2026 AVP League: Brasher/Cruz and Crabb/Dalhausser Dominate Championships

The 2026 AVP League concluded in Chicago with two dramatic finals. In the women's competition, world No. 1 pair Brasher/Cruz (second seed) defeated Humana-Paredes/Wilkerson 15-10, 15-12. In the men's competition, defending champions Crabb/Dalhausser overcame Schalk/Shaw 15-10, 15-11. Brasher recorded 15 kills at .565 hitting – above her league-leading regular-season average of .529. Cruz collected 20 digs, nearly double her seasonal rate. Meanwhile, Wilkerson – the league's blocks-per-set leader – managed only one block in the entire match. She was forced into defense and attack (24 attacks), breaking the block-dig linkage. The victory showcased tactical superiority: forcing opponents into transition defense, where Cruz excelled. In the men's final, 46-year-old Phil Dalhausser proved age is no barrier. He logged 6 blocks in two sets, more than double his seasonal pace. Trevor Crabb hit .750 (9 kills, 0 errors) – nearly flawless. Opponents Schalk/Shaw were stifled: Shaw, the league's hitting leader (.542), managed just 2 kills and negative hitting. Schalk scored 13 kills on 24 attacks, but it wasn't enough. Dalhausser had recently suffered a calf strain that ended his Manhattan Beach Open early – his return to top form is remarkable. The men's semifinal between Schalk/Shaw and top seed Benesh/Taylor Crabb was intense. Benesh/T.Crabb – reigning Manhattan Beach champions – fell when Taylor Crabb hit .188, over 300 points below his season average. Schalk hit .455 on 22 attacks with 1 error. The total margin was just 4 points, highlighting fierce competition. Reliance on a single primary attacker proved fatal for the top seed. Context: Brasher/Cruz have won three consecutive Manhattan Beach Open titles without dropping a match – a true dominance signal. They were called