Volleyball Dynasties Crowned
Brasher and Cruz Secure Third Straight AVP Manhattan Beach Open Title; Benesh and Crabb Also Victorious.
Taryn Brasher and Kristen Cruz are the queens of Manhattan Beach. The pair won their third straight AVP Manhattan Beach Open title on Sunday, defeating Kelly Cheng and Megan Kraft in the women's championship, according to Daily News. The two-time defending champions went 6-0 over the three-day Heritage Major to cement their dynasty at one of beach volleyball's most storied events.
On the men's side, No. 2-seeded Andy Benesh and Taylor Crabb took the title with a dominant win over Gage Basey and Thomas Hurst, 21-14, 21-13, per Press Telegram. Crabb is now a two-time Manhattan Beach champion, having previously won the event in 2023 alongside Taylor Sander.
Brasher and Cruz Go Undefeated for Third Year Running
Brasher and Cruz have now gone 18-0 at the Manhattan Beach Open across three years of competing in the event, according to Press Enterprise. That perfect record puts them in rare company in AVP history. The duo has never lost a single match at the venue, winning every set needed to take the top prize each time.
In Sunday's final, they topped Cheng and Kraft to seal the three-peat. Cheng is a well-known name in the sport, making the final a high-profile matchup. Brasher and Cruz handled the pressure without dropping a match the entire tournament, per Daily Breeze.
Crabb Claims Second Manhattan Beach Men's Crown
Taylor Crabb now has two Manhattan Beach Open titles to his name. He won his first in 2023 with partner Taylor Sander. This year, he teamed up with Andy Benesh and the pair cruised through the bracket, going 6-0 over the three-day event, according to SB Sun.
The men's final was never close. Benesh and Crabb beat Basey and Hurst 21-14, 21-13, winning both sets with ease. The scoreline showed their dominance throughout the weekend. No. 2 seeding aside, they played like the best team in the field from start to finish.
Manhattan Beach Open Carries Major Status on the AVP Tour
The Manhattan Beach Open is one of the most prestigious stops on the AVP Tour. It carries Heritage Major status, meaning it holds extra historical weight in the sport. The event draws top teams from across the country each year to compete on the famous South Bay sand.
Both the men's and women's winning pairs went a combined 12-0 over the three days. That kind of dominance from two teams at the same major event is rare. The 2025 Manhattan Beach Open may be remembered as the weekend two duos proved they simply have no equal on this particular stretch of beach.
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