It’s a tale of two seasons playing out under the same Texas sky, where redemption and glory hang in the balance with every serve, spike, and defensive dig as Week 7 of the AVP League heads to the city of Austin as it prepares to take on the Miami Mayhem.
This weekend, the blazing Austin summer has some competition, as the H-E-B Center at Cedar Park has been turned into a sandy oasis—thanks to the delivery of 300 tons of sand early Friday morning. With professional beach volleyball’s biggest event–AVP League–taking over the venue, the spotlight is on the Austin Aces.
AVP League “101”
Established in 1983, the AVP (Association of Volleyball Professionals) produces, markets and distributes volleyball events worldwide, including the popular AVP Pro Beach Volleyball Tour.
While promoting family-oriented events and supporting a healthy lifestyle, the AVP is best known for its world-class athletes, who have won numerous Gold, Silver and Bronze medals in the Olympic games. For AVP athletes, the AVP League Cup represents the pinnacle of regular season achievement, awarding the city franchise with the strongest performance and cumulative win-loss records (women’s duo and men’s duo combined).
Each of the eight AVP League teams, including the Austin Aces, proudly represent their city throughout the regular season. However, there’s a slight spin to AVP’s world as there is no playoff for this award–rather, the League Cup is earned through consistency, teamwork, and sustained excellence across the entire season. At the conclusion of the regular season, the city team with the best overall record will take home the AVP League Cup.
SandCast’s Travis Mewhirter also put together a nice team-by-team breakdown for the 2025 season for those wanting to catch-up.
Meet the AVP Team Divisions
Austin Aces
Kristen Nuss/Taryn Brasher(women’s)
Avery Drost/Wyatt Harrison(men’s)
Austin’s team has the world’s most dominant women’s duo but their men are still finding their footing. Returning to Austin comes the powerhouse Olympic-ranked women’s duo Kristen Nuss and Taryn Brasher (Kloth), and men’s pair, Avery Drost and Wyatt Harrison adding strong depth and potential to overcome what has been considered a struggling season.
Nuss and Brasher, better known to their fanbase as TKN, are considered the world’s top women’s duo with three international medals this season and one AVP title (Huntington Beach). Think LeBron and AD in their prime. These two are simply the best beach volleyball team on the planet right now. They’ve won almost everything this year and rarely lose sets, let alone matches. When they play, it’s less “will they win?” and more “by how much?” All that to say, watching Nuss/Brasher is like watching Steph Curry shoot threes – you’re witnessing greatness.
The underdogs, Harrison and Drost, exceeded expectations but are still hunting for their first win. Harrison is young with great athleticism, while Drost has League experience from last year. Drost and Harrison showed promise with a 3rd place at an AVP qualifier and a strong showing in Huntington Beach events. Heading into Week 7, having the home crowd could be huge for them.
Brooklyn Blaze
Julie Donlin/Lexy Denaburg(women’s)
Seain Cook/Brian Miller(men’s)
Known for entertaining play, men’s pair Seain Cook and Brian Miller have shown steady progress, while their teammates Julia Donlin and Lexy Denaburg bring an explosive combination of power and athleticism that makes them one of the most unpredictable duos in the league. Blaze is a strong mid-tier contender with steady growth expected but not yet favorites for the title. Blaze won fans’ hearts as entertainers in 2024 but struggled with results; now they appear to look more dangerous heading into Week 7.
Their physical style of play has produced both breakthrough moments – like securing their League spot with a qualifier victory – and frustrating early exits in major tournaments. While consistency remains their biggest challenge, their raw talent and aggressive approach ensure they’re always capable of upsetting higher-ranked opponents on any given day.
Dallas Dream
Hailey Harward/Kylie DeBerg(women’s)
Andy Benesh/Miles Partain(men’s)
The 2024 runners-up with top American men Andy Benesh and Miles Partain, finished 2024 as top U.S. competitors dominant on U.S. soil, and are odds-on favorites to make finals again with improved chemistry. For the 2025 season, women’s duo Hailey Harward and Kylie DeBerg split international play effectively, where Harward pairs with Molly Phillips and DeBerg with Toni Rodriguez (Smash) bringing strong results.
LA Launch / Credit: AVP
DeBerg and Harward recently secured DeBerg’s first international gold at Xiamen and together nearly defeated the Aces’ top pair.
LA Launch
Terese Cannon/Megan Kraft(women’s)
Hagen Smith/Logan Webbe(men’s)
The wild card rising! This wild card team comprises consistent men’s pair Hagen Smith and Logan Webber, who were winners of the season’s first league qualifier convincingly.
Equally, LA Launch’s women’s duo Terese Cannon and Megan Kraft are currently among the hottest women’s division in the world outside the top-ranked pairs, entering into their third year together as teammates. As one of the hottest teams in the world, Cannon/Kraft come to Austin, Texas after a five-straight run of Beach Pro Tour medals, an achievement that no team reached in 2024.
They were also runners-up at the Huntington Beach Heritage, taking second place, marking them as among the league’s elite after Austin’s top duo Nuss/Brasher while also strong enough to place second or third in the AVP League alongside Brandie Wilkerson and Melissa Humana-Paredes.
