Walsh Jennings’ team rolls by bay

Bay Area native advances at AVP San Francisco event

Top-seeded Kerri Walsh Jennings and April Ross rolled into the quarterfinals of the AVP San Francisco Open on Friday in San Francisco.

The beach volleyball tournament, played at Pier 30-32 on the Embarcadero, marks the first time main draw AVP play has been in San Francisco since 2009.

Men’s No. 1 seed, Jake Gibb and Casey Patterson, also won their opening matches.

The double-elimination double-elimination tournament continues Saturday at 9:30 a.m. and runs through Sunday.

Bay Area native Walsh Jennings and Ross swept both their matches, defeating twins Madison and McKenna Witt 21-10, 21-14 and Irene Hester Pollock and Caitlin Ledoux 21-15, 21-14. Second-seeded Lane Carico and Summer Ross also reached the quarterfinals.

On the men’s side, the Gibb and Patterson beat qualifiers Torey DeFalco and Matthew Hilling 2114, 21-15 and then defeated Brad Keenan and Todd Rogers 21-12, 22-20. Second-seeded Taylor and Trevor Crabb swept their matches to advance.

Two qualifiers reached the quarterfinals: Ty Loomis and Marty Lorenz on the men’s side and the women’s team of Kelly Claes and Sara Hughes.

Olympics

U.S. Olympic volleyball coach John Speraw named former Stanford stars Erik Shoji and Kawika Shoji to the men’s team headed to the Rio Games. Erik was a four-time, first team All-American as a libero at Stanford while older brother Kawika was 2010 national player of the year as a 6-foot-3 setter. The United States finished tied for fifth place at the London Games after winning the gold medal in 2008.

Seven rowers with Bay Area ties were named to the U.S. Olympic team after the last trials were completed this week.

Stanford rowers Austin Hack (men’s eights), Eleanor Logan (women’s eights) and Grace Luczak (women’s pair) were among those chosen. Cal’s Nareg Guregian will compete in the men’s pair, Seth Weil of Menlo Park in the men’s fours, Anthony Fahden of Lafayette in the lightweight four and Kate Bertko of Oakland in the lightweight double sculls.

San Jose Giants

C.J Hinojosa hit a tworun homer in the top of the first, but the Giants were unable to cash in again until Hinojosa’s two-run single in the top of the ninth in a 6-4 California League loss at Stockton. The Giants were 3 for 16 with runners in scoring position.