
AVP professional beach volleyball at the HEB Center in Cedar Park, Texas on October 6, 2024. (Photo: Ralph Arvesen)
The HEB Center was filled with excitement as the Austin Aces, Brooklyn Blaze, L.A. Launch, and Palm Beach Passion competed in the thrilling conclusion of the AVP League Week 4 event. The Austin Aces men’s team, featuring Olympian Paul Lotman and Billy Allen, capitalized on the energy of the home crowd to deliver a decisive 16-14, 15-11 victory over the Brooklyn Blaze’s Cody Caldwell and Seain Cook.
In a surprising twist during the final match of the weekend, the Brooklyn Blaze’s Terese Cannon and Megan Kraft pulled off an impressive upset, handing Austin Aces’ Taryn Kloth and Kristen Nuss their first loss of the season. Cannon and Kraft defeated the 2024 Paris Olympians in straight sets, 19-17, 15-7. After facing stiff competition from the home team on Saturday, the Palm Beach Passion bounced back with two victories on Sunday.
The Sunday afternoon action began with the 2024 Olympic silver medalists Melissa Humana-Paredes and Brandie Wilkerson of the Palm Beach Passion facing off against the L.A. Launch’s Betsi Flint and Julia Scoles. Humana-Paredes and Wilkerson dominated the match, securing a sweeping 15-5, 15-11 victory. “I hope we can give the men a little bit of confidence and energy coming off a win for the team,” said Humana-Paredes after their win. “It’s a good boost, and I hope it takes some of the pressure off them, allowing them to play freely and have some fun out there.”
And they did just that! The men’s match was an intense showdown. Palm Beach’s Avery Drost and the legendary Phil Dalhausser, a four-time Olympian and Olympic gold medalist, battled through three electrifying sets, ultimately securing the win with a close score of 12-15, 15-12, 16-14. With this weekend’s results, the standings are getting competitive. Palm Beach Passion and L.A. Launch are now tied at 3-5 after their intense matches. All four of Sunday’s matches will be available on the AVP’s YouTube channel following the CBS Sports Network broadcast, starting at 6 p.m. CT.
Sunday's results
- Match 1: Palm Beach Passion (Melissa Humana-Paredes/Brandie Wilkerson) def. L.A. Launch (Betsi Flint/Julia Scoles), 15-5, 15-11
- Match 2: Palm Beach Passion (Phil Dalhausser/Avery Drost) def. L.A. Launch (Tim Bomgren/Troy Field), 12-15, 15-12, 16-14
- Match 3: Austin Aces (Billy Allen/Paul Lotman) def. Brooklyn Blaze (Seain Cook/Cody Caldwell), 16-14, 15-11
- Match 4: Brooklyn Blaze (Terese Cannon/Megan Kraft) def. Austin Aces (Taryn Kloth/Kristen Nuss), 19-17, 15-7
Austin Aces
Taryn Kloth2024 Olympian, Sioux Falls, South Dakota native, competed on LSU’s beach team for three seasons, All-American in both indoor and beach volleyball, she and partner Kristen Nuss have won seven AVP titles, most recently winning the Manhattan Beach Heritage Series in August.
Kristen Nuss
2024 U.S. Olympian, New Orleans native, 2023 AVP Most Valuable Player and Best Defensive Player, she and partner Taryn Kloth finished their 2021 LSU season with a 36-0 match record, the duo won their first AVP event in Atlanta and has since gained six other AVP titles.
Billy Allen
Played for Cal State Northridge, made his pro beach volleyball debut in Huntington Beach in 2004, has won three AVP titles.
Paul Lotman
2012 Olympian with U.S. indoor volleyball team, San Diego resident, played at Long Beach State, where he led the team in kills, digs and aces as a junior, 2008 AVCA Co-Player of the tear after leading LBSU to the NCAA Championship semifinals, claimed first AVP title in Atlanta with former partner Miles Partain.
Brooklyn Blaze
Terese CannonPlayed beach volleyball from 2015-2019 at USC, where she won three PAC-12 titles and two national championships, two-time team captain, three-time PAC-12 All-Conference team pick, and 2019 AVCA All-American, partnered with Olympian Sarah Sponcil and won her first AVP title in Hermosa in 2022.
Megan Kraft
Played beach volleyball at USC, where she won three NCAA national championships, two-time All-American, 2021 PAC-12 Freshman of the Year, and won Pair of the Year with partner Tina Graudina, qualified for her first AVP main draw in Huntington Beach in 2019 at age 16 with Delaynie Maple, later that summer, the pair finished fifth at Hermosa Beach AVP, San Diego native.
