LOS ANGELES — The match, tangled in Southern California roots, felt destined for a Hollywood finish.

After splitting the first two sets of Match 1 in Week 5 AVP play in the Intuit Dome — 15-13, 10-15 — Megan Kraft and Terese Cannon of the L.A. Launch squared off in a decisive third against San Diego Smash’s Geena Urango and Devon Newberry.

All four carried familiar sand beneath their feet: Kraft and Cannon starred at USC, Urango was a Trojan pioneer, and Newberry was making her pro debut fresh out of UCLA.

The match opened tense. Even through two sets. Then the Launch — wearing their home city across their chests, with former Trojan teammates, friends, and family in the crowd — hit another gear.

At one point, they led 11-6. By 13-8, Cannon sent a serve across the net. The Smash duo waited, ready to mount a final push.

But the ball clipped the tape and died in front of Urango, who in 2007 became the first-ever beach volleyball recruit at USC. Point, L.A.

Match point.

As the veteran watched the 14th fall, Kraft closed the door, blasting the winner past the rookie, Newberry.

A 15-8 third-set win. The second act seemed to cause trouble before the eventual resolution in the third. A win in true dramatic Los Angeles fashion to start Week 5 of the AVP.

“(L.A. is) just a phenomenal team,” Newberry said. “They’ll let you think you have it, and then they’ll take it right away from you.”

Still, the rookie made her mark.

Down a set and trailing late in the second, Newberry sparked. A spike made it 11-9. Two blocks pushed it to 13-9. Urango fired an ace. One more swing from Newberry sealed the set, 15-10, San Diego.

“I felt tentative and nervous at first,” she said. “Geena just kept telling me, ‘Be aggressive. Smile. Have fun.’ After that, I let it rip.”

Not enough to dispel the Trojans.

“We had to remember who we are,” Cannon said. “Stay aggressive. Stay confident.”

In previous years, AVP tour stops in L.A. have been played on the many beaches in the region. Now the league has grown to occupy L.A.’s newest sporting marvel, attracting even more fans.

The Launch gave a proper premiere.

Palm Beach Passion women sweep

With the theatrics of Match 1 past, Palm Beach Passion’s 2024 Olympic silver medalists duo made quicker work of Miami.

Melissa Humana-Paredes and Brandie Wilkerson handled the Mayhem in straight sets, 15-12, 15-10.

The first frame was tight — tied at 12 before a slight Palm Beach 13-12 lead. Then Wilkerson tilted it. She read a wide spike from former Trojan Kelly Cheng, abandoned her initial block attempt, and dug it out just in time. Humana-Paredes hammered it home to make it 14-12.

From there, the Passion coasted by the South Beach side.

Palm Beach Passion men also win

Palm Beach’s men, just as decorated, made quick work of Miami, sweeping the Mayhem 15-13, 15-11.

Phil Dalhausser, the 2008 Olympic gold medalist set to retire in 2025, saw a furious three-point stretch creep Miami within 9-8 in the second. Then he crushed a spike into the sand, flashing a smug smile.

No comeback today.

At match point, Mayhem’s James Shaw tried a last-gasp spike. Dalhausser met it like a wall hardened in previous Olympic gold. Ball down. Match over.

Another sweep for the Passion.