HUNTINGTON BEACH, CALIF. - Top-seeded Lisa Arce and Holly McPeak won their fourth-straight Evian Women's Pro Beach Volleyball Tour grand slam event here Sunday (June 29) by capturing the $60,000 Ocean Pacific U. S. Open at The Pier.

Arce and McPeak, who have now won nine of the last 12 Evian Tour events, downed third-seeded Barbra Fontana and Linda Hanley 15-9 to share the $13,200 first-place.

The first of four "major" events on the Evian Tour, the Ocean Pacific U. S. Open finale was taped by ABC Sports for replay July 5.

Arce and McPeak closed out the 1996 Evian Tour campaign by winning the grand slam title at the eight-team Evian Invitational, the Evian National Championships and the Best of the Beach III.

Olympians Fontana and Hanley opened the 1996 grand slam schedule by capturing the Ocean Pacific U. S. Open title in Ocean City, Md. (June 16) by downing Janice Harrer and Gayle Stammer 15-11 in the championship match.

Fontana and Hanley then dropped the title matches in the next three 1996 "majors" to Arce and McPeak, including a 15-6 at the Evian Invitational, 13-12 in the Evian National Championships and 15-7 in the Best of the Beach III.

Sunday's win was also the third-straight by Arce and McPeak over Fontana and Hanley in a 1997 Evian Tour title match. The Women's Professional Volleyball Association's top-ranked team downed Fontana and Hanley to win championships in Austin, Tex. (May 18, 18-16) and San Diego (June 1, 15-4). Fontana and Hanley, who advanced to the championship finals with a 15-7 win over sixth- seeded Linda Chisholm and Deb Richardson, split $9,720 for second.

Arce and McPeak have now won 10 of 13 career meetings with against Fontana and Hanley as the pair captured their 10th Evian Tour title together and 11th overall pro title. Arce and McPeak advanced to the finals with a 15-1 win over 12th-seeded Marla O'Hara and Ali Wood.

Ranked third on the international beach circuit, Arce and McPeak have now defeated Fontana and Hanley in six of seven title meetings since August, 1996. The title was McPeak's 22nd on the Evian Tour and 45th in her pro career. Arce has 10 domestic titles and 11 overall as a pro.

Chisholm and Richardson posted their best finish of the 1997 season by downing O'Hara and Wood 15-10 to share the $6,840. O'Hara and Wood, who eliminated second-seeded Karolyn Kirby and Nancy Reno 15- 11 earlier Sunday, split $4,920 for fourth.