With no live events going on, sports organizations and networks have been showing “classic” games to pacify fans’ hunger for athletic competition during the COVID-19/coronavirus pandemic.
The AVP, the domestic professional beach volleyball organization, is bringing back classic tournament matches through a feature called “AVP Rewind” on its Facebook page.
The third installment has a local flavor as it features Santa Barbara’s Karch Kiraly and partner Mike Lambert playing against Larry Witt of Santa Ynez and Sean Rosenthal in an epic final at the 2005 Huntington Beach Open.
The match is officiated by Santa Barbara’s Brant “B” Lee.
The first rewind match of the series is the third set of the 1996 AVP Miller Light Manhattan Beach Open Final between Kiraly-Kent Steffes and Adam Johnson-Jose Loioloa.
The second match is the 2004 Manhattan Beach Open Women’s Final, featuring Holly McPeak and Elaine Youngs against Annett Davis and Jenny Johnson Jordan.
The AVP releases a new replay every Friday.
— Noozhawk sports editor Barry Punzal can be reached at bpunzal@noozhawk.com. Follow Noozhawk Sports on Twitter: @NoozhawkSports. Connect with Noozhawk on Facebook.