It was an exciting sight, unfamiliar in many facets.

Kerri Walsh returned to the AVP Tour Friday morning for her first competitive match since last November.

For the first time since 2004 and only the second time in her career, the two-time Olympic gold medalist hit the sand for an AVP event without longtime partner Misty May-Treanor.

The four-time defending AVP Tour champion even had a new fan on hand—Joseph Michael, to whom Walsh gave birth less than three months ago on May 22.

“To have my son and my mom and my family at the first match back was very exciting,” said Walsh, who made her debut in front of an encouraging crowd on Court 3 at Hermosa Beach. “The fans weren’t too loud or obnoxious. They were very sweet and supportive.”

But even in her season debut with a new partner and a new number one fan, the bottom line remained the same for the AVP icon.

Third-seeded Walsh and fellow new mom Rachel Wacholder opened their 2009 campaign with a 21-16, 21-11 sweep of 30th-seeded Dana Fiume and Shayna Munson in 36 minutes. Walsh posted nine kills, nine digs, and a block. Not to be outdone, Wacholder produced 21 kills and 14 digs to go with an ace.

“Rachel’s a stud and I expect nothing less from her,” said Walsh. “We have a good comfort zone with each other.”

Walsh and Wacholder’s comfort zone stems from past competitions together. Wacholder’s first two career victories came with Walsh in July 2004, when the duo won two of the three FIVB Grand Slam events they played in together. As Walsh said, playing with Wacholder “feels right.”

Right enough that, even in their first tournament since giving birth, expectations for Wacholder and Walsh remain high.

“We’re satisfied when we win,” Walsh said, “and that’s about it.”

Although the circumstances are new, it appears the game and Walsh remain the same.