Junk Twin Sisters Hold USA’s Gold Medal Hopes in Doha

The Junk twin sisters, Avery (left) and Addison, are medal prospects at the FIVB Beach Volleyball Under 18 World Championship

It`s hard not to notice the Junk twin sisters even off the volleyball court. They are always together, their long blonde hair beautifully flowing down their backs as they walk side by side or sit watching a game.

Life, and more recently beach volleyball, has contributed to Avery and Addison spending most of their time together. Their off-court camaraderie has transformed into a powerful on-court partnership, making them USA`s primary pair for the Main Draw and one of the top medal contenders at this year`s FIVB Beach Volleyball Under 18 World Championship in Doha, Qatar.

“It`s a great honor for us to represent our country here. We`ve been in the national team development training program for the past four years, training four times a year. We performed well during the trials for this competition, and our selection means a lot to us,” Avery revealed.

Born and raised in Redondo Beach, California, Avery and Addison first played soccer, but it wasn`t long before they returned to volleyball at the age of 12. They started with indoor volleyball before switching to beach volleyball and have never looked back since.

USA`s Addison Junk serves the ball during their opening match of the FIVB Beach Volleyball Under 18 World Championship against Brazil

“Beach volleyball is more interesting because your partner is like family, and we actually are family, so it made sense for us. We`ve been playing together for about five years now,” said Addison, who enjoys cooking in her free time.

“(Being sisters) makes it significantly easier because neither of us has ever played with a different partner for a long time. I feel like I know everything she`s going to do before she does it, and it`s the same for her,” she added, half-jokingly.

The Junk twin sisters, Addison (left) and Avery, during their opening match of the FIVB Beach Volleyball Under 18 World Championship against Brazil

Now 17, they will make their World Championship debut in Doha, where they are drawn in Pool B alongside Morocco`s Marwa Chalhaoui & Hafsa Bouysfi, Paraguay`s Sofia Martinez & Agustina Velazquez, and Brazil`s Kiara Vitoria Ernesto Jeronimo & Leticia Schwalb Machado.

Their compatriots Myriah Massey & Lily Davis won the gold medal at the 2024 FIVB Beach Volleyball Under 19 World Championship in Shangluo, China, and now all eyes will be on the Junk twins to successfully defend the title in Doha.

“I`m very excited about it. I think it`s a good thing for us because we like being the team to beat. We are used to that in America, and it`s a great challenge for us to experience it at this level,” Avery noted matter-of-factly.

“We know that everyone here is the best in their country, and we have strong teams like Ukraine and Brazil. We are excited to play some high-level volleyball. Our goal is definitely to win this tournament, and a medal of this caliber will be a great start to our career because we want to pursue this (beach volleyball) after college,” added the virtuoso guitarist.

USA`s Avery Junk (spikes) during their opening match of the FIVB Beach Volleyball Under 18 World Championship against Brazil

Gold for the Junk sisters will not only bring them global attention but also elevate the USA to parity with Brazil as the most successful nation in this girls` age group, with four titles each.