300 tons of sand. 16 dump trucks. An NBA arena. AVP is turning the Intuit Dome into a beach volleyball paradise this weekend.
Sandstorm in Inglewood
The AVP is breaking new ground, literally. For the first time, they're taking over an NBA arena. A crew delivered 300 tons of sand from Palm Springs to the Intuit Dome. And just like that, the site’s ready for the L.A. Launch to face off against the San Diego Smash on Friday.
Logan Dan, AVP's head of operations, spilled the details: “It’s about a six- to eight-hour build,” he said. That includes setting up an 18-inch wooden sandbox to protect the court. Once the show’s over, they’ll dismantle it all, using equipment that looks like a small tractor on steroids.
New League, New Vibes
Indoors, the game changes. No sun, no wind. Just pure volleyball. “It’s so close and loud and intimate,” Dan noted. This new league format? A game-changer. Teams like L.A. Launch and Palm Beach Passion are making waves.
The stakes? Huge. Each city’s men’s and women’s duos duke it out, with records determining league standings. Right now, L.A. Launch sits undefeated at the top, with Palm Beach Passion close behind at 6–2.
Star Power on the Sand
Expect fireworks when four city teams hit the sand. From Olympians to a former NBA player, the lineup's stacked. The L.A. Launch features Hagen Smith, Logan Webber, Terese Cannon, and Megan Kraft. Meanwhile, Palm Beach boasts stars like Trevor Crabb, Phil Dalhausser, Melissa Humana-Paredes, and Brandie Wilkerson.
This isn’t just a match. It’s a statement. AVP’s bringing volleyball where it’s never been before. And from there… it’s over.
That’ll do it.
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Source: latimes.com
