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”
Those new to the world of AVP, 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.
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.
STAY TUNED
True Hollywood attended Friday’s match of Austin Aces vs. Miami Mayhem in Cedar Park, Texas. We also had the chance to speak 1-1 with both Nuss and Brasher ahead of the 6pm match.
