2026 AVP League Championship: Brasher/Cruz and Crabb/Dalhausser Dominate Finals

On September 13, 2026, at Oak Street Beach in Chicago, the AVP League Championship concluded with two thrilling finals. In the women's event, world No. 1 pair Brasher and Cruz defeated Humana-Paredes and Wilkerson 2-0 (15-10, 15-12). In the men's event, Trevor Crabb and Phil Dalhausser successfully defended their title by beating Schalk and Shaw 2-0 (15-10, 15-11). The women's final saw Brasher/Cruz dominate from the start. Brasher scored 15 kills with a .565 hitting percentage – above her league-leading regular-season .529. Cruz recorded 20 digs, nearly double her season average, giving her team complete control in transition. On the other side, Wilkerson – the league's blocks-per-set leader – managed only 1 block in the entire match. She was forced into 24 attack attempts, reducing her blocking effectiveness. "We knew Wilkerson was their anchor. The plan was to play away from her block and make them defend more," Cruz said after the match. Humana-Paredes admitted, "When our block doesn't work, everything becomes very difficult." In the men's event, Trevor Crabb was sensational with 9 kills and zero errors, a .750 hitting percentage – far above his .468 season average. Dalhausser, 46, recorded 6 blocks in just 2 sets, more than double his season rate. He had just recovered from a calf strain that forced him to withdraw early from the Manhattan Beach Open earlier. "I never stopped believing in my body. This is the reward for perseverance," Dalhausser shared. Opponent Shaw, the league's regular-season hitting leader (.542), managed only 2 kills with a negative hitting percentage. Schalk carried the offensive load with 13 kills on 24 attempts, but it wasn't enough to turn the tide. Earlier, in the women's semifinals, No. 2 seed Brasher/Cruz advanced easily. In the men's semifinals, the biggest upset occurred when top seed Benesh and Taylor Crabb were eliminated by Schalk/Shaw by a margin of just 4 points (15-13, 13-15, 15-13). Taylor Crabb, typically hitting above .500, finished at .188 in that match. "One bad day from me cost the team. It's a big lesson," he said. This year's tournament saw the return of the city franchise format, featuring Palm Beach, New York Nitro, Chicago, Dallas, and others. New York Nitro had an impressive journey from a 1-5 record in July to a playoff berth and nearly reaching the final. Oak Street Beach was packed with spectators, bringing a vibrant atmosphere to America's largest domestic beach volleyball league. With this victory, Brasher/Cruz solidified their world No. 1 status (according to the AVP League COO on a local TV broadcast). They have won the Manhattan Beach Open three times in a row without dropping a set. Meanwhile, Crabb/Dalhausser claimed their second consecutive AVP League title, along with the same-season AVP Cup championship, cementing the legacy of one of the most successful pairs in American beach volleyball history. The championship concluded with outstanding performances, promising an even more exciting new season in 2027.