BELMAR – The AVP ended the first week of the League season with riveting back-to-back matches from the LA Launch, New York Nitro, San Diego Smash, and Brooklyn Blaze teams. Taking place at Belmar Beach, the men and women fought hard to secure the first week’s win, but only two teams consecutively came out victorious.
The women kicked off the day in the afternoon, with Maddie Anderson of LA leading the set in kills. Alongside her partner Alaina Chacon, they dominated the first set and racked up points quickly. But New York was not to be undermined – 2024 League Champion Toni Rodriguez was a hard hitter the whole match, proving to be a worthy opponent. The set ended 15-12, giving the ladies of the Launch their first win of the day.
Molly Shaw of New York stepped up to the plate, garnering two kills for her team and giving them a leg-up against the powerful Launch. With Anderson earning just about all of the aces, she helped set the scene for what the third and final set would bring. With Rodriguez’s kills and Shaw’s numerous digs, they snatched the win against their opponents in a close call of 15-13.
The final set proved to be the longest and most grueling, as the women were forced to keep playing until one of them won by two. Rodriguez by no means made it easy, as she had the crowd cheering ‘Monster Block’ with her high jumps and strong palms. Chacon was constantly on the ground, fighting hard to always save the ball before it hit the sand. With hard efforts, the women passed twenty points and left the crowd speechless. In the end, Anderson and Chacon sealed the match win at 22-20.
The second match took place between the men of the LA Launch and New York Nitro, creating a fast-paced environment that had the crowd on their feet. Standing at a whopping 6 feet 8 inches, Logan Webber of the LA Launch gracefully acquired the first point of the first set. Alongside him was his partner Hagen Smith, who overpowered the court with his speed and agility. Named Best Server of the 2025 season, he earned two aces during the first set alone. Chaim Schalk of the Nitro led him and his teammate in attacks, showcasing his hunger for victory. The first set went over, but not for long as the men of the Launch won 18-16. Despite this battle, New York also lost in the second set much faster at 15-8, making the LA Launch the winner all-around.
The third match took place between the women of the San Diego Smash and the Brooklyn Blaze. It appeared to be an even playing field among them, with nearly each woman having recognition as a champion or League MVP. Points racked up one-by-one for each team, and there seemed to be no telling who would win. Both women of San Diego led in attacks, slowly but surely taking the win. While Brooklyn relied on the strong chemistry between 2025 League Champions Lexy Denaburg and Julia Donlin, San Diego still won the first set with their more recent partnership, going over and ending with 24-22.
The second set was their last. Named MVP for the 2024 and 2025 season, Geena Urango swiftly took the first point and continued to showcase her newfound relationship with Megan Rice. The women proved to be an unstoppable duo as they consistently chased after the ball and hit hard. One of the longer rallies out of all the matches, they battled hard for the fifth point. Ultimately, it went to San Diego as Denaburg bumped it out of bounds. Far closer than the last match, the women of San Diego Smash went two-for-two as they won 15-11.
The final match of the day was one for the books. Previously meeting twice, there was heavy tension between the men of the San Diego Smash and Brooklyn Blaze. Going up against two Paris Olympics participants, young Blaze players Derek Bradford and Evan Cory knew they had to step it up. They did just that – Bradford and Cory displayed camaraderie that possibly surpassed the others. With hard kills, strong attacks, and monster blocks across the board, Brooklyn had what it took to win. It was no easy set, but after going over they won 21-19. The second set was a complete coin flip. It was even scoring in the first few minutes, with the crowd wondering if a third set was even possible. Despite longer rallies taking place, San Diego started to slowly leave Brooklyn behind up until they reached 15 points, beating the young team by three.
The last and final set of the day started with the men of San Diego immediately scoring three points back-to-back. Chase Budinger of San Diego showcased his deadly hand with numerous kills, and Miles Evans dug for that ball every time.
“Perseverance,” Evans stated after being asked to describe the match in a single word. “These guys, we’ve played them three times this year, they beat us once. We’ve gotten to three each time. It’s a little bit of mental fortitude, you know? Trying to make sure that we stay consistent and remain calm the whole time.”
That calmness brought them a long way. With focus and drive, Evans and Budinger racked up points faster than the last set. They remained with a four-to-five point lead the rest of the set before eventually obtaining the win at 15-7. This triumph officially crowned two teams as victors of the entire day, that being both the men and women of the LA Launch and the San Diego Smash.
The AVP League continues its second week at Aspen, Colorado, where the Brooklyn Blaze and New York Nitro take on Palm Beach Passion and Miami Mayhem at 2 p.m.
