LONG BEACH, Calif. -- With fans stopping her just about every second and third step wanting her autograph even after losing her semifinal match against Kerri Walsh and Misty May-Treanor, it's hard to believe there was a time when Angie Akers, 32, struggled on the AVP Tour.

"I remember battling through the qualifier in my first tournament and not making it," said Akers on her first tournament entry at the 2002 Huntington Beach Open. "I was devastated because I had dropped my career and changed my life by moving to Southern California, and I didn't make it. I had that whole time since moving down in September the year before, and I didn't make it in.

"Then I qualified for the next one with Jen Pavley and was ecstatic."

After that first heart-breaking qualifier with then-partner Ashley Bowles, Akers has been one of many up-and-coming players on the tour who is starting to shine.

"She is a solid player and has great all-around skills," said Holly McPeak, her current partner. "I love her work ethic; she really cares and is a great person."

While getting kudos from one of the legends of the game is flattering, it's the thought of actually playing with someone of McPeak's caliber that can sometimes be nerve-wrecking.

"She has always been my idol, and when I was first starting out, she always helped me," said Akers, who played at Notre Dame. "Then with all of the talk with this being her last year, I felt a lot of pressure with that. Now I feel like things are clicking, and we are moving forward."

Yet after now having played with nine different partners, it is this experience that is making the difference.

"Starting out, I didn't know my head from my toe," said Akers, who has yet to win an AVP tournament title but is knocking on the door with her second-place finish last season in Chicago and consistent top-ten finishes since then. "The experience of playing year after year and with different partners, who I have been able to take something from each of them, has helped me grow."

"To do well and compete against top teams is fun. To get crushed by someone is not so much fun. Being in matches, competing and doing well is what is fun about the game."

In addition to being noticed by fans, Akers is also getting noticed by sponsors. Her current sponsors include Cuervo, Real Water, Fubar and PNY.

"It was so exciting to get that first sponsorship," said Akers. "It is so hard finding sponsors, and it has taken me until this year to get it together. It's so important for our sport because with not having a secure paycheck every week, it takes some pressure off, and it makes life easier."

Helping to make the roller coaster ride of playing on the AVP more enjoyable is having support from someone who helped her make her first move to be on the tour.

"My husband couldn't be more proud," said Akers of her husband Jeremy (a former professional football player) who she recently celebrated her 10th wedding anniversary with. "He is the most supporting and proud person. I couldn't ask for anything more. We talk to each other at least once a day no matter where we are in the world."

Akers does not have as much international experience as other players currently on the tour, but it is her limited experience that has helped her get noticed.

"We played in an exhibition in Brazil last fall and beat a really good team without any practice," said McPeak. "I felt like we had a lot of potential. She is a super hard worker, super conscientious, and I have a lot of respect for her."

Tther women on the tour have taken time off to start a family, but for Akers, that's not part of the game plan quite yet.

"I feel like things are cooking, and I can't stop now," said Akers.