Nuss and Brasher Defend Gstaad Title

The U.S. pair claimed victory in the Swiss Alps for the second year running.

Kristen Nuss and Taryn Brasher, American Olympians, will keep their golden cowbells for another year, having successfully defended their title at the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour Gstaad Elite tournament on Sunday, marking their second consecutive win.

Joining them on the podium were Latvia`s Olympic participants, Tina Graudina and Anastasija Samoilova, who earned silver, and the Swiss sister duo, Anouk and Zoé Vergé-Dépré, who finished with bronze.

Exhibiting dominance throughout the event, the Americans concluded their unbeaten run in the Swiss Alps with a flawless six wins and losing only a single set. They maintained their high level of play in Sunday`s final, defeating Tina and Anastasija in straight sets (21-19, 21-18) to clinch the championship.

“Kristen was a rock, she was super calm the entire time and we just trusted our side,” Brasher said. “But huge congrats to Tina and Anastasia, they’re obviously amazing and it’s always really fun to play them.”

This triumph makes them the sixth women`s pair to achieve back-to-back titles in Gstaad. They join esteemed teams such as fellow Americans Kerri Walsh-Jennings and Misty May-Treanor (2002-2004, 2006-2006), and Brazilian legends Adriana Behar/Shelda Bede (2000-2001), Juliana Felisberta/Larissa França (2010-2011), Talita Antunes/Larissa França (2014-2015), and Eduarda ‘Duda’ Lisboa/Ana Patrícia Ramos (2022-2023).

This marks their second win in five appearances on the Beach Pro Tour in 2025, following their victory in Brasília in April. Earlier in the season, Nuss and Brasher also secured a bronze medal in Quintana Roo and a silver in Saquarema.

Swiss Sisters Anouk and Zoé Secure Home Podium Spot

Although two Swiss teams reached the semifinals, the host nation did not claim gold this weekend. However, Switzerland earned a spot on the podium for the first time since 2012, as the Vergé-Dépré sisters defeated their fellow Swiss pair, Tanja Hüberli and Leona Kernen, in straight sets (21-17, 21-11) in the bronze medal match.

This was the fourth consecutive podium finish for Anouk and Zoé, adding to their silver at the Spiez Futures, bronze at the Ostrava Elite, and gold at the Alanya Challenge.

“Winning a cowbell is a childhood dream for us,” Anouk said. “We both came out here as young kids and watched the matches from the stands. So, to win a cowbell is super emotional, even more with my sister.”