SANDCAST: Beach Volleyball with Tri Bourne and Travis Mewhirter

This episode of SANDCAST: Beach Volleyball with Tri Bourne and Travis Mewhirter features the Coaching Your Brains Out crew: John Mayer of LMU Beach Volleyball and Billy Allen of Stanford Beach Volleyball.

Chapters with the Coach Your Brains Out Crew

00:00 Coaching Reflections and Achievements

03:06 Building Team Culture and Relationships

05:57 Practice Dynamics and Coaching Strategies

09:01 Feedback and Player Engagement

12:01 Exploring New Techniques and Learning

15:06 The Importance of Trust and Psychological Safety

18:11 The Role of Technique in Performance

21:02 Cultural Dynamics in Coaching

Welcome to the 2025 Beach Pro Tour Player Awards Show! For the third straight year, SANDCAST has curated and hosted the player-voted awards, with Travis Mewhirter detailing which players won:

- Team of the Year

- MVP

- Best Offensive Player

- Best Defensive Player

- Best Server

- Best Blocker

- Rookie of the Year

- Most Improved

- The Sportsmanship Award

- Event of the Year

- People of the Year

SHOOTS!

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Merry Christmas!! Tri Bourne and Travis Mewhirter drop a Christmas Eve special 2025 year in review podcast, talking their biggest life lessons in a year in which they both had kids, Tri Bourne retired from professional beach volleyball, Travis Mewhirter dove into coaching full-time at Florida State while hitting his stride as a commentator for VBTV. They also take on a few fan questions, talking about the future of beach volleyball, whether it's a financially stable sport (or ever can be), the need for superstars, and, of course, a Christmas lightning round.

Chapters of SANDCAST with Tri Bourne...

This episode of SANDCAST: Beach Volleyball with Tri Bourne and Travis Mewhirter features Marco Krattiger, Switzerland's longtime veteran blocker who has been playing professional beach volleyball for more than a decade -- and is only just now beginning to peak, as he and Leo Dillier finished ninth at the 2025 Beach Volleyball World Championships. Their year included a top-10 at the Gstaad Elite, the home event to all Swiss Beach Volleyball players, victories over Ondrej Perusic and David Schweiner, Evandro and Arthur, Stefan Boermans and Yorick de Groot, and more.

Chapters with Marco Krattiger

00:00 Introduction and...

On this episode of SANDCAST: Beach Volleyball with Tri Bourne and Travis Mewhirter, Travis sits down with Australian Olympian Zach Schubert, who after 9 years of playing professional beach volleyball is retiring, doing so at the 2025 Beach Volleyball World Championships. We cover quite a bit of ground in this chat, including:

- Why double-elim is the best format in the world

- Zach Schubert's trying journey to the Olympics, and why Thomas Hodges is the man responsible for his success

- Why he chose to retire from the game

- Why the...

Welcome back to SANDCAST: Beach Volleyball with Tri Bourne and Travis Mewhirter where the boys are far and wide: Bourne is at home in the studio in Hermosa Beach while Travis is out and about in the Outback, on day 9 of the 2025 Beach Volleyball World Championships in Adelaide, Australia. They catch up and chat:

- A breakdown of the 2026 AVP Schedule, looking at the AVP Major Heritage events and the glut of AVP Heritage Contender events

- Travis Mewhirter reviewing the Beach Volleyball World Championships, looking at how the crowd was, how the vibes were...

Welcome back to SANDCAST: Beach Volleyball with Tri Bourne and Travis Mewhirter, where we are back, again, for one final time, from Adelaide, Australia, home of the 2025 Beach Volleyball World Championships. And that. Is. A. Wrap. Travis and Kyle Friend recap a World Champs that was historic in so many ways, including:

Welcome back to SANDCAST: Beach Volleyball with Tri Bourne and Travis Mewhirter, where we are back, again, from the Intercontinental Hotel in Adelaide, home of the 2025 Beach Volleyball World Championships. Travis and Kyle Friend called all four semifinals, where…

Welcome back to SANDCAST: Beach Volleyball with Tri Bourne and Travis Mewhirter, where we are back, again, from the Intercontinental Hotel in Adelaide, home of the 2025 Beach Volleyball World Championships. Travis and Kyle Friend had 8 matches of commentary today from the world champs – and then delivered this pod, where Travis chats about:

Welcome back to SANDCAST: Beach Volleyball with Tri Bourne and Travis Mewhirter, where Mewhirter is back on a late-night edition breaking down the 2025 Beach Volleyball World Championships, where Thursday turned positively bonkers. Where to start? How about with...

- France's Arnaud Gauthier-Rat and Teo Rotar shocking medal favorites Cherif Younousse and Ahmed Tijan

- Germany's Nils Ehlers and Clemens Wickler figuring it out at the right time in a critical upset over Norway's Anders Mol and Christian Sorum

- USA Volleyball's Chaim Schalk and James Shaw continuing their Cinderella run with an upset...

Welcome back to SANDCAST: Beach Volleyball with Tri Bourne and Travis Mewhirter, where Travis is back breaking down all things Beach Volleyball World Championships in Adelaide, Australia. The round of 32 is over, and in this episode, we highlight:

- The huge and shocking upset delivered to Terese Cannon and Megan Kraft by Martina Maixnerova and Kylie Neuschaeferova

- The not so huge but still unexpected upset of Marco Krattiger and Leo Dillier over Stefan Boermans and Yorick de Groot

- The still less huge but still unexpected upsets of Chaim Schalk and James...

