Wacholder, Boss third in Boulder tourney

Rachel Wacholder returned to the scene of her college playing days last weekend as the former Laguna Beach High volleyball standout went to Boulder, Colo., for the 13th stop on the 2006 Assn. of Volleyball Professionals Crocs Tour.

Wacholder and teammate Jennifer Boss, ranked third, came up with a third-place finish in the women’s tournament at the Boulder Open, an event won by the top-ranked team of Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh.

Wacholder and former partner Elaine Youngs defeated May-Treanor and Walsh in the women’s final at last year’s Boulder Open.

Wacholder, named the best defensive player and most improved player among AVP women in 2005, was a two-time All-American during her career at the University of Colorado.

Wacholder and Boss began last weekend’s tournament with a 21-12, 21-16 win over No. 30 Krystal Jackson/Erin Bird in Winner’s Bracket action. The duo continued bracket play with a pair of close-call victories over No. 14 Alicia Polzin/Denise Johns, 21-14, 19-21, 16-14, and No. 22 Heidi Ilustre/Diane Pascua, 19-21, 21-19, 15-9.

Then came a thrilling 22-20, 27-25, 18-16 win over former partner Youngs and Nicole Branagh who were ranked second. That match, which lasted 1 hour and 26 minutes, was the longest-played match of the women’s tournament.

It was the second victory in as many meetings for Wacholder/Boss over Youngs/Branagh, the first coming the previous week at the Brooklyn Open.

Wacholder and Boss had their title hopes ended in the semifinals by No. 4 Annett Davis/Jenny Johnson Jordan, 12-21, 21-18, 13-15.

Wacholder and Boss will compete this weekend at the Cincinnati Open.

In men’s action:

Former Laguna Beach star Dain Blanton and teammate Scott Lane finished tied for 17th-place.

Blanton and Lane, who entered the tournament with a No. 19 ranking, were oh-so-close to advancing further in the tournament but suffered two tough, three-game matches.

The pair began the tournament with a 21-15, 21-11 sweep of No. 14 Aaron Wachtfogel/Hans Stolfus in Winner’s Bracket play. They then suffered their first setback as they were held off by the No. 3 team of Dax Holdren/Sean Scott who won, 21-18, 16-21, 16-14, in what was the third-longest men’s match — 1-hour, 13-minutes — in the men’s tournament.

The loss dropped Blanton and Lane into the Contenders’ Bracket where they were eliminated from title contention following a 18-21, 21-17, 20-22 loss to No. 20 Adam Roberts/Jeff Carlucci. That match was the second-longest men’s match — 1:14 — played last weekend.

Blanton and Lane, playing together in just their second tournament of the 2006 AVP Crocs Tour, also finished in 17th-place the previous week at the Brooklyn Open.

Blanton began the current tour partnered with Eric Fonoimoana for the first three events before teaming up with Matt Prosser for the next four.

Blanton and Lane will team for the third time this weekend at the Cincinnati Open, which runs today through Monday.