Local favorite Billy Allen fights hard as new champions emerge on legendary pier
LOS ANGELES — The 2025 AVP Manhattan Beach Open delivered championship-level drama as two dynamic duos claimed their places in volleyball history on the sport’s most celebrated stage. Chase Budinger and Miles Evans captured their first Manhattan Beach title together in the men’s bracket, while Taryn Brasher and Kristen Nuss successfully defended their crown in a thrilling women’s final.
Brasher and Nuss proved they remain the dominant force in women’s beach volleyball, defeating Terese Cannon and Megan Kraft 15-21, 21-18, 15-13 in a grueling three-set championship match. The victory marks their second consecutive Manhattan Beach title, making them the first women’s team in eight years to repeat at the prestigious event.
Megan Kraft, a Torrey Pines High School graduate, went up for a kill during the championship match, but it was Brasher’s defensive play that ultimately sealed the victory. Taryn Brasher blocked Terese Cannon at the net to set up match point, demonstrating the championship-level defense that has made this partnership so successful.
The champions entered the weekend with an incredible 32-5 record in their last 37 AVP matches and extended their finals streak to seven straight events. Kristen Nuss and Taryn Brasher celebrated match point with the enthusiasm of athletes who understand the difficulty of repeating as champions at Manhattan Beach.
“It’s special to win here once, but to do it twice in a row puts us in rare company,” Nuss said after the victory. “This tournament means everything to us.”
The path to the final wasn’t without challenges. Cannon and Kraft reached their first Manhattan Beach final together after knocking out fifth-seeded Corinne Quiggle and Teegan Van Gunst in straight sets, 21-12, 21-13.
The men’s bracket delivered its own memorable storylines as Budinger and Evans defeated the veteran tandem of Chase Budinger and Phil Dahlhausser in straight sets, 21-19, 21-16. The victory ended the Crabb brothers’ five-year stranglehold on the Manhattan Beach title and gave Evans his first career AVP championship.
Miles Evans found open space for a point along with partner Chase Budinger during the championship match at the Manhattan Beach pier, executing the precise shots that separated them from their experienced opponents. For Budinger, the victory marked his first AVP championship with Evans as a teammate.
The semifinal round featured chalk as the top four seeds all advanced, setting up blockbuster matchups. Trevor Crabb and Phil Dalhausser edged Taylor Crabb and Taylor Sander in a three-set classic, 21-17, 13-21, 16-14, while Budinger and Evans rallied past Chaim Schalk and James Shaw, 18-21, 21-18, 15-12.
Southwest Riverside County had strong representation in Manhattan Beach through Fallbrook native Billy Allen, who partnered with his teammate in their quest for championship glory. Allen was his steady self throughout the tournament before falling to eventual champions Budinger and Evans in earlier rounds.
The Fallbrook product has become a reliable presence on the AVP tour, bringing his characteristic calm demeanor and solid fundamentals to each match. His performance resonated with fans from Southwest Riverside County who made the trip to support their local volleyball star.
Allen’s journey to the professional ranks began in North County San Diego, where he developed his skills before making his mark on the national stage. His continued presence among the tour’s competitive field represents the growing volleyball talent emerging from Southern California’s inland communities.
The women’s bracket featured a Cinderella story as 19th-seeded Kennedy Coakley and Ashley Pater reached the semifinals. The USC duo became just the fifth women’s team seeded 19th or lower to reach an AVP semifinal since 2017. Their elimination run captured the crowd’s imagination before ending against Brasher and Nuss, 23-21, 21-11.
The men’s competition saw the end of an era as the victory by Budinger and Evans broke up the Crabb family’s dominance. Between Trevor and Taylor Crabb, one of the brothers had won eight of the last 10 Manhattan Beach Opens.
The 2025 AVP season concludes with the League Championship in Chicago on Aug. 30-31. The top six teams from both divisions will compete in single-elimination playoffs for the league title.
Budinger and Evans, representing the San Diego Smash, earned the fifth seed after their 4-4 league campaign and will face Hagen Smith and Logan Webber of the LA Launch in the quarterfinals. Brasher and Nuss of the Austin Aces enter as the top women’s seed with a first-round bye.
The Manhattan Beach Open once again proved why it remains the sport’s most coveted prize, delivering championship moments that will be remembered long after the sand settles.
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