Basey and Hurst Advanced at AVP Santa Barbara Open
Defending champions survived a tight three-set match to move into the quarterfinals at East Beach.
Updated on Oct. 4, 2026 in Volleyball
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Defending champions Gage Basey and Thomas Hurst secured a spot in the AVP Santa Barbara Open quarterfinals after a grueling victory on Saturday. Meanwhile, the top-seeded women's team of Torrey Van Winden and Abby Van Winkle was eliminated in the second round.
Why it matters
The tournament results at East Beach highlight the competitive volatility of the professional beach volleyball circuit. Maintaining momentum through early rounds remains a critical challenge for top-seeded teams facing aggressive challengers.
Basey and Hurst triumphed in a third set that ended 24-22, while Durish and Koenig advanced after a victory against the top seeds. The tournament features a total prize pool of $60,000 for participants at East Beach.
The players
Gage Basey
He is a professional beach volleyball player and the defending champion of the AVP Santa Barbara Open.
Thomas Hurst
He is a professional beach volleyball player competing alongside his defending champion partner Gage Basey.
Torrey Van Winden
She is a top-seeded professional beach volleyball player who competed in the Santa Barbara Open.
Abby Van Winkle
She is a professional beach volleyball player who partnered with the top-seeded team in this tournament.
Avery Drost
He is a 40-year-old veteran beach volleyball player who advanced to the quarterfinals.
The details
Basey and Hurst earned their quarterfinal spot by fighting off five match points against Riley Owen and Quin Zilch, ultimately securing the win on a kill following a short serve. In the women's bracket, Alexis Durish and Audrey Koenig utilized consistent service pressure to defeat the top-seeded duo of Van Winden and Van Winkle.
Timeline
Saturday: Second round matches occurred.
Sunday 9 a.m.: Quarterfinals begin.
Sunday noon: Women's and men's semifinals.
Sunday 1:30 p.m.: Women's championship match.
Sunday 3 p.m.: Men's championship match.
Season Trajectory
The AVP Santa Barbara Open serves as a pivotal stage for teams looking to secure rankings and prize money ahead of the tour championship. Advancing through the quarterfinals significantly impacts a team's standing and seeding for upcoming professional events.
Spectators at East Beach can anticipate Sunday's quarterfinal play starting at 9 a.m. The men's championship match concludes the event at 3 p.m. following the day's progression through the bracket.
The takeaway
The intensity of the Saturday matches demonstrates that even defending champions must overcome significant point deficits to stay in contention. Fans tracking the event should monitor Sunday morning results to see which teams emerge from the quarterfinals.
Further reading
For more updates on professional competition, check out the Volleyball section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Noozhawk.
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