In a remarkable display of skill and determination, top-seeded Taryn Kloth and Kristen Nuss have emerged victorious at the AVP Gold Series Atlanta Open. The dynamic duo swept through the competition, including a commanding final match against third-seeded Canadians Melissa Humana-Paredes and Brandie Wilkerson, with a decisive score of 21-16, 21-16.
This triumph marks a significant milestone for Kloth and Nuss, as they reclaimed the women’s title in the same city where they made history just two years ago. Back in August 2021, they burst onto the professional beach volleyball scene by winning their first AVP tournament after battling through the qualifier.
Their journey to the championship this year began with an early morning semifinal sweep over fourth-seeded Terese Cannon and Sarah Sponcil, a 2020 U.S. Olympian. The duo showcased their prowess on the court, with Kloth ranking third in hitting percentage (.495) and Nuss leading the field in digs (83) despite playing three fewer sets than their competitors.
Kloth and Nuss now join the prestigious ranks of Misty May-Treanor/Kerri Walsh Jennings as the only women’s tandems to have secured multiple victories in Atlanta. Furthermore, their career team AVP wins have surpassed Kelly Cheng and Sara Hughes, cementing their position as the leaders in the Atlanta women’s pool with five wins.
Although this was their first AVP title this season, Kloth and Nuss have demonstrated their ability to excel under pressure, being the only active team to have clinched multiple Gold Series titles in recent years (Atlanta 2021, Chicago 2022, Atlanta 2023).
Their outstanding performance on Stadium Court on Championship Sunday solidified their place in the top four of women’s Olympic rankings for Paris 2024. Kloth expressed her appreciation for Atlanta, stating that the city has become even more special to them over the years, and they have received tremendous support from the Falcons and the Braves during their stay.
In the men’s bracket, top-seeded Andy Benesh and Miles Partain secured the men’s title with an impressive 21-13, 21-13 victory over fifth-seeded Chase Budinger and Miles Evans, after facing multiple weather delays during the match. With this win, they achieved their first Championship of the 2023 season.
Benesh and Partain have proved themselves as the top-ranked U.S. men’s team in the Olympic rankings, dominating the men’s pool without dropping a single set all weekend. They showcased their prowess on Sunday by defeating second-seeded Theo Brunner and Trevor Crabb in the semifinals with a score of 21-14, 22-20.
The AVP Gold Series Atlanta Open featured intense competition with 16-team women’s and men’s fields vying for victory in a double-elimination bracket across three courts from Friday through Sunday. The tournament was part of the 2023 AVP Tour schedule, which includes 12 tournaments across the country, offering over $1.5 million in prize money.
With their remarkable performance, Taryn Kloth and Kristen Nuss have solidified their position as formidable forces in beach volleyball and have once again demonstrated their potential to excel on the world stage. Beach volleyball enthusiasts can undoubtedly look forward to witnessing more exhilarating matches from these exceptional athletes in the future.