Miami Mayhem
Molly Shaw/Kelly Cheng(women’s)
James Shaw/Chaim Schalk(men’s)
Coming into Week 7, Miami Mayhem is likely one of the most dangerous teams, with team power couple Kelly Cheng/Molly Shaw (women’s) and James Shaw/Chaim Schalk (men’s). The Mayhem team includes married couples and dating partners across the sport, creating compelling storylines that extend beyond the sand. Cheng, the 2023 World Champ, is married to longtime coach Jordan Cheng, who is at the top of the coaching ladder in the sport–and Schalk is dating Toni Rodriguez, a gold medalist on the Beach Pro Tour this year.
But don’t be fooled, this quartet delivers elite-level performance – where Cheng brings World Championship credentials while both duos have proven they can compete with anyone globally. Shaw/Schalk earned bronze at a major international event, while the women consistently reached podium positions in qualifying tournaments, including victories over Olympic champions. The combination of star power and personal connections makes them must-watch competitors who back up the entertainment value with some seriously mad volleyball skills, pushing for top-four finishes.
New York Nitro
Megan Rice/Corinne Quiggle(women’s)
Taylor Crabb/Taylor Sander(men’s)
New York Nitro assembled a roster that reads like a volleyball laboratory experiment: what happens when you combine devastating power with surgical precision?
The men’s duo features two athletes whose attacking prowess has redefined what’s possible at the net, while their court vision and tactical awareness create opportunities others simply don’t see. After claiming the regular season crown only to stumble when it mattered most, they’re hungry to prove their championship window remains wide open.
Sander’s recent indoor stint overseas adds another dimension to his already versatile skill set, while his partner continues demonstrating why he’s considered one of the sport’s most adaptable competitors.
The women’s partnership represents a compelling blend of veteran savvy and explosive potential. Quiggle’s return from injury brings championship experience and tactical intelligence that few can match, paired with a teammate whose athletic ability consistently produces highlight-reel moments. Their qualifying victory showcased both their competitive fire and ability to execute under pressure, setting the stage for what could be a breakout campaign. This foursome possesses the rare combination of individual brilliance and complementary skills that championship teams require.
Palm Beach Passion
Brandie Wilkerson/Melissa Humana-Paredes (women’s)
Trevor Crabb/Phil Dalhausser (men’s)
Canadian Olympic silver medalists from Paris 2024, Brandie Wilkerson and Melissa Humana-Paredes, headline a stacked Passion roster, who have already proved they can win on the world’s biggest stage. Meanwhile, AVP legend Phil Dalhausser begins his final professional season, teaming up with the polarizing character of Trevor Crabb.
Crabb is the crafty veteran (think NBA’s Chris Paul) while Dalhausser is a 6’9″ blocking legend aka “The Thin Beast.” At 44 years old, this might be Dalhausser’s farewell tour – like watching Tom Brady’s final season. But crazier things have happened, so time will tell.
Passion entered the 2025 season as the favorite to win the League, and will have their hands full come time for their match against the Dallas Dream.
San Diego Smash
Toni Rodriguez/Geena Urango (women’s)
Chase Budinger/Miles Evans (men’s)
San Diego has one goal in 2025: repeat. The Smash returns as defending champions after orchestrating one of professional sports’ most improbable title runs in the 2024 season. Last season’s transformation from basement dwellers to champions defied every expert prediction and established them as the league’s ultimate wildcards. Their championship journey culminated with a veteran leader earning MVP honors, proving that experience and determination can triumph over pure talent.
The women’s duo faces an intriguing challenge this season, balancing domestic league commitments with international aspirations through a strategic partnership arrangement. One player continues defying Father Time with performances that suggest she’s discovered volleyball’s fountain of youth, while her teammate has elevated her game to career-best levels. With Rodriguez having a career year, Urango is the veteran who somehow keeps getting better with age (like LeBron). This split-time approach adds complexity but also keeps both athletes fresh and motivated across multiple competitions.
The men’s partnership has evolved into one of the U.S.’s premier duos, with their unique blend of athleticism and beach volleyball IQ propelling them up the national rankings. Their consistent excellence across domestic and international competitions has positioned them as serious contenders for global honors, adding another chapter to a partnership that continues exceeding expectations. Their trajectory suggests the best may still be ahead.
Austin Aces take on Miami Mayhem
The pressure couldn’t be greater as Friday and Saturday’s matches loom large for the Austin Aces as they take on Miami Mayhem and LA Launch, respectively. Victory could catapult the home team’s dynamic women’s pairing—Kristen Nuss and Taryn Brasher—within reach of championship glory and nearly guarantee them a coveted first-round bye at the upcoming Chicago Championships.
Meanwhile, the men’s team, led by Avery Drost and Wyatt Harrison, have struggled this season and are now locked in a must-win battle to keep their playoff hopes alive. Drost and Harrison earned their spot in the AVP League with a third-place finish at one of the two qualifiers in Huntington Beach and a critical fifth at the Huntington Beach Heritage event.
As for Austin Aces’ women’s powerhouse duo—better known to their legion of fans as “TKN,” Nuss (5’6”), and Brasher (6’4”), made their Olympic debut together at the Paris 2024 Games, where they represented the United States. Now they’ve come to the State of Texas ready to win.
Behind the Net with Aces’ Nuss/Brasher
True Hollywood will be on-site in Austin, Texas at H-E-B Center in Cedar Park for Friday’s match between the Austin Aces and Miami Mayhem. We also have an incredible 1-1 interview scheduled with both Olympians and Aces’ teammates Nuss and Brasher ahead of their 6pm match.