Welcome back to SANDCAST: Beach Volleyball with Tri Bourne and Travis Mewhirter, where Travis, on site in Adelaide for the 2025 Beach Volleyball World Championships, breaks down the pool play rounds and provides a little preview of the playoffs to come, highlighting:

- Sweden's David Ahman and Jonatan Hellvig AGAIN losing two matches in pool play in the biggest tournament of the year

- The German women, highlighted by the stellar play of Melanie Paul and Lea Kunst, sending all four teams -- Louisa Lippmann and Linda Bock, Cinja Tillmann and Svenja Muller, Sandra Ittlinger and...

Kyle Friend and Travis Mewhirter break down all things Beach Volleyball World Champs here in Adelaide, Australia, going over the favorites, contenders, and dark horses for each gender.

Favorites: Kristen Nuss and Taryn Brasher, Duda and Ana Patricia, Anders Mol and Christian Sorum, Cherif Younousse and Ahmed Tijan.

Contenders: Linda Bock and Louisa Lippmann, Anouk Verge-Depre and Zoe Verge-Depre, Remi Bassereau and Calvin Aye, Clemens Wickler and Nils Ehlers

Dark Horses: Daniela Alvarez and Tania Moreno, Katja Stam and Raisa Schoon, Andre and Renato, Timo Hammarberg and Tim Berger

SHOOTS!

This episode of SANDCAST: Beach Volleyball with Tri Bourne and Travis Mewhirter, is a SANDCAST family affair! Bringing in our star videographer, Daniel "Frito" Freitas and co-host and regular contributor Kyle Friend to chat all things beach volleyball, and particularly what we can do from a storytelling standpoint. 

In this episode of SANDCAST: Beach Volleyball with Tri Bourne and Travis Mewhirter, former AVP professional beach volleyball player Brian Lewis shares his journey through the world of beach volleyball, discussing the evolution of the sport, the importance of entertainment value, and the role of youth development in shaping future athletes.

- He reflects on his personal experiences, training dynamics, and the need for athletes to take ownership in promoting the sport.

- The discussion also touches on the cultural shifts within volleyball and the promising future of the sport as it continues to grow...

Welcome back to SANDCAST: Beach Volleyball with Tri Bourne and Travis Mewhirter. On this episode, Travis breaks down the upcoming beach volleyball world championships, where he looks each of the 12 women's pools. He looks at:

- Why Valentina Gottardi and Reka Orsi Toth are headlining the Pool of Death

- TCU Beach Volleyball boasting FIVE players in the World Championships

- Why it might be medal or bust for Kristen Nuss and Taryn Brasher

- Can Terese Cannon and Megan Kraft finally become the bride they've long sought to be?

Welcome back to SANDCAST: Beach Volleyball with Tri Bourne and Travis Mewhirter, where Travis breaks down all things beach volleyball world championships, specifically previewing the men's field and its 12 pools. We cover:

- Why Pool C is the pool of Death

- Andre Loyola and Renato Lima being Travis' dark horse pick to medal

- Why he has Arnaud Gauthier-Rat and Teo Rotar heading a pool of rising stars

- The format and intricacies of the World Champs And a whole lot more!

SHOOTS!

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WE'VE...

Welcome back to a Fan Question episode of SANDCAST: Beach Volleyball with Tri Bourne and Travis Mewhirter, where the boys take on all of the questions from our loyal listeners. We talk about:

- Why doesn't the USA Volleyball host more professional beach volleyball events?

- Why are crowds in the USA not showing up to anything?

- Is Kelly Cheng the best player in the world?

- What do we think of Sara Hughes and her new partner, Ally Batenhorst And a whole lot more!

SHOOTS!

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Welcome back to another Beach Access edition of SANDCAST, where Travis Mewhirter breaks down all things Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour. This week, he's chatting World Championships, and the final standings are now out!

- George and Saymon made their HUGE move at the end of the season

- Katja Stam and Raisa Schoon earned their wild card with a gold medal in Veracruz

- VBTV cutting coverage of Challenge events

- USA Volleyball sending the fewest men's teams to a World Championship... ever

And a whole lot more.<...

This episode of SANDCAST: Beach Volleyball with Tri Bourne and Travis Mewhirter, features an absolute legend in Charlie Brande, who shares his extensive experience in volleyball, discussing the evolution of both beach and indoor volleyball, the impact of Title IX, and the importance of community and coaching philosophy in developing young athletes. He reflects on the camaraderie within the sport, the transition from player to coach, and the balance between competition and enjoyment in youth sports. The discussion emphasizes the significance of relationships and mentorship in shaping the future of volleyball. In this conversation, the Tri and Charlie delve...

Welcome back to Beach Access, presented by SHIELD, where Travis Mewhirter breaks down all things Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour. This week, he's chatting the recent Rio Elite, where:

- Carol established herself as Brazil's new resident queen

- Cherif Younousse and Ahmed Tijan won a career-high third gold medal in a final dubbed "a win for the people"

- Cuba's dismantling of Norway's Anders Mol and Christian Sorum

- The problems plaguing Andy Benesh and Miles Partain, and Chaim Schalk and James Shaw

- Kelly Cheng and Molly...

Welcome back to SANDCAST: Beach Volleyball with Tri Bourne and Travis Mewhirter which doubles as a Beach Access episode this week, where Travis Mewhirter breaks down all things Brazil: A full recap from the Joao Pessoa Elite, and brief look-ahead to the Rio Elite this week. He chats:

- Kelly Cheng and Molly Shaw's dominant run through the entire Brazilian federation for their first gold medal as a team

- The home field advantage enjoyed by Evandro and Arthur, who won their third gold medal as a partnership -- all won in Brazil

...

