Matthew Knigge’s unlikely path to USA gym: “Now I play volleyball”
Matt Knigge attacks against Poland/Volleyball World photo When the USA men played Poland in Volleyball Nations League on Wednesday, Matthew Knigge had four kills, an ace and a block. On the surface, stats not normally worth noting. But in Knigge’s case, and in the case of the men’s...
“Job’s not done” for Chase Budinger and Miles Evans, but a big step taken at Espinho Elite16
Nicolas Capograsso tries hit past Chase Budinger/Volleyball World photo There aren’t many beach volleyball players in the world who can quote Kobe Bryant and get it away with it. There is, in fact, just one. Chase Budinger. Budinger is the only player on the beach who ever played...
Poland sweeps as USA men begin Volleyball Nations League play
Kyle Dagostino goes for the kick save against Poland/Volleyball World photo The USA men got swept by Poland as they began Volleyball Nations League play Wednesday. None of the 12 players nor alternate named to the USA Olympic team made the trip to Antalya, Türkiye, including coach...
Taylor Crabb, Taylor Sander, and the bigger mission of America’s most popular team
Taylor Sander, left, and Taylor Crabb/Mark Rigney photo HERMOSA BEACH, California — As the 2023 season bled into 2024, and Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour raged on, the Olympic race winding ever tighter, it did not go unnoticed that perhaps the best team in America was...
Best AVP Huntington Beach photos from Rigney, Atwood, Chu, Szto, Wolf
The AVP season kicked off with the Huntington Beach Open this past weekend and our full contingent of photographers were on the scene: Mark Rigney, Rick Atwood, Will Chu, Allen Szto and Jim Wolf. They shoot thousands of photos at a tournament and then spend hours...
2024 International Volleyball Hall class: Hovland, Henkel, Bell, Zorzi, Guimares, Rezaei, Pereyra, Lemaire, Panini
Tim Hovland, left, with Mike Dodd at the 2018 California Beach Volleyball Hall of Fame induction/Ed Chan, VBshots.comBrazilian coach Jose “Ze Roberto” Guimaraes/Volleyball World photo American beach legend Tim Hovland and one of the most versatile players to ever pick up a volleyball, Brazilian Ana Paula...
Taylor Crabb-Taylor Sander dominate AVP Huntington Beach; Mel-Brandie win thriller
Brandie Wilkerson and Melissa Humana-Paredes celebrate/Rick Atwood photo HUNTINGTON BEACH, California — In the moments after Taylor Crabb and Taylor Sander closed one of the most dominant AVP performances in recent memory, winning five straight matches in 10 straight sets while hardly breaking a sweat en...
USA women sweep DR; men ready for Volleyball Nations League opener
The USA after sweeping the Dominican Republic/Volleyball World photo The USA women finished the first round of Volleyball Nations League with a sweep of the Dominican Republic. Now it’s the men’s turn. A USA team of reserves — the Olympians and coach John Speraw are staying home —...
USA women play Dominican Republic to conclude first round of Volleyball Nations League
Canada’s Vicky Savard attacks against Thailand/Volleyball World photo The USA women play the Dominican Republic in Rio de Janeiro at 1 p.m. Eastern Sunday to wrap up the first round of Volleyball Nations League. The Americans, who opened with a four-set win over Thailand this past Wednesday,...
Top seeds TKN, Taylors await AVP Huntington Beach semifinal opponents
Avery Drost/Rick Atwood photoBrandie Wilkerson stuffs Kristen Nuss/Mark Rigney photo The two USA women’s Olympic entries, top-seeded Taryn Kloth and Kristen Nuss and third-seeded Kelly Cheng and Sara Hughes, are into Sunday’s AVP Huntington Beach Open semifinals. On the men’s side, the Nos. 1 and 3 seeds...
Hilley, Supernovas sweep Rise to win inaugural Pro Volleyball Federation title
Brooke Nuneviller leads the Omaha celebration/Bonnie Ryan for Omaha Supernovas, Pro Volleyball Federation OMAHA, Nebraska — Sydney Hilley began the Pro Volleyball Federation playoffs on the bench. By Saturday afternoon, the Omaha setter was celebrating a championship and was named the most valuable player for helping the...
Omaha vs. Grand Rapids for Pro Volleyball Federation title, $1 million prize
Both a million dollars and the first Pro Volleyball Federation championship is at stake Saturday when the Omaha Supernovas play the Grand Rapids Rise in Omaha’s CHI Health Center. The 3:30 p.m. Central first serve will be shown on the CBS Sports Network with Paul Sunderland...
Ross-Klineman return to AVP; top seeds TKN, Taylors win in Huntington Beach
Kristen Nuss digs against Geena Urango and Toni Rodriguez/Mark Rigney photo Friday marked the return of USA Olympic gold medalists April Ross and Alix Klineman to the AVP and the second-seeded new moms went 1-1 at the AVP Huntington Beach Heritage Series. Ross and Klineman opened with...
Brazil snaps skid against USA with four-set Volleyball Nations League win
Avery Skinner hits against the Brazil block of Rosamaria Montibeller, left, and Julia Kudiess/Volleyball World photo The USA women fell to 1-2 in Volleyball Nations League after losing to Brazil in four sets Friday in Rio de Janeiro. The 25-22, 25-16, 18-25, 25-19 victory left Brazil 3-0. Brazil...
China storms back to deal USA 3-1 Volleyball Nations League defeat
Danielle Cuttino hits against China/Volleyball World photo The USA, with a completely different lineup Thursday than the one it had in a victory over Thailand on Wednesday, bolted to a one-set lead over China. But China rallied for a 23-25, 25-23, 25-22, 25-19 victory in Volleyball Nations...
AVP Huntington Beach Preview: Favorites, new teams, sleeper picks
HUNTINGTON BEACH, California — It has been a proper off-season for those playing on the AVP Tour. A full eight months without competing in a domestic event. Eight months to train and lift and watch film until your eyes fall out. Eight months to get...
Pro Volleyball Federation semis: Rise upset Vibe; Omaha advances with reverse sweep
Omaha’s Stephanie Samedy attacks against San Diego/Bonnie Ryan for Omaha Supernovas If nothing else, the Pro Volleyball Federation has become unpredictable at the end of its first season, and Wednesday’s semifinals punctuated that. And now the Grand Rapids Rise and Omaha Supernovas will play Saturday, not only...
USA women win Volleyball Nations League opener; big upset for Japan
Ali Frantti eyes her shot through the Thailand block/Volleyball World photo What a Volleyball Nations League debut for Madi Skinner. Skinner, coming off back-to-back NCAA titles at Texas with still another season ahead for the Longhorns, and the only current college player on the roster, led the...
California, Texas lead 2024 VolleyballMag Girls Fab 50
VolleyballMag is pleased to introduce the 2024 Girls Fab 50 list, the longest-running national awards platform that honors the top 50 senior-age players in the country. Because I have been invited to shape the Fab 50 as I see fit, it is part recruiting list and...
Evan Cory is playing beach volleyball his own damn way in 2024
HERMOSA BEACH, California — Evan Cory did all of the right things. Checked every box in the How to Become a Professional Beach Volleyball Player handbook. The rising star out of Louisiana made the jump from Metairie to Hermosa Beach, the heartland of beach volleyball. He’d...