The Laguna Open, the world’s oldest beach volleyball tournament, returns to Laguna’s Main Beach Friday through Sunday, featuring one of its strongest fields in years.
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The event is under the AVP organization this year, designated as a heritage tournament and drawing top pairs, including top-seeded men Taylor Crabb and Andy Benesh, and top-seeded women Kelly Cheng and Megan Kraft.
First held in 1955, the tournament begins with Friday’s qualifier at 32 teams per gender. Four men’s pairs and four women’s pairs will advance into Saturday’s 16-team main draw which starts at 8 a.m. Sunday’s competition will include remaining elimination matches, semi-final and final matches.
Admission is free to the public at 175 N Coast Highway, Laguna Beach, CA.
Kirk Morgan, former tournament director for over 15 years, played a vital role in growing the prize money from $400 to its current $150,000.
“It’s a $400 whistle and a clipboard piece of crap little tournament that had deteriorated,” Morgan said of when he took over running the event. “ … And each year, I brought it back. I went out and begged for sponsors and got sponsors.”
He added that if they had to stand on their own without the pro league, they could, “because we have our own money and our own sponsors,” Morgan said. “The players know the tournament, and it’s an icon.”
Full slate of star talent returns to Laguna Open
There’s even more excitement on the sand this year.
“There’s going to be the highest level of players on both the men’s and women’s sides,” Morgan said. “It’s going to be the best showing of talent since the 1990s and ‘80s, for sure.”
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In the men’s draw, Taylor Crabb and Benesh are the favorites after winning the Manhattan Beach title last month. They start competition on Court 1 Saturday at 8 a.m. against a Friday qualifier.
At No. 2 is the long duo Chase Budinger and Trevor Crabb, brother of Taylor. Trevor, a back-to-back AVP League champion, hit .750 in the Chicago final. They will play their first match in Laguna on Saturday at 10 a.m. on Court 3 against a Friday qualifier.
The rest of the draw is loaded with former Laguna champions. Logan Webber, who won it in 2025 and 2021, is partnered with Hagen Smith at No. 9. Cody Caldwell, a 2023 champion, and Chaim Schalk enter at No. 7.
Seain Cook, who won it with Caldwell, enters with William Rottman at No. 11.
On the women’s side, Cheng and Kraft enter Laguna as favorites. They reached the Manhattan Beach Open final and AVP League’s Chicago semifinals. The duo will play their first match Saturday at 8 a.m. on Court 2 against a Friday qualifer team.
At No. 3 is one of the toughest pairs, from Brazil. Victoria Lopes and Thâmela Coradello, ranked third in the world, are fresh off winning at Huntington Beach. Their first match starts Saturday at 9 a.m. against a Friday qualifier opponent.
Savannah Cory and Devon Newberry enter at No. 2. This will be their third AVP event as a duo since their early exit at Manhattan Beach. They begin Saturday at 10 a.m.
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Visit Avp.com for the full bracket and times.