With top-ranked Top Select 17 Elite Blake, No. 3 Coast 17-1 and No. 4 TAV 17 Black having finished no worse than third place in any event one of them has entered this season, anticipation was high for a climactic conclusion to the 17 Open division of the JVA West Coast Cup in Long Beach over Memorial Day weekend.

However, that bubble burst rather quickly once play began on Day 3. Like that, Top Select was out of the mix, a casualty of No. 21 PNK 17s and its pesky defense which helped spring the upset in straight sets, 25-18, 25-18. While heavyweights TAV and Coast were still set to go at it in the semifinals, their opponent in the final would be an unexpected one.