Cal Cup Youth Beach Volleyball Winners

Manhattan Beach residents Presley Forbes, Bobby Barkley and Grant Chalmers were among California’s best and brightest young beach volleyball players that descended upon Manhattan Beach Sunday for the final day of the California Beach Volleyball Association’s California Cup Youth Championships.

The difference between them and 65 other teams that competed in eight divisions was that each of them was part of a duo that won the Cal Cup.

“It was great,” said Bobby Barkley, 12, of Manhattan Beach. "I don’t know how to put it into words but this was a fantastic experience, especially being able to win so close to home.”

Barkley, who attends Manhattan Beach Middle School as a sixth grader, won the boys 12 & under division with his partner Gage Worsley of Moraga in Northern California, beating his friend and former partner Niko Forbes’ team.

Barkley and Worsley got together through a family friend who thought they might make a good team.

“This is our fourth tournament together this summer,” said Barkley of his partnership with Worsley. “We have played good but I think this was the best we have played all summer.”

Said CBVA Tournament Director Jay Saikley, “This is the state championships for these kids. The winners are considered to be the best in the state for their particular age group. It’s a big deal for these kids.”

Manhattan Beach resident Grant Chalmers and partner Casey White of Hermosa Beach continued their winning ways in 2011 summer competition by taking the Cal Cup boys 16 & under championship. The pair has played in four tournaments.

Another unbeatable force this summer has been the Manhattan Beach/Hermosa Beach duo of Presley Forbes and Sunny Villapondo, who won the girls 12 & under title.

“I’m really proud of them,” said Presley's mother Daron Forbes. “They have been winning all summer and they just continue to improve and get better. They are really fun to watch.”

Katie Spieler and Danielle Rottman won the girls 18 & under division, beating Tiffany Morales of Redondo Beach and Cassie Strickland in the finals.

Morales, who will start at libero for the Redondo Union High School volleyball team this season, felt good about her performance at the tournament despite not winning the championship.

“I can still say that I’m the second best in the state of California,” the optimistic Morales said. “We played good but they were just the better team today. I’m okay with that.”

Morales will be right back in action on the hardwood on Tuesday as the Sea Hawks open up their season on the road against Bishop Montgomery.

TJ DeFalco of Menifee and Matt Douglas of Pacific Palisades won the boys 14 & under division while Kyle Bailey of Huntington Beach and Chris Long of Tustin won the boys 18 & under division.

“We have some good talent out here,” Saikley said of the strong showing by the local youth. “This is the mecca of beach volleyball, so you would expect to have some kids at or near the top.”

Sierra Lyle and Savannah Rennie of Encinitas won the girls 14 & under division while Adlee Van Widen of Napa Valley and Taylor Nelson of Granite Bay won the girls 16 & under division.