This episode of SANDCAST: Beach Volleyball with Tri Bourne and Travis Mewhirter, features Canyon Ceman, one of the old school greats who won seven AVPs in a stories career and who is still crushing it playing fours on 22nd Street in Hermosa Beach. Trust us, he's still got a cannon of a jump serve. He and Bourne cover a lot of ground, including:

This episode of SANDCAST: Beach Volleyball with Tri Bourne and Travis Mewhirter, features Arnaud Gauthier-Rat, the top beach volleyball player in France who has recently teamed with the young – and impressive – Teo Rotar. Already, they have locked up a spot in this fall’s World Championships in Adelaide, Australia, and are a dark horse contender to medal. Recorded at the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour Hamburg Elite, Gauthier-Rat and Mewhirter sit down to chat about:

This episode of SANDCAST: Beach Volleyball with Tri Bourne and Travis Mewhirter, features the legendary John Hyden and his coaching right-hand woman, Nicole Christner. They cover all topics on this one, a fun, wide-ranging conversation that includes:

And so much more. Absolute blast with everyone in the studio!

SH...

Welcome back to Beach Access, where Kyle Friend and Travis Mewhirter covered the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour Hamburg Elite. They chat about:

- Italians Reka Orsi Toth and Valentina Gottardi winning a shocking gold medal, the first Elite win in Italian women's history

- Norway's Anders Mol and Christian Sorum going GOAT hunting, now one win closer to catching Ricardo and Emanuel for most all time

- What's up with Sweden's David Ahman and Jonatan Hellvig

- Linda Bock, the can't miss new German defender And much more!

...

This episode of SANDCAST: Beach Volleyball with Tri Bourne and Travis Mewhirter, features Kerri Pottharst, one of the greatest beach volleyball players of all time and certainly Australia's GOAT. We shot this episode in Gstaad, on July 4 weekend, and we chat all aspects of Pottharst's career, from her multiple Olympics to where she is now as one of the key commentators on VBTV.

Chapters with Kerri Pottharst

00:00 Introduction to Australian Beach Volleyball
03:01 The Growth of Australian Volleyball
05:57 The Evolution of Beach Volleyball
09:09 Mindset and Mental Preparation in Sports
11:58 The Importance of...

This episode of SANDCAST: Beach Volleyball with Tri Bourne and Travis Mewhirter, features Hector Gutierrez, the head coach of the TCU Beach Volleyball team who recently won the first NCAA Championship outside of California.

We chat a whole lot about that win, as well as:

- How he was able to build a program around Daniela Alvarez and Tania Moreno

- How he was able to lure Sarah Sponcil as his new assistant coach

- What it was like, winning his first NCAA Championship, and the first outside of California

Welcome back to Beach Access, presented by SHIELD, where Travis Mewhirter and Kyle Friend recap all things Beach Volleyball wherever they are in the world. This weekend, they were in Montreal for the Beach Pro Tour Elite, where Melissa Humana-Paredes and Brandie Wilkerson successfully defended their gold medal in 2023, as did Anders Mol and Christian Sorum. 

They chat all about that, as well as:

- What an incredible event the promoter put on and why we hope it continues

- The return of Ana Patricia Silva and Duda Lisboa

- Another f...

This is our first mailbag episode of the year -- and maybe the last, depending on Tri Bourne's and Travis Mewhirter's schedules. They catch up in a little reunion episode, chatting Tri's retirement, amongst a host of other topics in a wide ranging episode that gets looooose in the best of ways. We answer questions on:

- Tri Bourne's impending retirement

- What's going to happen with the podcast

- The difference between refs on the AVP and FIVB

- The NCAA players with the best chances of becoming world-class professionals<...

This episode of SANDCAST features Gary Green, who might be the most fascinating guest we've ever had on the podcast. He's the Assistant Dean of Academic Affairs at the University of Georgia who has given talks to hundreds of teams and works with Kirby Smart and the Georgia football team. What's that got to do with volleyball? Well, everything, as Green is a master of human behavior, and in particular this young generation of athletes, whose brains are becoming Tik-Tokified.

Enjoy this masterclass from the master professor himself (We know Travis Mewhirter did).

SHOOTS!

This episode of SANDCAST is a Gstaad special! Shot from the Beach Pro Tour Gstaad Elite, Travis Mewhirter and Kyle Friend sit down with Kristen Nuss and Taryn Brasher to chat all things beach volleyball, from their journey to veterans of the sport and number one in the world to the Olympic Games. We cover:

- How they have become veterans on the Beach Pro Tour now

- What they have done to maintain the youthful joy for which they are so known

- Their experience at the Paris Olympic Games, and its...

This episode of SANDCAST is a heartfelt one, one in which Tri Bourne and his wife, Gabby, the Pod Mama herself, chat about Bourne's retirement from the world of professional beach volleyball.

It's a reflective episode, as Bourne and Gabby talk about:

- Bourne's wild journey, filled with the highest of highs, and perpetual health issues that robbed him of a fully healthy season since 2016

- Why he is deciding to retire now, at still a relatively young age in a sport that allows for longevity

- Why he isn't sure...

This episode of SANDCAST: Beach Volleyball with Tri Bourne and Travis Mewhirter features Evan Cory, one of the best players in the United States who alas had his plans aligned, with a full-time partner in Bourne, sites on the AVP League and World Champs -- everything dialed. And then beach volleyball happened. Bourne got hurt. They missed the League. Now Cory is, per usual, scrambling -- and thriving amidst the chaos. Fun episode with one of our favorites. We chat about:

- What is was like for Cory to miss the league with Tri Bourne

...

