SANDCAST: Beach Volleyball with Tri Bourne and Travis Mewhirter

Tina Graudina, Latvian trailblazer, is out to inspire

This episode of SANDCAST: Beach volleyball with Tri Bourne and Travis Mewhirter, features Tina Graudina, a junior at USC and the best Latvian woman to ever play beach volleyball. 

In 2019, Graudina and her partner, Anastasija Kravcenoka, in winning the Olympic qualification tournament in Haiyang, China, became the first Latvian women's team to qualify for an Olympic Games. All the while, she's compiled a 64-4 record at USC, twice been named an All-American and once the Player of the Year. She's a brilliant talent on the court and absolutely delightful off of it. 

On the episode, we discuss:

- The Olympic Qualification Tournament, its funky format, and how it served well for Graudina and Kravcenoka -- all they needed was a chance

- Beach volleyball in Latvia, and how Aleksandrs Samoilovs, Janis Smedins, and Martins Plavins are considered "the holy trio."

- Graudina's decision to initially play for USC, and how it wasn't as easy as many may think

- Her new role of being one of the biggest role models in Latvian beach volleyball

This episode, as always, is brought to you by Wilson Volleyball, makers of the absolute best balls in the game, hands down. You can get a 20-percent discount using our code, SANDCAST-20!

This episode is also brought to you by CROSSNET, a fun new beach volleyball game, where beach volleyball meets four-square. It's an absolute blast, and is actually a great training tool as well. Use our discount code, SANDCAST, for 20 percent off!

SHOOTS!

Ed Keller, beach volleyball's walking, talking, encyclopedic superfan

This episode of SANDCAST: Beach volleyball with Tri Bourne and Travis Mewhirter, features Ed Keller, one of the most passionate human beings in the world when it comes to the sport of beach volleyball. He's a walking BVBinfo, the guy who can tell Phil Dalhausser more about Phil Dalhausser's career than Phil Dalhausser.

He's a staple at 16th street, the new central training center for the top AVP professionals, and a longtime friend of Sean Rosenthal, among many of the other big-time AVP leaders -- Casey Patterson, Chase Budinger, Jake Gibb. He arguably knows more about the game, and its history, than anyone we've had on the show, and this podcast was absolute gold. We chat about everything from the 1996 Olympic Games to stories of Sean Rosenthal's youth, to the current Olympic race and Ed Keller's statistical breakdown of what every team needs to do to get in.

If you're a fan of beach volleyball, you will LOVE this podcast. We certainly did.

SHOOTS!

BEACH VOLLEYBALL IS BACK: Answering fan questions heading into the 2021 season

This episode of SANDCAST: Beach volleyball with Tri Bourne and Travis Mewhirter, is an exciting one, as beach volleyball is officially back on the schedule again, both on the World Tour -- hello, Doha! -- and in the college ranks. 

Bourne and Mewhirter, alongside our favorite UCLA Bruin, Savvy Simo, answered fan questions heading into the 2021 season, which we hope will feature a full schedule, with plenty of volleyball to play, discuss, and write about. 

Below are a few of the fan questions we answered:

- Is Chase Budinger is back with Casey Patterson. Where's Chaim Schalk?

- What is the most anticipated match of the college season?

- If no Olympics happen, will this be the greatest AVP season since its newest revival? 

- Who do you predict will team up after the 2021 Olympic cycle? 

Those, and much, much more. 

This episode, as always, is brought to you by our good friends at Wilson Volleyball, who make the absolute best beach volleyballs in the game, hands down. 

Use our discount code, Sandcast-20, to get 20 PERCENT OFF the best balls in the game. 

Thanks as always for listening to SANDCAST!

SHOOTS!

 

Andy Benesh is turning the corner

This episode of SANDCAST: Beach volleyball with Tri Bourne and Travis Mewhirter, features Andy Benesh, new partner of Billy Allen. On this episode, we discuss:

- Andy getting the call from Billy, and the difficult decision he had to make in leaving Eric Beranek (who has since partnered with Troy Field)

- What his vision for his future in beach volleyball looks like, and what he wants it to look like

- An overseas career in Switzerland that was cut short

- Quitting his job as a Certified Financial Planner to become..a beach volleyball player

That, and so much more. This episode, as always, is brought to you by our good friends at Wilson Volleyball, who make the best balls in the game, hands down. To get 20 PERCENT OFF your next Wilson purchase, use our discount code, SANDCAST-20! 

SHOOTS!

Greg Delgado: The man who saved beach volleyball in 2020

This episode of SANDCAST: Beach volleyball with Tri Bourne and Travis Mewhirter, features one of the greatest unsung heroes in the sport of beach volleyball: Greg Delgado. 

Delgado is, simply, the man who saved beach volleyball in 2020. 

He and Mark Paaluhi, co-founder of Sand Court Experts, made an arrangement with the city of Hermosa Beach so that the players could legally play beach volleyball and train for the AVP Champions Cup. 

Born was one of the coolest communities on the AVP: The 16th street training center. 

