By Geraldine Poon
The 2016 Manhattan Beach Open is the first AVP event following the official selection of the eight beach volleyball athletes who will represent the of the United States at the Rio Olympics. Three of those American Rio-bound teams entered the MBO, but they aren't the only Olympians in attendance. Two-time Chinese Olympian, Xi Zhang, who also goes by CC, entered the tournament, partnering with Jess Clausen.
Early Success
Zhang, who won bronze in Beijing and finished fourth in London, left her home at age 12 to begin indoor volleyball training. She was a setter, but since there were a number of talented setters in the Chinese pipeline, she decided to make the switch to beach volleyball just four years later. Her international beach volleyball career began when she was 20, and she found success quickly. In 2008, the FIVB named her Most Outstanding Player, and two years later she was named FIVB Best Defensive Player.
Living the SoCal Life
Following the London games, Zhang retired and began her studies, earning a degree in three years. Still just 31 years old, she now lives in California where she enrolled in an intensive English as a Second Language program.
Zhang was familiar with Southern California, because she would often spent a month practicing there, when she was a training with the Chinese team. "I love it here. I feel very comfortable here," she said. And she admitted she does not miss the intense travel required to compete on the international tour.
In her SoCal home-away-from-home, Zhang plays indoor volleyball occasionally and coaches a club team of 15-year-old girls. "I very much enjoy [coaching]," she said. "I have fun with the girls. I love teaching them. I want to help them love volleyball."
Inaugural AVP Appearance
So how did a two-time Chinese Olympian come to enter the Manhattan Beach Open? Zhang said she was interested in playing and reached out to several players, but they were all already paired up. Through the recommendation of Zhang's coach, she reached out to USC grad and former AVP tour regular Jess Clausen (nee Gysin), but because of Zhang's busy ESL class schedule, the duo could only fit in one practice together before Thursday's qualifier.
Clausen and Zhang went undefeated (3-0 in straight sets) in the qualifier to earn a main draw berth, but during a qualifier match, Clausen injured her toe on a large piece of wood buried shallowly in stadium court. "She's a tough girl," Zhang said.
On Friday morning, as the No. 32 seed, the pair lost to top-seeded Summer Ross and Lane Carico (21-17, 21-16) and moved to the contenders' bracket, where they fell to Katie Jameson and Tracy Jones, aka the Lindquist sisters. The sisters' two-down defense and jumbo shots proved too much for Clausen/Zhang, who lost in three 15-21, 22-20, 15-11, and Zhang's Manhattan Beach Open concluded with a 25th place. "I enjoy the tough games," she said. "Even if I lose, I love it because they push me to compete."
Although her first AVP outing may not have ended as she hoped, Zhang said she is excited to play on tour again and plans to play in Chicago in September, but she is still looking for a partner.
The 2016 Manhattan Beach Open is the first AVP event following the official selection of the eight beach volleyball athletes who will represent the of the United States at the Rio Olympics. Three of those American Rio-bound teams entered the MBO, but they aren't the only Olympians in attendance. Two-time Chinese Olympian, Xi Zhang, who also goes by CC, entered the tournament, partnering with Jess Clausen.
Early Success
Zhang, who won bronze in Beijing and finished fourth in London, left her home at age 12 to begin indoor volleyball training. She was a setter, but since there were a number of talented setters in the Chinese pipeline, she decided to make the switch to beach volleyball just four years later. Her international beach volleyball career began when she was 20, and she found success quickly. In 2008, the FIVB named her Most Outstanding Player, and two years later she was named FIVB Best Defensive Player.
Living the SoCal Life
Following the London games, Zhang retired and began her studies, earning a degree in three years. Still just 31 years old, she now lives in California where she enrolled in an intensive English as a Second Language program.
Zhang was familiar with Southern California, because she would often spent a month practicing there, when she was a training with the Chinese team. "I love it here. I feel very comfortable here," she said. And she admitted she does not miss the intense travel required to compete on the international tour.
In her SoCal home-away-from-home, Zhang plays indoor volleyball occasionally and coaches a club team of 15-year-old girls. "I very much enjoy [coaching]," she said. "I have fun with the girls. I love teaching them. I want to help them love volleyball."
Inaugural AVP Appearance
So how did a two-time Chinese Olympian come to enter the Manhattan Beach Open? Zhang said she was interested in playing and reached out to several players, but they were all already paired up. Through the recommendation of Zhang's coach, she reached out to USC grad and former AVP tour regular Jess Clausen (nee Gysin), but because of Zhang's busy ESL class schedule, the duo could only fit in one practice together before Thursday's qualifier.
Clausen and Zhang went undefeated (3-0 in straight sets) in the qualifier to earn a main draw berth, but during a qualifier match, Clausen injured her toe on a large piece of wood buried shallowly in stadium court. "She's a tough girl," Zhang said.
On Friday morning, as the No. 32 seed, the pair lost to top-seeded Summer Ross and Lane Carico (21-17, 21-16) and moved to the contenders' bracket, where they fell to Katie Jameson and Tracy Jones, aka the Lindquist sisters. The sisters' two-down defense and jumbo shots proved too much for Clausen/Zhang, who lost in three 15-21, 22-20, 15-11, and Zhang's Manhattan Beach Open concluded with a 25th place. "I enjoy the tough games," she said. "Even if I lose, I love it because they push me to compete."
Although her first AVP outing may not have ended as she hoped, Zhang said she is excited to play on tour again and plans to play in Chicago in September, but she is still looking for a partner.