This episode of SANDCAST: Beach Volleyball with Tri Bourne and Travis Mewhirter, features Kent Steffes.

Buckle up.

Steffes is one of the greatest beach volleyball players of all time, an Olympic gold medalist in 1996 who would win nearly half of the events he played. He has since gone on to become a prolific writer, author, podcaster, and, now, documentarian. He has opinions on the sport, and sports in general, and we get into all of them, including:

This episode of SANDCAST: Beach Volleyball with Tri Bourne and Travis Mewhirter, features Kylie DeBerg, one of the top rising blockers for USA Volleyball who is coming off a gold medal at the Xiamen Challenge with Toni Rodriguez. DeBerg’s journey in the sport is a wild one, beginning in Hudson, a tiny town in Iowa with a population of 2,700, to…beach volleyball. How? They got into it and much more, including:

This episode of SANDCAST features Taylor Crabb and Taylor Sander as they sit down with Tri Bourne, chatting Sander's return from indoor, Crabb's off-season getting into coaching NCAA Beach Volleyball, and them playing together again in 2025. They get into:

This episode of SANDCAST: Beach Volleyball with Tri Bourne and Travis Mewhirter, features Rob Gray, a skill acquisition specialist, professor at Arizona State, sport scientist with the Chicago Cubs, and, simply, the father of the modern coaching movement in sports. His books, podcast, and research have formed the foundation of thousands of coaches’ coaching philosophy, including Mewhirter’s. What a special episode! They chat about:

Welcome back to SANDCAST: Beach Volleyball with Tri Bourne and Travis Mewhirter where, today, Travis sits down with Stefan Boermans at a restaurant in Ostrava, Czech Republic at the Ostrava Elite. Boermans is currently one of the top blockers in the world, and one of the top teams alongside Yorick de Groot, a tour de force for a deepening Netherlands federation. On this episode, they chat about:

This episode of SANDCAST: Beach Volleyball with Tri Bourne and Travis Mewhirter, features Nick Lucena and Brooke Niles and the entire FSU Beach Volleyball coaching staff as they reflect on another successful season for the 'Noles. They chat about:

- How Brooke Niles and Nick Lucena have managed the husband-wife, coach-coach balance at Florida State

- Both of their transitions from elite beach volleyball players to coaches at the NCAA level

- How Brooke Niles has seen the landscape of coaching and college sports change

- What Travis Mewhirter's first year...

This episode of SANDCAST features Alvaro Filho, one of the most recent Brazilian greats who is now an assistant at Stetson, and Cesar Benatti, a longtime coach who was most recently an assistant at LMU with John Mayer. This is SUCH A GOOD EPISODE, as we chat about all things Brazilian beach volleyball, including:

This episode of SANDCAST: Beach Volleyball with Tri Bourne and Travis Mewhirter features Mark Paaluhi, the man behind the improbably successful Hermosa Open – and the man who extended it to a three-year deal, bringing the Hermosa Open back through 2027 at least. Exciting stuff. We chat all about that, as well as:

This episode of SANDCAST features John Mayer and Billy Allen, hosts of the Coach Your Brains Out podcast as well as coaches in NCAA Beach Volleyball. Mayer is the head coach at LMU, leading the Lions to six straight WCC titles and a berth in the National Championship. Allen is an assistant at Stanford, helping the Cardinal to a single season wins record and an MPSF Championship. With the NCAA season over, they chat about:

- How to navigate the art of playing time vs. winning at all costs (hint: nobody knows)

- Billy Allen's...

Welcome back to another solo episode of SANDCAST, where Travis Mewhirter breaks down all the happenings in the world of beach volleyball. This week, Mewhirter chats:

- TCU's historic NCAA Championship win in Gulf Shores, the first in program history and a long time coming

- This week's AVP tournament in Huntington Beach, which will decide the final two spots per gender in the 2025 AVP League

- Volleyball World's proposed rules changes, including, yes, no doubles. Yikes

- April Ross' new role with USA Volleyball, and why it's her dream job<...

Welcome back to SANDCAST U, where Madison Fitzpatrick breaks down all things NCAA Beach Volleyball. This is an AWESOME edition, where Madison is literally on the sand of Gulf Shores, shooting our preview episode of this weekend's NCAA Championships. She chats about:

- Is this finally the time TCU takes home the first non-West Coast title in NCAA history?

- Why she thinks Stanford is the hottest team in the country at just the right time

- Will UCLA alas get back on top after watching rival USC win four straight?

...

Welcome back to another solo episode of SANDCAST, where Travis Mewhirter recaps a wild weekend, and previews a hectic one to come, with the NCAA Championships descending upon Gulf Shores again. Meanwhile, the AVP League had two more tickets punched, and the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour is hereby renamed the Lucky Loser Tour. 

Mewhirter chats about:

- How Kristen Nuss simply wills gold medals into existence sometimes

- James Shaw and Chaim Schalk demolishing folks to clinch their AVP League bid

- The wild run of Lexy Denaburg and Julia S...

Welcome back to SANDCAST U, where Madison Fitzpatrick talks all things NCAA Beach Volleyball. In this episode, she chats about the end of the regular season, which she thinks is the wildest NCAA Beach Volleyball regular season she's ever seen. She chats about the regular season, and previews the upcoming:

- MPSF Conference Tournament, which includes Cal, Stanford, USC, UCLA, and more

- Why Florida State, Texas and LSU are in an absolute brawl in the CCSA, where the 'Noles traditionally reign supreme

- How LMU can -- and is expected to...

