The Latest

In Photos: AVP makes a two-day pitstop in Long Beach

bySamuel Chacko, Photo Editor
July 13, 2026
4 minute read
Total
0
Shares
0
0
0

The Association of Volleyball Professionals (AVP) League played week five of its regular season in Long Beach this past weekend, with four teams duking it out at Alamitos Beach.

With players diving across the sandy court, passionate local fans in attendance and iconic multi-story architecture as a backdrop, the temporary stadium offered a glimpse of what Long Beach residents can look forward to when the 2028 Olympics roll around. 

After one of many L.A. Launch points, the crowd celebrates with the Brooklyn Blaze fans court-side in shock on July 12, 2026. The Launch used the heckling from the Blaze fans as fuel as the Launch beat the Blaze 13-15, 15-9, 15-13. (Samuel Chacko | Signal Tribune)

Saturday and Sunday’s matches saw packed crowds, despite Sunday’s drizzling rain and humid skies. 

The games were also closer Sunday, with half the matchups going into third sets with slim margins of victory. 

AVP League Format

AVP League has eight teams with one men’s and one women’s duo. The team names are the same for both divisions, which are:  

  • Miami Mayhem
  • Dallas Dream
  • Austin Aces
  • L.A. Launch
  • Brooklyn Blaze
  • New York Nitro
  • San Diego Smash
  • Palm Beach Passion

Four of the AVP League teams — the Launch, Mayhem, Blaze and Dream — made the trip to Long Beach to face one another in a 2v2 format, with the winner having to take down two sets (first to 15 points, win by two).

AVP League Week Five Results

Saturday, July 11 

  • 1:30 p.m. — Women’s Beach Volleyball— L.A. Launch (Maddie Anderson & Alaina Chacon) def. Brooklyn Blaze (Lexy Denaburg and Julia Donlan), 15-7, 15-13
  • 2:30 p.m. — Men’s Beach Volleyball — Miami Mayhem (Taylor Crabb & Andy Benesh) def. L.A. Launch (Hagen Smith & Logan Webber), 15-11, 15-9
  • 3:30 p.m. — Women’s Beach Volleyball — Miami Mayhem (Kelly Cheng & Megan Kraft) def. Dallas Dream (Kylie Deberg & Betsi Flint), 15-8, 15-11
  • 4:30 p.m. — Men’s Beach Volleyball — Brooklyn Blaze (Derek Bradford & Evan Cory) def. Dallas Dream (Paul Lotman & Miles Partain), 15-11, 14-16, 18-16

Sunday, July 12

  • 1 p.m. — Women’s Beach Volleyball — Miami Mayhem (Kelly Cheng & Megan Kraft) def. L.A. Launch (Maddie Anderson & Alaina Chacon), 16-14, 16-18, 15-12
  • 2 p.m. — Women’s Beach Volleyball — Dallas Dream (Kylie Deberg & Betsi Flint) def. Brooklyn Blaze (Lexy Denaburg and Julia Donlan), 15-12, 15-10
  • 3 p.m. — Men’s Beach Volleyball — L.A. Launch (Hagen Smith & Logan Webber) def. Brooklyn Blaze (Derek Bradford & Evan Cory), 13-15, 15-9, 15-13
  • 4 p.m. — Men’s Beach Volleyball — Miami Mayhem (Taylor Crabb & Andy Benesh) def. Dallas Dream (Paul Lotman & Miles Partain), 23-21, 15-10

The AVP League will play its week six matchups in New York on July 18-19. 

To learn more about the AVP League or to buy tickets for future events, check out their website. 

Miami Mayhem and Long Beach State men’s volleyball alumni, Taylor Crabb, serves the ball during the outdoor volleyball match against the Dallas Dream on July 12, 2026 in Long Beach. Crabb ended the game with 11 kills and seven digs as the Mayhem beat the Dream 23-21, 15-10. (Samuel Chacko | Signal Tribune)
Dallas Dream’s Kylie Deberg (left) tries to use her 6-foot-4 frame to attempt to spike the ball on Brooklyn Blaze’s Julia Donlan on July 12, 2026 in Long Beach. Deberg ended with a game-high 12 kills and four blocks as the Dream defeat the Blaze 15-12, 15-10. (Samuel Chacko | Signal Tribune)
Brooklyn Blaze’s Lexy Denaburg falls on the ground as the ball slowly hits the Blaze’s side of the sand on July 12, 2026. The Dream defeated the Blaze 15-12, 15-10. (Samuel Chacko | Signal Tribune)
Brooklyn Blaze fans cheer for the men’s duo, Derek Bradford and Evan Cory, on July 12, 2026. The Blaze fans tried to get into the L.A. Launch’s head, but the Launch took home the overtime victory 13-15, 15-9, 15-13. (Samuel Chacko | Signal Tribune)
L.A. Launch’s Maddie Anderson sets the ball up in the air for her teammate on July 12, 2026 in Long Beach. Anderson ended the game with 19 kills and six digs as the Miami Mayhem defeated the Launch 16-14, 16-18, 15-12. (Samuel Chacko | Signal Tribune)
Brooklyn Blaze’s Evan Cory jumps up high and lofts the ball up in the air on July 12, 2026 against the L.A. Launch. The Launch defeated the Blaze 13-15, 15-9, 15-13. (Samuel Chacko | Signal Tribune)
Miami Mayhem’s Megan Kraft lunges for the ball to keep the play going on July 12, 2026. With Kraft’s 15 kills and 13 digs, she became the first player to have 10 career double-doubles in the league as the Mayhem defeat the L.A. Launch 16-14, 16-18, 15-12. (Samuel Chacko | Signal Tribune)
L.A. Launch’s Maddie Anderson celebrates as the ball hits the Miami Mayhem’s side of the court on July 12, 2026. That celebration would be short lived as the Mayhem defeated the L.A. Launch 16-14, 16-18, 15-12. (Samuel Chacko | Signal Tribune)
Dallas Dream’s Kylie Deberg lies on the ground after the Brooklyn Blaze added another point on the board on July 12, 2026. That disappointment quickly faded as the Dream defeated the Blaze 15-12, 15-10. (Samuel Chacko | Signal Tribune)
Total
0
Shares
Share 0
Tweet 0
Pin it 0
Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *