Reigning Olympic gold medalists and top-seeded Phil Dalhausser and Todd Rogers came through the contenders’ bracket to win the AVP Crocs Tour Riverside Open Sunday.

Dalhausser/Rogers beat second-seeded Jake Gibb and Sean Rosenthal, 17-21, 21-19, 15-8, in the final.

Up 6-4 in the third game, Dalhausser and Rogers won a marathon point Rogers called a “crazy, crazy rally” to go up 7-4 and for good.

“I think it just took the wind out of their sails,” Rogers said of the point.

Having won the Panama City Beach Open two weeks ago and the Riverside Open Sunday, Dalhausser and Rogers are now a perfect 2-for-2 on the season. Manhattan Beach of 2007 was the last time Dalhausser and Rogers lost before the fourth round – meaning an extra two matches in the contenders’ bracket – and they also came back to win there.

For the women, top-seeded Nicole Branagh and Elaine Youngs remained perfect on the season as well, beating second-seeded Jen Kessy and April Ross, 21-18, 21-14, to win the title.

Branagh/Youngs had multiple breaks go their way in the match, but the most pivotal came while leading 19-18 in the first game. Branagh dribbled a serve off the tape that fell untouched for an ace and a 20-18 lead, which they parlayed into a one-game lead on the next point and eventually the tournament title.

The two straight tournament wins come at a time when Branagh/Youngs and Kessy/Ross are the two heirs apparent to replace – at least temporarily – the injured Misty May-Treanor and pregnant Kerri Walsh as the top women’s team. Not only have Branagh/Youngs won the season’s first two events, Kessy/Ross are now 0-9 lifetime as a team in AVP finals.