This episode of SANDCAST features Silila Tucker, a longtime professional on the AVP Tour who chats with Tri Bourne about the development of yet another new beach volleyball league called the Community Circuit, and it's one you can certainly get behind. Fun development from Lila announced on this one, as well as chats about:

- How the 15-15-15 style of the AVP League matches changes things

- How to develop mental toughness in beach volleyball

- Why Lila is obsessed with golf as a tool for mental toughness training

...

Welcome back to another SOLO EPISODE of SANDCAST, where Travis Mewhirter provides a comprehensive overview of a wild weekend in the world of beach volleyball, breaking down the AVP League qualifier, the Saquarema Elite16, and the Cal Poly Center of Effort Challenge. Namely, he chats:

- The surprise success of Corinne Quiggle and Megan Rice

- The more surprising success of Hagen Smith and Logan Webber

- The puzzling decision of the AVP not to give Kelly Cheng an injury sub for Sara Hughes, so she'll have to qualify via qualifiers

...

This episode of SANDCAST features James Shaw and Molly Shaw, the newest power couple in the world of beach volleyball, who just descended upon the Quintana Roo Elite16 and both came away with semifinal finishes. James and his new partner, Chaim Schalk, walked away with bronze, while Molly and her new partner, Kelly Cheng, took fourth in Molly's first Elite16. With Tri Bourne hosting, they chat about:

- How each partnership came to be

- Why James opted to play one final indoor season in Germany before returning full-time to the beach

...

This episode of SANDCAST U: NCAA Beach Volleyball with Madison Fitzpatrick, breaks down LSU's Death Volley Invitational, which hosted No. 1 UCLA, No. 2 TCU, No. 4 USC, No. 5 Stanford, No. 7 Florida State, No. 10 Long Beach State, and LSU.

Takeaways from the episode:

- TCU achieved a remarkable 3-0 record at the Invitational.

- Haley Hamlett stepped up impressively in TCU's lineup.

- USC faces immense pressure as a top team. - FSU pulled off significant upsets against ranked teams.

- Maggie Boyd and Sally Perez are standout players for UCLA.

This episode of SANDCAST is a solo episode! Travis Mewhirter breaks down everything you need to know (he thinks, but if you're still wondering things, please ask or drop a comment) about the 2025 beach volleyball season, from the AVP to Volleyball World to USA Volleyball. He chats:

- All the new partnerships on the Beach Pro Tour

- WTF the new Elite16 format is

- A look at the AVP's TV deal, and why it's a risk worth taking

- USA Volleyball's new Elo Rating system, and why it's going to...

This is the first mailbag episode of 2025, where Tri Bourne and Travis Mewhirter answer all of the fan questions we had as the boys are finally back together again. They answer the most pressing questions on the beach volleyball world's collective minds, including:

- Who is playing with who on the AVP Tour and Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour?

- How has fatherhood changed both Tri and Travis' outlook on volleyball and life?

- Would you rather win a Manhattan Beach Open or a World Championship or a Gstaad cowbell?

...

In this episode of SANDCAST U, host Madison Fitzpatrick chats all things NCAA Beach Volleyball, focusing mainly on UCLA’s annual East Meets West tournament, which took place last weekend at the Manhattan Beach Pier. UCLA reigned supreme, finishing 4-0, as did LMU, while both Texas and Florida State logged huge wins over Cal.

Fitzpatrick chats all that, and much more!

SHOOTS!

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Get 20 PERCENT off all Wilson products with our code, SANDCASTVB. https://www.wilson.com/en-us/volleyball

Want to...

In this episode of SANDCAST, Dr. Jeremy Townsend from AG1 discusses the unique benefits of their product, emphasizing the importance of gut health and nutrition for athletes. The conversation explores the gut-brain connection, the role of mushrooms in nutrition, and current research on micronutrient gaps among athletes. Townsend also addresses the significance of vitamin D and the risks of over-supplementation, providing insights into daily supplement protocols for athletes.

Tri Bourne and Kyle Friend delve into the evolving understanding of creatine and its benefits. They discuss the significance of research in exercise physiology, the innovative approach of AG1...

Welcome back to SANDCAST U, Madison Fitzpatrick's breakdown of all things NCAA Beach Volleyball. On this episode, she chats about:

- The stunners that Cal's beach volleyball team pulled off -- an upset over USC? Come again?

- UCLA's tour de force early in the 2025 NCAA Beach season, with headliners in Sally Perez and Maggie Boys

- USC going 3-1, with a puzzling loss to Cal, extending the parity in the NCAA, while Zoe Henson and Maddie White are playing exceptional, as is Ashley Pater

- Stanford dropping to USC and...

This episode of SANDCAST: Beach Volleyball with Tri Bourne and Travis Mewhirter, features Audrey Koenig, the 2023 ACC Co-Player of the Year – alongside Louisville’s Anna DeBeer – who is currently headlining the Florida State Beach Volleyball team. Her record, 9-2 in 2025 thus far, suggests an experienced, top-flight talent. Yet she’s only eight months into beach volleyball. What?? Indeed. We chat all about that, as well as:

This episode of SANDCAST: Beach Volleyball with Tri Bourne and Travis Mewhirter, features Toni Rodriguez, who finished the 2024 beach volleyball season on the highest of all high notes: winning the inaugural AVP League alongside MVP Geena Urango, as well as three straight medals of every color on the Beach Pro Tour with Molly Turner. Now, Rodriguez is gearing up for a 2025 season that will look decidedly different: competing with Urango in the League as a blocker while defending behind Kylie Deberg on the Beach Pro Tour. Big moves! Tri and Toni talk about that, as well as:

Welcome back to SANDCAST U, where Madison Fitzpatrick breaks down all things NCAA Beach Volleyball. On this week's episode, Madison goes through the madness in Hawaii, where it was bedlam: USC, UCLA, Stanford, ASU, LMU, Hawaii, and TCU all beating each other up. Nobody came unscathed -- and it was AWESOME!

