Someone done knocked up my AVP women! Kerri Walsh should be delivering the next AVP star any minute now. The media-shy Rachel Wacholder is rumored to be pregnant. Also, she is rumored to be holding out for a mid to late season return by Walsh.  Misty May is shacked up with her man in Detroit, working on it. It seems like her Tiger catcher has something on his mind. In his last game he went 0-4 with three SO’s.

With three top sand spikers MIA, it’s time for the other girls of summer to step up and take the crown. It’s anyone’s games this year, so let’s rock-n-rollah.

The Panama Beach Open showed Olympic disappointments ElaineYoungs and Nicole Branagh back in top form as they took oversized check. They out dug Jennifer Kessey and April Ross in three.

Originally, I had predicted EY to retire after the Olympics. It made sense, she is gonna be 40ish this year (depending on who you ask), she has had some really gnarly injuries and appeared exhausted after Beijing. It was shocking to see the AVP’s most ferocious player looking so beat down. Perhaps it was time to hand off the speedo to her protégé and retire. Well, “Retire” is probably the wrong word, “coaching” is the right one. She has enough sand in her blood to build a kingdom of castles. I don’t see her pickin’ up knitting and chillin’ in Durango.

Kerri and Misty have been standing in her way for a long time. In the handful of times she has taken them down, you can see in her celebration that it has never been about the extra $5-6k on the check. For EY, it has always been about winning. It’s time for Elaine Youngs to have her reign as Ultimate Commander of the Beach. The AVP has a whopping 31 events (up from 6 in 2002) this year and B/Y can swoop down and win every one of them. It’s the last chance summer dance and EY can still retire at the top of her game She has never gotten the endorsement deals that Misty or Kerri were given and there are 100s of $K’s to pocketed. It is time for her to cash in.

Please note, I did not say “selling out.” She brings her game every match and she should be rewarded for that. If only I could be rewarded for simply being awesome.

However there are still a few teams she has to get through.

Each of these teams should win at least one tourney.

April Ross/Jennifer Kessey Team Crackpot is always a threat. They came a painful few inches from going to the Olympics last year. I love a team that have both teeth and an axes to grind. Expect to seem a lot of them this summer.

Angie Akers/Tyra Turner This could FINALLY be Angie’s breakout year. Tyra has always been a strong player and Akers is perfect match for her. Angie has been boppin around the tourney for years and has always been a dynamic performer. In between tourney matches you often see her watching the other players and studying for a new angle. When Rachel comes back, Tyra will have a tough decision to make. Both have played with Rachel in the past.

Annett Davis / Jenny Johnson Jordan: These two have always been a formidable threat on the tour but have rarely closed the deal. They have the skill, talent, passion and, oh yeah, they managed to take out Walsh and May a few times last year.

But to take the prize, they all will have to find a way a way to knock out or knock up EY and Branagh.