Talented Young Duo Dominates Arizona Junior Beach Volleyball

Cassy Salyer
Intern, Media Relations and Publications
Phone: 719-228-6800
E-Mail: cassy.salyer@usav.org

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Aug. 10, 2007) - Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh are not the only ladies ruling the sand this summer.

As the days get shorter, Anna Gott and Betsi Metter’s list of accomplishments only grows longer. The two best friends from Phoenix, Ariz., won every Arizona junior beach volleyball tournament they played in together in 2007, including six in the 16s division and four with the talented duo picking on the 18-year-olds.

Gott, who is 16 years old and has been playing volleyball since she was 9, credits much of her success with Metter to their friendship.

“I think Betsi and I are doing so well this year because we have a really fun time playing together and we don’t get mad or upset while we play,” she said. “We can both keep each other up by saying positive things to each other. We know what the other is doing on the court without saying much so we always know where to go on the court.”

In addition to dominating two age groups as partners, Gott and Metter proved to be equal parts of a winning formula, raking in a fair amount of success separately as well.

Metter, who moved to Phoenix from South Dakota in 2003, won three additional 16-and-under tournaments with two different partners. Despite a swelling collection of victories against older opponents, she celebrates her 15th birthday on Aug. 13.

Gott ended the 2007 season with 17 total wins in 17 tournaments. She was first exposed to beach volleyball by her parents, who have been attending the AVP Hermosa Beach Open since 1986. It seems appropriate that one of Gott’s partners was her father, Kent Gott. The two paired together for the Arizona Beach Father-Daughter Tournament on June 17.

The Arizona Region also hosts six co-ed tournaments in the 16 and 18-year-old age groups. Competing in all six events with four different partners, Gott was the common denominator on every winning team in both divisions.

At the end of the season, Metter was crowned the Arizona girls’ 16-and-under champion while both she and Gott shared the honor in the 18s division.

And as long as it is with each other, the two seem to be just fine with sharing.

“My favorite thing about playing with Anna is that she always cheers me up when I make mistakes and she doesn't hold it against me like other beach players tend to do with their partners,” said Metter. “Anna also communicates really well to me and she is my best friend both on and off the court. She makes it exciting to play because we are constantly making jokes and just enjoying time while we play.”

According to the girls and their parents, the fun atmosphere has as much to do with the players as it does with Eric Hodgson, the Arizona Region Beach Director.

“[Eric] makes the beach program here in the valley fun, yet still structured for all the athletes,” said Tammy Alme, Betsi’s mother. “He truly seems to enjoy what he does and I do not know where he finds the patience. All the kids love him.”

Because Hodgson promotes the outdoor program so well, Metter jumped on board three years ago.

In their second year as partners, Gott and Metter also competed in three out-of-state tournaments in the U16 age group. The pair finished second at the AAU California Regional Beach Championships on June 3 at Dockweiler Beach, Calif., followed by a fifth-place showing at the National Championships held July 13-15 at Hermosa Beach, Calif.

With a pair of top-five AAU performances, Gott, a junior at Desert Vista High School, and Metter, a sophomore, qualified for the AAU finale held July 27-31 at Knoxville, Tenn. In a field of nine teams, the Arizona tandem placed third before returning home to get ready for the return to indoor volleyball.

With school now in session, Gott and Metter have found themselves back on the hard-wood under fluorescent lighting. Gott is a 5-7 libero for the Thunder, although she sets for the Arizona East Valley Juniors Volleyball Club. The 5-10 Metter, also a member of EVJ, is an outside hitter.

The year-round teammates have a lot to be proud of and to look forward to. They may even smile every time they reach into their gym bags for their sneakers and find a little souvenir from the summer…a handful of sand.