Taryn Brasher and Kristen Nuss achieved their season goal by securing their third gold medal in front of their home fans in California.
Brasher lifts Nuss in their trademark celebration after winning.
The Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour Newport Beach Elite, the first major international beach volleyball event held in the United States since 2018, concluded with a triumphant celebration of American women`s success in the sport. Duos from the host nation remarkably secured both first and second places.
The enthusiastic fans in California had ample reason to cheer as Taryn Brasher and Kristen Nuss clinched the victory, with compatriots Julia Donlin and Lexy Denaburg finishing as impressive runners-up. Brazil`s Eduarda `Duda` Lisboa and Ana Patrícia Ramos also joined them on the podium, earning third place.
The pathway to a highly successful tournament for American teams began early in the week. Four teams from the host country successfully navigated the qualifier, leading to a strong presence of nine out of 16 participating duos in the main draw. Fueled by home crowd support, these teams consistently progressed, with five reaching the quarterfinals and three advancing to the semifinals.
The ultimate showdown saw the last two American teams standing compete for the title. Brasher and Nuss emerged victorious, defeating Donlin and Denaburg in straight sets with scores of 21-15 and 21-14.
Taryn Brasher shared her excitement about playing on home turf: “Playing at home made us feel great. We were very comfortable and very excited to be playing here. We were determined to battle and do whatever it took in practice to win this one. It was incredibly rewarding to see so much of what we had been practicing translate effectively into our matches this week.”
This victory in Newport Beach holds particular significance for Brasher and Nuss, marking the first time in their careers they`ve both played in and won a Beach Pro Tour event in their home country. Their 2025 season continues to be remarkably successful, now boasting five medals – three golds, one silver, and one bronze – across seven Beach Pro Tour Elite events.
Kristen Nuss emphasized the importance of their achievement: “Winning this one here in America is huge. Additionally, at the start of the year, we stated our goal was to win three golds this season. We knew coming into this tournament that it was our opportunity to either achieve or miss that goal, so we truly pushed for it.”
Duda and Ana Patrícia Secure Fifth Consecutive Bronze
Olympic champions Duda and Ana Patrícia Ramos also made their fifth podium appearance of the season in Newport Beach. This occasion marked their fifth consecutive bronze medal in as many tournaments.
The Brazilian duo skillfully prevented an all-American podium sweep by defeating Terese Cannon and Megan Kraft in the third-place match, winning in straight sets (21-11, 21-12).
Ana Patrícia expressed her pleasure: “It was a great joy to play here. We love playing in California, and we sincerely hope to return here for many, many years.”
Looking ahead, the Beach Pro Tour is set to host a Challenge event in Nuvali, the Philippines, next week. The subsequent Elite tournament will take place in Cape Town, South Africa, from October 22-26.
Oliver Wrenwick