On this episode, we discuss:

- What this summer was like, to see every single top professional training, every morning, at 16th Street

- How Delgado was able to persuade the city of Hermosa Beach to allow the professionals to train without risking a ticket (it was illegal to play beach volleyball at the time)

- A hilarious story of Taylor Crabb throwing a massive party at Delgado's house in 2017, without Delgado knowing about it

If you haven't met Delgado, I cannot recommend it highly enough that you introduce yourself, and express gratitude for what he was able to do for the AVP players this summer. He created a community at a time when community was most needed. 

Thanks, as always, for listening to SANDCAST, which recently topped the charts for the most listened-to volleyball podcast in six countries! Your support means the world, and we hope you had the MERRIEST OF CHRISTMASES and happiest of New Years! So long, 2020!

If you're looking for last-minute Christmas ideas, we know the perfect gifts for the beach volleyball fans in your family. Check out Wilson volleyball, and use our discount code, Sandcast-20, to get 20 PERCENT OFF! 

And, if you're looking for a legit backpack, our guys at Kamena Outdoor make the absolute best backpacks on the beach, with more than 17 years of tweaking and modifying to make it the perfect, long-lasting backpack you need. Use our discount code DIGME to get another 20 PERCENT OFF!

Thanks, as always, to you, the listeners. Y'all are the real MVPs. 

SHOOTS!

 

Nina Matthies: Beach volleyball's ultimate champion and ambassador

This episode of SANDCAST: Beach volleyball with Tri Bourne and Travis Mewhirter, features Nina Matthies, a legendary player and coach and one of the all-time great people in the sport of beach volleyball. 

As a player, Matthies won a record SEVEN Manhattan Beach Opens, but her legacy is so much more than that of a player. She was instrumental in forming the WPVA, bringing the women's game to get the same respect as the men. She built the Pepperdine indoor program into a bona fide power, and she helped beach volleyball become established as an NCAA sport. 

She is an incredible human being, and her fingerprints are all over the sport of beach volleyball. 

In this episode, we discuss:

- Nina Matthies' childhood in Manhattan Beach, and how beach volleyball was really the only option she had to play a sport as a kid

- How she helped form the WPVA, and how Leonard Armato actually approached her before the men to form the AVP

- A wild trip to Brazil for the inaugural professional beach volleyball event there in 1986

- How she balanced coaching at Pepperdine, being a mom, while also being the best female player in the world

- The indelible formation of beach volleyball as an NCAA sport

Thanks, as always, for listening to SANDCAST, which recently topped the charts for the most listened-to volleyball podcast in six countries! Your support means the world, and we hope you had the MERRIEST OF CHRISTMASES and happiest of New Years! So long, 2020!

If you're looking for last-minute Christmas ideas, we know the perfect gifts for the beach volleyball fans in your family. Check out Wilson volleyball, and use our discount code, Sandcast-20, to get 20 PERCENT OFF! 

And, if you're looking for a legit backpack, our guys at Kamena Outdoor make the absolute best backpacks on the beach, with more than 17 years of tweaking and modifying to make it the perfect, long-lasting backpack you need. Use our discount code DIGME to get another 20 PERCENT OFF!

Thanks, as always, to you, the listeners. Y'all are the real MVPs. 

SHOOTS!

 

Answering the final fan questions in The Year Without Volleyball

This episode of SANDCAST: Beach volleyball with Tri Bourne and Travis Mewhirter is fueled by you, the listeners, as Bourne and Mewhirter, with UCLA star defender Savvy Simo, answer your fan questions. 

If you want your questions answered, or just want to chat, send us an email: sandcastpodcast@gmail.com. 

On this episode, we discuss:

- What can fans do to support the game, players, and help increase prize money?

- If Tri wanted to teach blocking, where would he start and how would he progress?

- How do you get over a bad offensive stretch/feeling like you can't get around a blocker?

- Can you make a list of eligible women's blockers for the 2021 season? Asking for a friend

Those, and many more. 

Thanks, as always, for listening to SANDCAST, which recently topped the charts for the most listened-to volleyball podcast in six countries! Your support means the world, and we hope you have the MERRIEST OF CHRISTMASES and HAPPIEST OF NEW YEARS!

If you're looking for last-minute Christmas ideas, we know the perfect gifts for the beach volleyball fans in your family. Check out Wilson volleyball, and use our discount code, Sandcast-20, to get 20 PERCENT OFF! 

And, if you're looking for a legit backpack, our guys at Kamena Outdoor make the absolute best backpacks on the beach, with more than 17 years of tweaking and modifying to make it the perfect, long-lasting backpack you need. Use our discount code DIGME to get another 20 PERCENT OFF!

Thanks, as always, to you, the listeners. Y'all are the real MVPs. 

SHOOTS!

Billy Allen: The prolific, deadpanning, self-deprecating AVP champion and author

This episode of SANDCAST: Beach volleyball with Tri Bourne and Travis Mewhirter, features Billy Allen, one of our favorites on the show who recently published his third book, Dark Blood, which you can find on Amazon and anywhere books are sold. 

