Miami Mayhem Shine in AVP League’s Second Stop
The Miami Mayhem emerged as the standout team during the second weekend of the groundbreaking AVP League, securing a 3-1 record at the Hard Rock Tennis Center in Miami Gardens, Florida. The venue, part of the Miami Dolphins’ Hard Rock Stadium complex, hosted a series of thrilling matches that showcased the league’s competitive depth and star power.
Ross and Klineman Deliver Statement Win
The most notable victory of the weekend came from April Ross and Alix Klineman, the Olympic gold medalists from Tokyo 2021. Competing as wild-card selections, the duo defeated reigning Olympic silver medalists Melissa Humana-Paredes and Brandie Wilkerson of the Palm Beach Passion in a commanding 15-13, 15-8 match.
The first set was tightly contested until Ross and Klineman pulled away with a series of clutch plays, including a decisive slice down the line by Ross and a powerful finish by Klineman. The second set saw the Mayhem dominate, with Wilkerson’s double fault sealing the victory in just 34 minutes.
“We’ve been working incredibly hard to make a big push in this league,” Ross said. “This win under the lights was exactly what we needed to prove we’re still at the top of our game.”
Klineman added, “We were grateful for the wild card and wanted to show we deserve it. This performance gives us a lot of confidence moving forward.”
Crabb and Brunner Lead Men’s Charge
On the men’s side, Trevor Crabb and Theo Brunner were instrumental in the Mayhem’s success, winning both of their matches. They started with a solid 15-8, 15-12 victory over Phil Dalhausser and Avery Drost of the Passion, followed by a hard-fought 18-16, 15-12 win against Paul Lotman and Billy Allen of the Austin Aces.
Brunner’s standout performance included 13 kills on 17 errorless attempts (.697 hitting percentage) and four blocks. “It’s hot out here, and we were just trying to problem-solve,” Brunner said. “These short sets are intense, but that’s what makes beach volleyball so fun.”
Kloth and Nuss Dominate for Austin Aces
Taryn Kloth and Kristen Nuss of the Austin Aces delivered a dominant performance, going 2-0 on the weekend. Their most thrilling match came against the Dallas Dream’s Hailey Harward and Kylie Deberg, which they won 17-15, 20-18 in a 40-minute battle. Kloth’s powerful hitting (.696 efficiency) and Nuss’s defensive prowess (11 digs) were key to their success.
“Hailey and Kylie played a great match, but it was fitting that Taryn ended it with that incredible dig,” Nuss said.
League Standings and Looking Ahead
The Mayhem’s 3-1 record places them second in the AVP League standings, just behind the New York Nitro, who went 4-0 in the opening weekend. The Dallas Dream and Palm Beach Passion finished 2-2 and 1-3, respectively.
All matches were streamed live on the Bally Live app and are available on the AVP’s YouTube channel. The league now heads to San Diego for its third weekend on September 28-29, where the New York Nitro, San Diego Smash, Dallas Dream, and Miami Mayhem will compete in doubleheaders at Viejas Arena.
Key Matchup to Watch
One of the most anticipated matches of the San Diego stop will feature Trevor Crabb and Chase Budinger facing off for the first time since their heated altercation during the Chicago Heritage Series tournament. The showdown between the Smash and Mayhem promises to be a highlight of the weekend.
As the AVP League progresses, the competition continues to heat up, with teams vying for a spot in the championship rounds set for November 9-10 at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California.