Seain Cook
Introduced to volleyball by his dad, who played on the National Scottish indoor team, learned to play beach right next to the St. Andrews Golf Course, joined the Great British Beach team at 16 while attending the University of Bath, returned to indoor due to funding and played professionally for about 10 years, just missing the 2012 Olympics as a libero, the highlight of his beach career was qualifying and competing at the Commonwealth Games in Australia alongside Robin Miedybrodzki.
Cody Caldwell
Won AVP Tour Series events as both a defender (in Atlantic City with David Lee) and a blocker (Waupaca and Laguna Beach with Seain Cook), two-time NCAA champion for Loyola Chicago as an outside hitter.
L.A. Launch
Betsi FlintProduct of Loyola Marymount, where she was a two-time All-American in beach volleyball, six-time winner on the AVP, including the 2023 Manhattan Beach Open and the 2019 Huntington Beach Open.
Julia Scoles
Product of USC, where she won a beach volleyball national championship in 2021, two-time AVP winner, including the 2023 Manhattan Beach Open.
Tim Bomgren
Minneapolis native who has played more than 10 years on the AVP, won the 2022 Virginia Beach Open and this season advanced to the semifinals in both Huntington Beach and Chicago.
Troy Field
30-year-old native of Laguna Beach and one of the most dynamic and exciting players on the beach, finished third or better in three tournaments this season.
Palm Beach Passion
Melissa Humana-Paredes 2024 Olympic silver medalist and two-time Olympian for Canada, Toronto native, Won two of the three 2024 AVP Heritage Series events, in Huntington Beach and Chicago, won AVP Miami in 2023.Brandie Wilkerson
2024 Olympic silver medalist for Canada, Native of Switzerland and a Canadian resident, Has won her last three AVP events with partner Melissa Humana-Paredes, including AVP Miami in 2023.
Phil Dalhausser
2008 Olympic gold medalist and four-time Olympian, Orlando resident, Has won 63 AVP events.
Avery Drost
Veteran AVP player who made his debut in 2009, Played beach volleyball at Westmont College and is a Certified Personal Trainer.
Each team in the AVP League comprises one women's pair and one men's pair, with players qualifying by winning an AVP Heritage Event, earning points from those events, or receiving a wild-card selection. Each pair competes in one match on Saturday and one on Sunday during AVP League events, with matches being best-of-three sets played to 15 points, requiring a two-point margin to win. Throughout the AVP League season, teams accumulate points based on their results, and the top four teams will advance to the AVP League Championship in November.
Other teams in the AVP League include the Dallas Dream (featuring Olympians Andy Benesh and Miles Partin, along with Hailey Harward and Kylie Deberg), Miami Mayhem (with Olympic gold medalists April Ross and Alix Klineman, plus Theo Brunner and Trevor Crabb), New York Nitro (Olympians Kelly Cheng and Sara Hughes, plus Taylor Crabb and Olympian Taylor Sander), and the San Diego Smash (Olympians Chase Budinger and Miles Evans, along with Toni Rodriguez and Geena Urango). The AVP League season consists of eight regular-season events, leading up to the AVP League Championships. The Austin event follows stops in Los Angeles, Miami, and San Diego. The League will then visit Palm Beach, Florida (Delray Beach Tennis Center, October 12-13), Oceanside, California (Frontwave Arena, October 19-20), Anaheim, California (Honda Center, October 26-27), Dallas (Comerica Center, November 2-3), and Carson, California (Dignity Health Sports Park, November 9-10).
Each event lasts two days, and teams compete in four of the eight regular-season weekends. The top four teams based on total points will move on to the AVP League Championship, a bracket-style tournament where progression is determined by points and match performance. The AVP League includes eight teams representing cities such as Austin, Brooklyn, Dallas, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Palm Beach, and San Diego. Each team consists of one men’s and one women’s pair, with two reserve players available for each event if needed.
About AVP
Founded in 1983 and based in Southern California, the AVP is the leading professional beach volleyball league worldwide. With 40 years of tradition, the AVP brings together competition, excitement, beauty, beach culture, and equal opportunities for men and women. The AVP organizes and promotes some of the most thrilling beach volleyball events through the AVP League, the AVP Heritage Series, and AVP America.
AVP Pro Beach Volleyball
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