Olympic champions Misty May and Kerri Walsh ended their 2004 season here Sunday (October 17) by capturing the $125,000 AVP's Santa Barbara Invitational to become the winningest women?s team in United States pro beach volleyball history.

In defeating top-seeded Holly McPeak and Elaine Youngs 14-21, 21-14 and 15-13 in the 72-minute finale, May and Walsh notched their 31st pro beach title together to establish the mark initially set in 1987 when Linda Hanley and Nina Matthies captured their 30th event championship together.

?I glad the season is over,? said May, who is scheduled to marry Florida Marlin catcher Matt Treanor in November. ?We just have not had much time to relax since the Olympics. We are looking forward to some time off.? Sunday?s title was May?s 36th in her career while Walsh was winning for the 33rd-time.

Walsh, the most valuable player at the Athens Olympics, was ?also glad to end the season, but we are looking forward to the future. Our success at the Olympics makes us eager to start preparing for next year. We?ll relax for a while and prepare for Misty?s wedding.?

Sunday?s win also marked the 20th win in 23 meetings with McPeak and Youngs for May and Walsh. McPeak and Youngs captured the bronze medal at the Athens 2004 Olympic Games where their only setback was a 21-18 and 21-15 decision to May and Walsh in the semi-finals.

May and Walsh completed the 2004 season with 11 titles in 14 events together, including a 21-17 and 21-11 win over Adriana Behar and Shelda Bede in the Olympic gold medal match August 24. Four of the titles were for international gold medals as May missed three SWATCH-FIVB World Tour events this season due to an abdominal strain. Walsh won two of the three international events that May missed with Rachel Wacholder in France and Austria.

May and Walsh posted a 70-5 record together in 2004 with $226,225 in earnings. Three of the five defeats were forfeits due to May?s injury. Annett Davis and Jenny Johnson Jordan posted the only two wins against May and Walsh on the sand this season in Manhattan Beach and Chicago. The Manhattan Beach loss ended May and Walsh?s 90-match overall winning streak.

Since partnering in April 2001, May and Walsh have now compiled $928,215 in earnings with a 268-32 match mark together in 51 starts together. May and Walsh have won 16 of the 19 domestic events they have entered together for $292,075 in earnings and an 89-5 record. Internationally, May and Walsh have a combined for 15 gold medals in 32 events with a 179-27 match mark and $636,140 in winnings.

Winners of the Olympic Spirit award earlier this month, May and Walsh will be honored Monday evening in New York as the Women?s Sports Foundation?s team of the year.

In Sunday?s men?s finale, second-seeded Eric Fonoimoana and Mike Lambert scored 21-18 and 21-17 win in 58 minutes over top-seeded Todd Rogers and Sean Scott. The Santa Barbara title was Fonoimoana?s 15th while Lambert was winning for the fourth-time (all this season, including three with Karch Kiraly). Both winning teams Sunday in the mixed gender event shared the $15,000 first-place prize while the runnerups split $10,000 each.