Rachel Wacholder

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Rachel Wacholder (born June 15, 1975 in Laguna Beach, California) is a model and beach volleyball player. In 2006, she was the No. 2 seed on the AVP tour along with her partner, beach volleyball veteran Elaine Youngs. During the 2005 AVP tour, Wacholder and Youngs dealt top-seeded Kerri Walsh and Misty May a surprise defeat at the Huntington Beach Open, and were defeated by only narrow margins in several other tournaments that year.

Her exposure as a star player increased dramatically as a result and is considered one of only a handful of players capable of dealing the Kerri Walsh-Misty May combination a defeat. However, in August 2006, Wacholder and Youngs split just before the biggest American tournament of the year, the 2006 Manhattan Beach Open. No official reason for the split has been given. Wacholder and her new partner, paired with Jen (Kessy) Boss defeated Youngs and new partner Nicole Branagh in their first meeting at the Coney Island Open.

Wacholder has an increasing support base from AVP fans, most notably by followers who feel that the nearly relentless wins of Kerri Walsh and Misty May makes Professional Beach Volleyball too one-sided and somewhat boring over time. Rachel's very youthful and healthy looking characteristics makes her very popular with fans.

At the end of the 2005 season, she was voted the best defensive player and most improved player of the year.

Wacholder won two FIVB Grand Slam events in 2004 alongside Olympic gold medal winner Walsh, filling in for an injured May-Treanor.

Currently, Wacholder resides in Redondo Beach, California with husband Sean Scott. Scott is a fellow beach volleyball player on the AVP Tour. Wacholder's family members (parents, Myron and Marolyn, older sister, Ashley, and younger brother, Daniel) also reside in Southern California and attend events to cheer Rachel on.

She had attended the University of Colorado and graduated with a degree in Communications.

Wacholder's new partner is Tyra Turner (6'1). They have yet to win an AVP tournament, but have finished in second place multiple times.