Todd Rogers: On his Way to Win the AVP Tour
With the AVP tour carrying on in Gstaad, Switzerland, the beach volleyball players are under constant pressure. But one of them is used to the circuit:Todd Rogers. The young American has been entering such events since 1995 and won the AVP title rookie of the year in 1997. Since then, Rogers has set himself on the path of success, defeating many of his countrymen on the way, and he has never looked back.
Rogers’ career in volleyball began with his first AVP tournament in 1995, with his partner Canyon Ceman. Ceman teamed up with Rogers for a second tournament during that year as well, during which they were quite an unsuccessful duo. The next year, Rogers partnered with his high school team member Dax Holdren. Rogers then pursued once again AVP titles both internationally and in his homeland with his new found partner.
In 1997, Rogers earned his title as best rookie and had his first victory within the AVP tournament in the following year.
Next, Rogers and Holdren entered the FIVB tournament in Rosarito, Mexico in 2000, which marked their first tournament victory. The two Americans were partners for a total of six years, during which they were only moderately successful.
Two years later, Rogers had found a new partner: Sean Scott. This team-up was however, performed just as poorly as all his previous ones, reaching the winner’s podium only four times in the AVP tour in 2002.
In 2006, Rogers discovered Phil Dalhausser while playing with Scott. He noticed that Dalhausser could be an advantage on the offensive level, which would nicely match his own defensive style of play.
Indeed, Rogers has won ATP titles in 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008 as the best defensive volleyball player. Dalhausser’s impressive height, 6 foot 9, was an extra that would offset the team’s opponents. It would also enable Rogers to finally achieve the goals of the early stages of his career. Rogers then started coaching Dalhausser, and teamed up with him in upcoming tournaments.
Rogers no longer had to wait for the ideal partner to manifest. The next year, the American team dominated the 2007 AVP season, finishing with more than 800 points over the second place team, and also won ten other tournaments. They then moved on to the 2007 FIVB World Championships in Gstaad, where they were victors. Many expect the two Americans to win this year's Gstaad competition as well, an achievment that would bring another honour to their list of titles.
The recent discovery of Dalhausser brought Rogers the success he had coveted since his coaching years from 2000-2005. During 2008, the Americans fully dominated both the AVP and FIVB tours. As such, they won eight times in their homeland and three times internationally. The American team then entered the 2008 Beijing Olympics in Men’s Beach Volleyball, only to bring home a gold medal each. They won every single tournament they entered that year—a dream becoming a reality for Rogers.
Rogers and Dalhausser are now ranked FIVB World No. 9, Rogers being ranked individually also as No. 9, but Dalhausser as No. 14. Rogers now appears to have found the best partner he could wish for, but he might very well start to look for a better one if their results were to deteriorate. Dalhausser could also be the one noticing his next partner, in the same manner that Rogers did. But for now, the two Americans are teamed up and will face the Czech Republic’s team, which are seeded 17th in the tournament.
Rogers will be able to count on his most successful partner this Friday, to secure their spot in the next round of the AVP tournament.
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