AVP Season Starts With a Statement from Surf City
The 2025 AVP season just got a whole lot louder.
Huntington Beach was the stage, and Benesh/Partain and Brasher/Nuss showed up like they owned the coastline.
Two finals.
Two sweeps.
Two teams that just told the rest of the AVP:
“We’re the ones to beat.”
🧱 MEN’S FINAL: BENECH + PARTAIN = UNSTOPPABLE
Call it revenge. Call it dominance. Call it what it was: a clinic.
- Final score: 21–14, 21–14 over Budinger/Evans
- Not a single set dropped all tournament
- No team scored more than 18 on them — total lockdown mode
Miles Partain? Composed, surgical, terrifying.
Andy Benesh? A one-man net fortress with a side of thunder.
Together? A perfect blend of defense, vision, and violent offense.
They didn’t just win — they suffocated their opponents.
And they got the last laugh after losing to Budinger/Evans in last year’s finals.
🧠 Why They’re Built Different
- Benesh’s read blocking + length = nothing easy
- Partain’s setting touch and in-system aggression = elite tier
- Chemistry? Off the charts.
- Pressure moments? Didn’t blink once.
They didn’t ride momentum. They were the momentum.
🏐 WOMEN’S FINAL: BRASHER + NUSS DROP THE HAMMER
On the women’s side, Taran Brasher and Kristen Nuss rolled into Huntington with a point to prove — and they delivered with a masterclass performance.
- Final score: 21–5, 21–17 over Kelly Cheng and Molly Shaw
- Set 1? An absolute blowout
- Set 2? Calm, cool, and closed like pros
Nuss? Reading everything.
Brasher? Owning the net and hitting with poise.
Together? They dictated every phase of the match.
🔥 Control, Composure, and Clutch
- Nuss’s defensive reads + dime passing = gold
- Brasher’s smooth blocking and terminal swings = danger zone
- High-pressure moments? Zero panic.
They adjusted, locked in, and closed like champions.
This wasn’t just a win — it was a declaration.
“We came here to set the tone.”
— Every look they gave after match point
🌴 Huntington Beach = Vibes + Legacy
The Huntington Beach Open has always been a crown jewel on the AVP calendar — and 2025 just added another chapter to its legacy.
- 🔥 World-class performances
- 🎉 Rowdy SoCal crowd
- 🌊 Perfect backdrop for early-season fireworks
With the Heritage Series underway, the message is loud and clear:
Benesh/Partain and Brasher/Nuss aren’t just contenders — they’re the blueprint.
🏁 Final Serve
The beach season is ON.
The bar is HIGH.
And Huntington just gave us a double feature of dominance.
If this is how 2025 starts?
Buckle up. This year’s gonna be wild.