In our conversation with Billy Allen, we discuss:

- His recent move Idaho, the new beach volleyball hotbed (we kid)

- His book, Dark Blood, and the year and a half that went into writing it

- His plans for beach volleyball, and how he will still be pursuing a full-time international and domestic career on the FIVB and AVP tours

- New Coach Your Brains Out projects with his longtime partner and fellow good guy, John Mayer

- Much more

Thanks, as always, for listening to SANDCAST, which recently topped the charts for the most listened-to volleyball podcast in six countries! Your support means the world, and we hope you have the MERRIEST OF CHRISTMASES! 

If you're looking for last-minute Christmas ideas, we know the perfect gifts for the beach volleyball fans in your family. Check out Wilson volleyball, and use our discount code, Sandcast-20, to get 20 PERCENT OFF! 

And, if you're looking for a legit backpack, our guys at Kamena Outdoor make the absolute best backpacks on the beach, with more than 17 years of tweaking and modifying to make it the perfect, long-lasting backpack you need. Use our discount code DIGME to get another 20 PERCENT OFF!

Thanks, as always, to you, the listeners. Y'all are the real MVPs. 

SHOOTS!

Learning doesn't stop, with Pri Lima

This episode of SANDCAST: Beach volleyball with Tri Bourne and Travis Mewhirter, features longtime beach volleyball professional, and seven-time NVL champion Pri Lima. 

Lima is one of the ultimate good people in the sport of beach volleyball, a topic we'll get into a lot on the show. Along with her career, which spanned from Brazil to Louisiana to Florida and California, we discuss:

- Her current role in the sport as a coach and mentor, expanding her club, Optimum Beach, to franchises in New York, Tennessee, and several locations in Florida. 

- What it was like in her prime on the AVP Tour, at the peak of Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh Jennings' powers, and how most players "were playing for fifth."

- How the Brazilian Tour operates, and her experience on it, competing -- and beating -- with players like Maria Antonelli, Carolina Salgado, Taiana Lima. 

- How the good people of Lafayette, Louisana made her professional career possible

- The value of being a lifelong learner

This episode is, as always, brought to you by Wilson Volleyball. They make the best beach volleyballs in the game, hands down, and we’d love it if you could support them. Head over to Wison and use our discount code, Sandcast-20, to receive 20 percent off all purchases! Yes, we do get a kickback, but we see it as a win-win – you get a discount on the best balls in the game, we get a little extra love!

This episode is also brought to you by Kamena Outdoor! Dave Kamena is a longtime beach volleyball enthusiast and has perfected his outdoor backpack over the previous 17 YEARS! It makes a great Christmas present, or just a great present for yourself. Head over to Kamena Outdoor to get your backpack today!

We would also love it if you could check out our new YouTube channel! Bourne and Mewhirter are expanding the podcast, adding extra episodes and features on YouTube, so check us out and make sure to subscribe to get the latest updates!

If you haven’t seen it yet, our book, Volleyball For Milkshakes, is for sale on Amazon! If you are a fan of the show, you’ll be a fan of this book, as it adds lessons and stories from our guests in a fictional tale based around the Outrigger Canoe Club, where Bourne learned how to play the game!

Thank y’all so much for supporting the show. We couldn’t do it without you.

SHOOTS!

 

Karch Kiraly, and the hunger to pursue mastery

This episode of SANDCAST: Beach volleyball with Tri Bourne and Travis Mewhirter, features the GOAT, Karch Kiraly. Currently the coach of the U.S. Women's National Team, Kiraly has won three gold medals and could very well win another as a coach in the upcoming Tokyo Olympics. 

This podcast is absolute GOLD -- pun fully intended. We cover the full range of topics, including:

- Kiraly's upbringing, and how competing against grown men at 11 years old galvanized his pursuit of finding answers to win, and quickly

- His difficult decision to give up beach to compete on the United States National Team, which resulted in his first gold medal at the 1984 Olympics

- His wildly successful partnership with Kent Steffes

- How he has been able to adapt at every evolution the game, indoor or beach, and remain at the top

- SO MUCH MORE

If there's one episode y'all should listen to, it should be no surprise that this is the one. Share it out, tell your friends and fellow volleyball fans. 

This episode is, as always, brought to you by Wilson Volleyball. They make the best beach volleyballs in the game, hands down, and we’d love it if you could support them. Head over to Wison and use our discount code, Sandcast-20, to receive 20 percent off all purchases! Yes, we do get a kickback, but we see it as a win-win – you get a discount on the best balls in the game, we get a little extra love!

This episode is also brought to you by Kamena Outdoor! Dave Kamena is a longtime beach volleyball enthusiast and has perfected his outdoor backpack over the previous 17 YEARS! It makes a great Christmas present, or just a great present for yourself. Head over to Kamena Outdoor to get your backpack today!

We would also love it if you could check out our new YouTube channel! Bourne and Mewhirter are expanding the podcast, adding extra episodes and features on YouTube, so check us out and make sure to subscribe to get the latest updates!

If you haven’t seen it yet, our book, Volleyball For Milkshakes, is for sale on Amazon! If you are a fan of the show, you’ll be a fan of this book, as it adds lessons and stories from our guests in a fictional tale based around the Outrigger Canoe Club, where Bourne learned how to play the game!

Thank y’all so much for supporting the show. We couldn’t do it without you.

SHOOTS!