SHOOTS! 

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WE'VE GOT NEW MERCH! Check it out here!!

Get 20 PERCENT off all Wilson products with our code, SANDCASTVB. https://www.wilson.com/en-us/volleyball

Want to get better at beach volleyball? Use our discount code, SANDCAST, and g...

This episode of SANDCAST: Beach Volleyball with Tri Bourne and Travis Mewhirter, features Trevor Crabb, always one of our most popular guests who is onto a new phase of his career: Partnering with Phil Dalhausser for the 2025 AVP season and partnering with Cody Caldwell for the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour season. We chat about all of that, as well as:

This episode of SANDCAST: Beach Volleyball with Tri Bourne and Travis Mewhirter, features John Mayer and Billy Allen, the longtime hosts of the popular Coach Your Brains Out podcast who, as their success as college coaches shows, know a thing or two about coaching in beach volleyball. Mayer is arguably the best coach in NCAA Beach Volleyball, having taken LMU from the doldrums to the top of the WCC, and nearly to the top of the NCAA. Allen is in his second year as an assistant coach for Stanford. Meanwhile, Mewhirter, serving as a moderator, is in his debut...

Welcome to the debut of SANDCAST U! Our lovely new host, Madison Fitzpatrick, a former star beach volleyball player for Florida State turned next big media star in volleyball, provides a comprehensive preview of the upcoming 2025 NCAA Collegiate Beach Volleyball season. The episode covers key teams, players to watch, and the overall landscape of collegiate beach volleyball, highlighting the strengths and challenges of various programs.

With insights into powerhouse teams like USC and UCLA, as well as dark horses like TCU, the episode sets the stage for an exciting season ahead.

Let us know what...

This episode of SANDCAST: Beach Volleyball with Tri Bourne and Travis Mewhirter, features Troy Field, one of our most popular recurring guests and one of the most popular players in all of beach volleyball. Troy has had one helluva journey, and now that he will be partnering with Theo Brunner, he has played with a who’s who of elite talent in USA Volleyball. Now with Brunner, Field has a tall task ahead of him: qualifying for the AVP League. Troy and Tri Bourne chat about all of that, as well as:

This episode of SANDCAST: Beach Volleyball with Tri Bourne and Travis Mewhirter, features Madison Fitzpatrick, a former beach volleyball player for Florida State and now one of the rising presences in volleyball media, both indoor and on the beach. In this AWESOME conversation, Madison and Travis reflect on their similar journeys from being a competitive player to a coach and sports broadcasters. The similarities in both personality and career arc are a bit eerie, to be honest, which is why we are bringing Madison on as the host of a new show covering NCAA Beach Volleyball: SANDCAST U With...

Emergency pod! Not really an emergency, but the AVP just announced its 2025 AVP Schedule, and there were a few questions and explanations requested by our listeners, so we pumped out a quick podcast from our home studios here in Tallahassee, Florida, namely answering: If there isn't an event prior to the AVP League then how do people qualify for the AVP League? That, and a discussion on player sentiment, fan disappointment, AVP launching some merch, and more. Enjoy and let us know if you have any questions, we'll do our best to answer in the comments!

SHOOTS!<...

This episode of SANDCAST: Beach Volleyball with Tri Bourne and Travis Mewhirter, features Ian Capp, the head coach of the MEN’S BEACH VOLLEYBALL TEAM at Stevenson University in, of all places, northern Maryland. Yes, we put men’s beach volleyball in all caps --  no pun intended – because most people don’t even know men’s beach volleyball exists at the collegiate level. But it does! Sort of. It’s an AVCA sport with a legitimate National Championship, and Capp won Stevenson’s first National Championship this fall, upsetting powerhouse Webber in the finals in Huntsville. We chat all about that...

This episode of SANDCAST: Beach Volleyball with Tri Bourne and Travis Mewhirter, features Melissa Humana-Paredes, who won an Olympic silver medal – Canada’s first on the women’s side – with Brandie Wilkerson in Paris this summer. It has been quite the whirlwind of a fall and winter for Humana-Paredes, who went straight into the inaugural AVP League for the Palm Beach Passion and then competed in the Beach Pro Tour Finals. Having had time to reflect, Humana-Paredes, Bourne and Pod Mama Gabby Bourne chat about:

This episode of SANDCAST: Beach Volleyball with Tri Bourne and Travis Mewhirter, features Marlie Monserez, who is currently in her second year with the upstart indoor volleyball league, the PVF (Professional Volleyball Federation). Monserez was a standout at the University of Florida before transferring to UCLA to play beach volleyball under Stein Metzger. On this episode, we:

Welcome to SANDCAST Greatest Hits! Given that our podcast, hosted by Tri Bourne and Travis Mewhirter, is on its eighth year, and we have accumulated more viewers and listeners every year – 52% of our listeners discovered us in 2024 alone – we wanted to rewind and replay the best of the best from our podcast history. So, throughout 2025, once a month we will be replaying one of our most-listened-to episodes, beginning with our most popular of all-time: Zana Muno.

This episode was recorded in January of 2022, and so much has happened since including, of course, Zana Muno retiring from beach voll...

