Crabb and Benesh: New AVP Kings?

The AVP 2026 tour just dropped, and it's about to be as lit as a 90s rave on a Malibu beach. New stops in Belmar, New Jersey; Aspen, Colorado; and Las Vegas, Nevada are about to be the backdrop for some gnarly volleyball action. And let's not forget the classic stops in Miami, Los Angeles, New York, Dallas, and Chicago. It's like the Avengers of volleyball venues.

Bigger and Better Stops

We're talking Laguna Open moving up in the world, from Contender status to a full-on Heritage event. Get your sunscreen ready, because this tournament is going to be da bomb. AVP's Heritage Tournament Series is flexing hard, setting up shop in Manhattan Beach and Huntington Beach while adding a major event in Belmar. It's the ultimate volleyball road trip.

New Partnerships, Same Drama

Remember the breakup of the 2024 U.S. Olympic pairing? Well, here comes the plot twist. Taylor Crabb is teaming up with Andy Benesh, leaving Miles Partain to find a new dance partner. Crabb and Benesh are primed to be the main character energy of the AVP this year. Meanwhile, Kelly Cheng is joining forces with Megan Kraft, and that's a duo we're ready to stan.

Partain's 2025 season was straight-up savage, ranking 3rd in hitting percentage (.513) and leading all men in digs per set (3.33). His numbers scream "different animal," and you know he's coming for vengeance this season.

Olympic Implications

With the 2026 season expansion from April through October, the tour is setting the stage for Olympic dreams. As Corvino put it, "The expansion of our AVP Heritage Tournament Series further cements our commitment to providing a pipeline of opportunities for beach volleyball athletes throughout the United States." Translation: get ready for a savage season with Olympic implications hanging over every spike and dig.

So, grab your shades and a cold drink, because 2026 is about to be the year AVP went beast mode. Who's your pick for the ultimate showdown in the sand?

Source: AVP