Despite being the big target in a field that didn't include Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh, Johnson Jordan and Davis never blinked. In workmanlike fashion, they took out Angie Akers and Brooke Hanson, 21-16, 24-22, to claim the Chicago Open on Sunday and split a winner's share of $28,000.
"We love Chicago," Johnson Jordan said with a contented smile.
And why not? After winning in 2002 in Chi-town, Johnson Jordan and Davis played in 46 team events on the AVP Crocs Tour without a tournament title. But a golden opportunity came their way this weekend with four of the elite women's teams competing in an FIVB event in Austria. Johnson Jordan and Davis had what it took to capture the moment.
Asked to explain the drought between tour wins, Johnson Jordan had a simple explanation.
"Misty and Kerri," she said. "They've really dominated the last few years. We've had our opportunities to win some. We were in a couple of finals against Kerri and Misty. Our tour is very deep right now. There are eight or nine teams that are all contenders for a title."
Hanson and Akers were playing in their first-ever final and simply couldn't get over the hump despite a particularly spirited effort in the second game. They fought off three championship points before Johnson Jordan put away the tournament winner.
Johnson Jordan admitted feeling a little extra pressure over the weekend, knowing that a championship opportunity was at hand.
"But we fought through our jitters and were able to play well," she said.
Davis embraced the No. 1 seed, pointing out that it put her team in the best position to advance and still have plenty of energy for the final matches.
"It's sort of a blessing to be the No. 1 seed," she said.
Johnson Jordan and Davis had 30 digs in the championship match. Hanson's hit percentage was just .225.
Leading 18-16 in the second game, Hanson and Akers saw the champions call timeout and proceed to ring up the next three points.
"We were able to make a move there and I think that was the real turning point in the game," Johnson Jordan said.
Although they were in uncharted territory in the championship match, Akers and Hanson didn't step into the spotlight without a satisfied feeling. They'll split $21,000 for the second-place finish.
"We really felt like we could beat them," Hanson said. "We haven't beaten them this year, but we've played them pretty tough. They made some great plays. A couple of times, I looked over and was like 'I can't believe you dug that ball.'"
Akers felt the experience of Johnson Jordan and Davis in big matches was a key factor.
"They made some phenomenal plays all throughout the match," Akers said. "They are used to those pressure situations and they come up big."
Sunday's final marked the first time in 60 consecutive team tournaments that the winning team didn't include May-Treanor, Walsh or Elaine Youngs.
Having new faces in the final seemed to generate a buzz among the Chicago fans.
"It felt like they were excited to see new people out there and still get a high level of volleyball," Akers said.
Johnson Jordan and Davis will now try to ride their Chicago momentum to more heroics during the remainder of the AVP season. For Akers and Hanson, the taste of championship action makes them hungry for more.
"I feel like the No. 2 through the No. 13 teams battle every weekend and nobody knows about it," Hanson said. "It's nice to see some teams do well that normally are stuck in the No. 7 to No. 9 range. Hopefully, it's not my last final."