This episode of SANDCAST: Beach Volleyball with Tri Bourne and Travis Mewhirter is the debut of our FSU Beach Volleyball studios! Fittingly enough, it features one of Florida State's best players in Alexis Durish, a junior who is coming off a NORCECA gold medal and set to continue building on a record of 60-11 in two years in Tallahassee. In this episode, we chat about:

This episode of SANDCAST: Beach Volleyball with Tri Bourne and Travis Mewhirter, is the annual Beach Pro Tour Awards Show. As with the 2023 Awards, all of these are 100 percent player voted, with a month-long nomination process, and then a two-week final voting process. Some of the winners might surprise you, some will not. This episode delivers awards in the following categories:

This episode of SANDCAST: Beach Volleyball with Tri Bourne and Travis Mewhirter (and Savvy Simo in this case) features the host himself, Bourne, with his NEW PARTNER: Evan Cory.

That’s right: Tri Bourne and Evan Cory are partnering up for the 2025 beach volleyball season. They talk about that, of course, as well as:

This episode of SANDCAST: Beach Volleyball with Tri Bourne and Travis Mewhirter, features co-host Kyle Friend and our good friends, Javier Bello and Joaquin Bello, better known, of course, as the Bello Brothers. And they are one of the fastest-rising teams on the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour, beginning in Challenge qualifiers, ending at the Doha Beach Pro Tour Finals, stunning Anders Mol and Christian Sorum, winning a gold medal at the Rio Elite16 – it’s A LOT. We chatted about all of that, as well as:

This episode of SANDCAST: Beach Volleyball with Tri Bourne and Travis Mewhirter, features the McKibbin Bros – with a twist. Maddison McKibbin and the youngest Beard(less) Bro, Jameson McKibbin, makes his podcast debut. Together, the three McKibbin brothers have changed the game in terms of how beach volleyball is covered, creating content that had never been done in the sport, establishing a presence on the AVP Tour. In this episode, the boys chat about:

Welcome back everyone to Beach Access, where Travis Mewhirter, Kyle Friend and the Beach Volleyball World gang recap the Beach Pro Tour Finals in Doha, Qatar. It marked the final event of a long 2024 season, and we covered a bit of everything, including:

This episode of SANDCAST: Beach Volleyball with Tri Bourne and Travis Mewhirter, features Mykel Jenkins, the longtime personal trainer of Bourne – and John Hyden, Sara Hughes, Emily Stockman, and several others – and is a wide-ranging one. Bourne has worked with Jenkins for more than a decade, and together, they discuss:

This episode of SANDCAST: Beach Volleyball with Tri Bourne and Travis Mewhirter, features Kyle Friend, a former professional beach volleyball player who has phased into coaching, commentating and, yes, podcasting on this very show. It has been a fun transition for Friend, and one we talk about extensively, as well as:

And, as always, much, much more.

SHOOTS!

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WE'VE GOT NEW MERCH! Check it out here!!

This episode of SANDCAST: Beach Volleyball with Tri Bourne and Travis Mewhirter, features Mpu Dinani, the most beloved and respected photographer on the AVP Tour and beach volleyball as a whole. Mpu has been the lead photographer since the early Donald Sun days, and we cannot say enough kind words about him. It was so fun having him on, chatting about:

This episode of SANDCAST: Beach Volleyball with Tri Bourne and Travis Mewhirter, features our lovely co-host, Savvy Simo, on one of our most popular somewhat monthly segments: fan questions. We had A LOT of fan questions to get through, which is why we split this into two: one on the AVP League, which just wrapped up, and this one, in which we answer, amongst many, many others:

- With Travis moving to Florida, what’s going to happen to the pod?

- How did Travis decide on the new role as an assistant on the Fl...

This episode of SANDCAST: Beach Volleyball with Tri Bourne and Travis Mewhirter, is our recap of the Rio Elite16, where Travis and Kyle Friend broke down all of the action, including:

This episode of SANDCAST: Beach Volleyball with Tri Bourne and Travis Mewhirter features USC Beach Volleyball head coach Dain Blanton and his most recent star, Maddie White. Coming off a fourth straight NCAA Championship, now heading for an astonishing fifth, USC is, per usual, the team to beat in 2025. On this episode, we chat about:

This episode of SANDCAST: Beach Volleyball with Tri Bourne and Travis Mewhirter, features Switzerland's Anouk Verge-Depre and Joana Mader, a trailblazing team who won a European Championship, Olympic bronze medal, and pioneered an era of Swiss dominance, which now includes Nina Brunner and Tanja Huberli, and Esmee Bobner and Zoe Verge-Depre. This episode was recorded at the Hamburg Elite16, where Anouk and Joana played their last tournament as a team. On this episode, we chat and reflect upon:

This episode of SANDCAST: Beach Volleyball with Tri Bourne and Travis Mewhirter, features Matt Levoe, one of the most respected referees in the game of beach volleyball and also the first ref we’ve had on since John Rodriguez quite some time ago. It was a much-needed episode, as we chatted:

This episode of SANDCAST: Beach Volleyball with Tri Bourne and Travis Mewhirter, is an international Beach Access, where Travis and Kyle Friend traveled to Brazil for the Joao Pessoa Elite16. After a week in Brazil on the Beach Pro Tour, we recapped a tremendous event in Joao Pessoa, chatting:

This episode of SANDCAST: Beach Volleyball with Tri Bourne and Travis Mewhirter, features Leon Luini and Ruben Penninga, two of the rising starts of the Dutch Federation. In this episode, we explore:

- The journey of beach volleyball athletes as they navigate the highs and lows of competition, the dynamics of partnerships, and the emotional challenges they face.

- Leon and Ruben’s experiences from early successes to dealing with setbacks, the importance of maintaining relationships, and the need to redefine their purpose in the sport.

- They emphasize the significance of personal gr...

