa, placed third with a 19-17 and 18-4 win over the Salgado sisters (Carolina and Maria). Renata and Talita posted a 20-22, 18-16 and 15-8 semifinal with over the Salgado.

Jake Gibb and Sean Rosenthal upset top-seeded Mike Lambert and Stein Metzger 25-23 and 21-16 to win the first men’s domestic event on the 2006 American tour. Gibb and Metzger were the top men’s team on the 2005 American tour and ranked 11th internationally last season. Gibb was also the 2005 SWATCH-FIVB World Tour co-Rookie-of-the-Year with Matteo Varnier of Italy.

Gibb and Rosenthal scored a 21-18 and 21-13 semi-final win over Sydney 2000 Olympic gold medalists Dain Blanton and Eric Fonoimoana after Lambert and Metzger eliminated Dax Holdren and Sean Scott 18-21, 21-19 and 15-13. The Fort Lauderdale title is the first Gibb/Rosenthal. However, the two teams met once last season at a round-robin individual event last year in Las Vegas. "I have wanted my shot at them since Vegas," Rosenthal said of their 21-18 and 21-18 setback to Lambert and Metzger. "I wanted to play them in this tournament and get another chance against them. This time the outcome was different."

Prior to the 2006 SWATCH-FIVB World Tour women’s season opener in Modena, Italy (Mayy 10-14), the Brazilian tour will feature events in Niterói (April 19-23) and Várzea Grande (May 5-7). The United States women will also compete May 5-7 in Tempe, Ariz., before traveling to Italy for the first SWATCH stop. The men’s SWATCH season opens in China when Shanghai hosts the first 2006 double gender event May 23-28.

~Tim Simmons