Kristen Nuss was covered with sand, finishing her swimsuit in two neon pieces. A white lei dragged around her neck as she tried to awkwardly balance her champion’s plate in one hand.
“This thing is heavy,” she said, “my arm becomes painful.”
Despite his partner and partner Taryn Brasher as champions of the AVP Manhattan Beach Open-crushing a 15-21, 21-18, 15-13 victory on the former star of the USC Megan Kraft and Terese Cannon-Sunday, the weight of the equipment and the title was not lost on Nuss.
“It’s Wimbledon,” said Nuss. “It is everyone’s grandfather. My mother always said that she wanted me to play Wimbledon. … She is certainly one of the most coveted trophies here.”
Partners since 2021, Nuss and Brasher were welcomed with a roar before the first service. On the other side of the net, Kraft and Cannon seemed to be the outsiders of the Paris Olympians.
But while the former Troy duo was tearing up the opening set, the fans pressed the shoulder to the shoulder along the balustrades and the stands, took the possibility of a gathering of defense title holders.
The heavy service of Kraft and the long range of Cannon at the net gave them the first match at 21-15. During the change between the games, Brasher and Nuss concentrated on the meshes of the service by serving together and passing a cleaner.
“We don’t like the first sets,” said Nuss. “This is something that we have learned this year especially … We just should not play the first set. But we know that we can ride whatever happens.”
Kristen Nuss plunges a bullet during the women’s championship match at the Manhattan Beach Open on Sunday.
(Katelyn Mulcahy / For time)
Led three points in the second set, Nuss and Brasher joined and won a 21-18 victory. And in the third set, with the teams even at five years old, Nuss – the smallest sand player – was sworn above his size, disguising his shots by looking in one direction and swiveling the ball the other.
“There is nothing – no deficit – who will scare Kristen,” said Brasher.
Under the burning sun of Manhattan beach, fans remained blocked along the balustrades. But the second final would not follow the same end of fairy tale.
To Phil Dalhausser and Trevor Crabb, Manhattan Beach Open this year has doubled as a Curtain Curtain and a chance to win a title.
Miles Evans, on the left, and Chase Budtinger celebrate after winning the male title of Manhattan Beach Open Sunday.
(Katelyn Mulcahy / For time)
For the old one, it was the last time he would have ever filmed on California Sand – an Olympian quadruple, the temple of international volleyball renowned and seven times champion of Manhattan Beach Open in the second AVP event of his career. Crabb entered the weekend by trying to win the tournament for the second consecutive year.
But Chase Budinger and Miles Evans had other plans, running through the final and buried the book of tales ending 21-19, 21-16 to win the male title.
Budinger and Evans have turned their caps to switch to Dalhausser – recognizing the veteran who is a legend of sport.
“”[Dalhausser] is the best player to have ever played the game, “said Budincer.” So, every time I walk on the field playing against him, I really try to cherish these moments with him – these memories, these battles – because he is an incredible player. “”
Detrating with Champagne and holding his plate, Evans said that the triumph was a validation for all the work that the duo has done to break since its appearance in 2023.
“I hope this is the start of great things for us,” he said.