This episode of SANDCAST: Beach Volleyball with Tri Bourne and Travis Mewhirter, features Troy Field. Long one of the most entertaining players on the AVP Tour, Field is a fan favorite for reasons that we could list for pages and pages and pages. We run the gamut with this one, as you can tell by the length of the podcast, chatting:

- Growing a brand in beach volleyball

- Why Troy still has Olympic aspirations

- His plans growing the Right Siiide with Taylor Crabb

- His thoughts on the AVP...

This episode of SANDCAST: Beach Volleyball with Tri Bourne, Travis Mewhirter, and Savvy Simo, features, well, us – and you! We answered all – or as many as we could – of your questions about the AVP League in this one, including:

And much more.

Thank you for all of...

This episode of SANDCAST: Beach Volleyball with Tri Bourne and Travis Mewhirter, features Geena Urango, one of the OGs on the podcast and a member of the San Diego Smash of the inaugural AVP League. Geena has been one of the most successful defenders of this generation amongst those who play exclusively domestically, a decision we chat about at length on the podcast, as well as:

Welcome to Beach Access, where Travis Mewhirter and sometimes Kyle Friend and sometimes Tri Bourne break down all things domestic beach volleyball. Today, Travis is breaking down week 2 of the AVP League in Miami, discussing:

And that’s about it. Not much to wrap up from week 2 of the AVP Leag...

Welcome back to Beach Access, where Travis Mewhirter and occasionally Kyle Friend break down professional beach volleyball on both the AVP Tour and the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour. This week, Travis, fresh off a week in Tallahassee at Florida State, takes a look at the AVP League and its week one debut, talking:

This episode of SANDCAST: Beach Volleyball with Tri Bourne and Travis Mewhirter, features Marcio Sicoli, the longtime head coach of the Pepperdine beach volleyball team and the man Melissa Humana-Paredes calls “the wizard” leading her and Brandie Wilkerson to an Olympic silver medal at the Paris Olympic Games. On this episode, we chat about:

This episode of SANDCAST: Beach Volleyball with Tri Bourne and Travis Mewhirter, features Trevor Crabb and Theo Brunner, the recent AVP Manhattan Beach Open champions who followed up their epic win with an epic interview with an epic and open and candid podcast. Brunner holds back nothing in this one, as he and Crabb chat about:

The Hermosa Open was AWESOME, one of the purest beach volleyball tournaments we've been to in a long time. All good vibes from the players and fans, streamed on VBTV, fun new teams to watch -- all of it. And, we had some scintillating play, INCLUDING:

- A DOUBLE-FINAL on the women's side between Kelly Cheng and Sara Hughes and Terese Cannon and Megan Kraft

- Finally a domestic win for Chase Budinger and Miles Evans, long-awaited, in a fun final against Miles Partain and Alex Ranghieri

- April Ross' final tournament as...

Welcome back to Beach Access, where Travis Mewhirter and his producers, including a celebrity appearance from Producer Mom, preview this week's Hermosa Beach Open, presented by Wedbush Securities. We chat about:

- How Travis wound up pulling Andy Benesh

- Why Miles Partain is playing with Alex Ranghieri

- Where are Trevor Crabb, Taylor Crabb, and Taylor Sander

- Heather Bansley making her USA debut!

- AVP League questions And, per usual, a whole lot more!

SHOOTS!

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This episode of SANDCAST: Beach Volleyball with Tri Bourne and Travis Mewhirter, features Florida State Beach Volleyball’s entire (and new) coaching staff. Longtime head coach Brooke Niles, her top assistant and husband, Nick Lucena, and the new addition to the crew, Travis Mewhirter, chat all things beach volleyball, including:

Welcome back to Beach Access, where Kyle Friend and Travis Mewhirter break down all things beach volleyball, in this case AVP Chicago, where things got positively wild.

Taylor Crabb in shoes? YUP!

Chase Budinger shoving Trevor Crabb? Oh, yes.

AVP League drama? Got it all.

Miles Partain and Andy Benesh dominating alongside Melissa Humana-Paredes and Brandie Wilkerson? Check and check. Fun one!

SHOOTS!

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Introducing Balltime, the AI...

Welcome back to Beach Access, where Kyle Friend and Travis Mewhirter break down, preview, recap, analyze, and chat all things beach volleyball. After a week in Germany for the Hamburg Elite16, the boys are back stateside and heading to AVP Chicago, the final stop on the AVP calendar, where there are huge AVP League implications. We chat about:

- What every team needs to do to qualify for the AVP League

- Why we believe April Ross and Alix Klineman will get a wild card, making it an even tighter race for the women

This episode of SANDCAST: Beach Volleyball with Tri Bourne and Travis Mewhirter, features Ryan Wilcox, the next talent coming out of Hawaii in a long, long list of them. Bourne sent some shockwaves through the beach volleyball world when he dropped Chaim Schalk and picked up Wilcox, leaving some wondering: Who in the world is Ryan Wilcox? We cover that and then some during this episode in which we chat about:

This is our first-ever LIVE and in-person fan question episode, a feature of our SANDCAST Tour stops, this one being in Missoula, Montana. Because who doesn't put beach volleyball and Montana together? We answer questions about:

- Why did Tri Bourne switch partners, dropping Chaim Schalk for Ryan Wilcox? And for that matter...who is Ryan Wilcox?

- What advice does Travis Mewhirter have for someone who didn't grow up in a beach volleyball state to get better at beach volleyball?

- Travis' hilarious story on why he doesn't drive a stick shift...

Welcome back to Beach Access, where Kyle Friend and Travis Mewhirter break down all things AVP Manhattan Beach Open 2024. On this episode, the boys are chatting about: