Sports
Trevor Crabb and Theo Brunner reign supreme with Manhattan Beach Open crown
A year after his younger brother claimed AVP Manhattan Beach Open glory, it was Trevor Crabb’s turn to hoist another pier plaque.
Crabb and his partner, Theo Brunner won Sunday’s final 21-18, 21-18 against U.S. Olympic pair Andy Benesh and Miles Partain, never losing in six matches as the first seed. Crabb grabbed his fourth Open winin five years and his first with Brunner as his partner.
“They just came back from the Olympics, and obviously we didn’t make it,” Crabb said. “[We] wanted a little redemption, and knew that deep down, we’re still the best team out here on any given day.”
The Crabb brothers met in Sunday morning’s Open semifinal — a rematch of the 2023 final. Taylor Crabb and his partner, Taylor Sander, pushed Trevor Crabb and Brunner to three sets for the first time all weekend.
“He ruined the four-peat,” Trevor Crabb said. “Today, I got the revenge.”
Trevor Crabb celebrates after winning the Manhattan Beach Open on Sunday.
(Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)
For Brunner, named the AVP’s best blocker in 2023, it was his first Manhattan Beach Open victory. He said as a 39-year-old, playing with Crabb gives him his best chance at playing “serious volleyball,” saying his partner gives him the best shot at winning and continuing his career.
When Brunner hoisted the winner’s plaque — to be inscribed with his name at next year’s ceremony — he lifted his daughter Isadora alongside it.
“I feel like she’s never in her life gonna care,” he said about the moment. “In my mind, I’m like, ‘She’s gonna look back and it’s gonna be amazing,’ but I don’t think she cares.”
Isadora, cradled in her father’s arms as he spoke to the media, disagreed.
“My dad was super good and he won the championship,” she said.
Unlike the men’s final, Olympic redemption was on the table later in the afternoon.
Taryn Kloth, right, celebrates with teammate Kristen Nuss after their championship win Sunday.
(Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)
Taryn Kloth and Kristen Nuss failed to medal in Paris for the U.S. alongside Open semifinalists Kelly Cheng and Sara Hughes — the first time the country exited medal-less in both men’s and women’s beach volleyball.
“Talk about a mix of emotions,” Nuss said. “There hasn’t been time to fully think.”
But when it came to the beach Sunday, performance trumped thought.
Down one set, Kloth — using her 6-foot-4 height to her advantage — overpowered Betsi Flint and Julia Scoles with her blocking ability, leading the pair to win 18-21, 21-17, 15-9 in Sunday afternoon’s final.
“Kristen does not let the ball touch the ground, and you can just tell that she has so much hustle in her and so much fight,” Kloth said, praising her partner’s ability to save points after blocks and deflections. “[It] really inspires me, and it makes me want to work even harder.”
Nuss said that while they’re still processing their Olympic defeat, she hopes that they can “float on cloud nine” for the rest of today and into tomorrow.
Taryn Kloth, right, jumps to block a hit by Julia Scoles during the Manhattan Beach Open final on Sunday.
(Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)
She added that the trust she has in Kloth — built from their collegiate years at Louisiana State when the duo went 61-0 — allows them to have “difficult conversations” on the court.
“Having that partnership for so long, I don’t know if other teams have that trust when it comes to those tough conversations,” Nuss said. “This is my sister right here. I’m not saying it’s always sunshine and rainbows. Sisters bicker, but there’s no one else I would want to compete with.”
The winners of the Open secured spots in the inaugural AVP League, which is set to begin when UCLA hosts the competition in September.
But for now, the champions are basking in the glow of their newfound hardware.
“After coming back from Paris with nothing, I think to be able to come back and now walk away with this, it definitely means … it means a little more,” Nuss said.
Sports
Ravens likely without MVP quarterback Lamar Jackson with season on the line vs Packers
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
The Baltimore Ravens are in must-win mode for the remainder of the season if they wish to make the playoffs, but it’s likely their star quarterback won’t be able to help them achieve that goal.
Lamar Jackson was listed as doubtful on the Ravens’ injury report for their game against the Green Bay Packers this Saturday after suffering a back injury that knocked him out of the contest against the New England Patriots in Week 16.
Jackson hasn’t practiced all week for Baltimore, and it couldn’t be worse timing considering the playoff implications the team faces in the final two weeks.
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) rolls out of the pocket in the second half of an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns in Cleveland, Sunday, Nov. 16, 2025. (AP Photo/David Richard)
The Ravens, 7-8 on the year, cannot lose their last two games, or they will miss the playoffs. They have made it in each of the last three seasons as well as six of the past seven.
But it appears head coach John Harbaugh and the rest of the organization will have to lean on Tyler “Snoop” Huntley once more, as Jackson’s backup is likely to be thrust into this critical situation as the team’s starting quarterback.
CHARLES BARKLEY BLASTS NFL FOR CHRISTMAS DAY GAMES
Huntley took over for Jackson when he was injured in the second quarter last Sunday in the 28-24 loss, when the Patriots stormed back in the fourth quarter to clinch their own playoff berth.
Huntley was 9-of-10 passing, but only for 65 yards as he failed to keep drives going with what some fans believed was questionable play-calling, considering running back Derrick Henry was rarely used in the quarter despite his second touchdown early on putting the Ravens up by 11. Henry finished the game with 128 yards on 18 carries.
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) warms up before an AFC wild card game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at M&T Bank Stadium. (Mitch Stringer/Imagn Images)
Huntley spoke to reporters earlier this week, where he understood the stakes.
“A lot of our games have been must-win, and every week we must win, so we have to focus on going 1-0 this week,” Huntley said, via ESPN. “If we’re doing everything that we need to do, we’ll get that.”
Henry also believes in Huntley.
“He goes out like he’s the starter,” the star back said. “He practices that way, and he prepares that way. So yes, if Snoop is going to go out there, he’s going to roll and do what he has to do.”
Bundle FOX One and FOX Nation to stream the entire FOX Nation library, plus live FOX News, Sports, and Entertainment at our lowest price of the year. The offer ends on Jan. 4, 2026. (Fox One; Fox Nation)
Huntley, who has 15 career starts under his NFL belt, one coming earlier this season for Baltimore, has gone 6-9 in games where he needs to start for either the Ravens or Miami Dolphins, whom he played for in 2024. He is 1-0 this season in a spot start for Jackson, which came against the Chicago Bears on the road.
It will be another road start for Huntley, but in a very hostile Lambeau Field environment on Saturday night. The Packers are also looking to secure a playoff spot at 9-5-1 on the year.
Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
Sports
‘We don’t have it right now.’ Takeaways from the Lakers’ third straight loss
Lakers coach JJ Redick points and direct his team during the fourth quarter of a loss to the Rockets on Thursday at Crypto.com Arena.
(Katelyn Mulcahy / Getty Images)
When the Lakers were climbing up the Western Conference standings, improbably winning games with LeBron James and Luka Doncic injured and celebrating Austin Reaves’ 51-point performance and ascent into stardom, the vibes were high. Players jumped off the bench to cheer for each other. They championed team bonding exercises such as slideshow presentations that introduced themselves to each other and a field trip to a Porsche driving experience. It all felt surprisingly easy, especially for a team that had several new additions.
“We had it,” Redick said wistfully Thursday. “We had it. I always say this about culture, I always say this about a good team being a functioning organism.”
Redick snapped his fingers.
“It can change like that,” he continued. “We don’t have it right now.”
All three of the Lakers’ most recent losses have been blowouts. With an average margin of defeat of 20.7 points, their total point differential has dropped to minus-15 on the season, which ranks 16th in the NBA.
Forward Jake LaRavia said in the locker room that there felt like a “disconnect” on the team, but couldn’t verbalize more about how things had turned so suddenly. The team’s seven-game winning streak at the end of November feels like a distant memory, although it should serve as a constant reminder of how a team shouldn’t let its guard down, especially when it was just collecting wins off teams with losing records.
“This [has] kind of been the trending thing even when we were winning,” forward Jarred Vanderbilt said. “Obviously wins kinda shadow a lot of stuff. But it’s been the same pretty much all year of how we finished games, lose games: transition defense, rebounding and stuff like that. It’s been a trend all year.”
LeBron James, who played in his 13th game this season after missing the first 14 games because of sciatica, had 18 points and five assists and declined to speak with reporters after the game, along with Marcus Smart (six points, two rebounds) and Rui Hachimura (zero points, two assists).
To further exasperate the lingering injury bug, Reaves left the game after the first half because of left calf soreness. It was the same calf that sidelined him for three games last week.
Sports
Taylor Swift shows up to support Travis Kelce for possible final home game
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
Taylor Swift showed up to Arrowhead Stadium Thursday night to watch fiancé Travis Kelce in what could be his final home game with the Kansas City Chiefs.
Swift, wearing a red leather jacket, was shown on the Amazon Prime Video broadcast hugging a friend.
The pop star has mostly been out of the NFL spotlight after the Chiefs lost the Super Bowl to the Philadelphia Eagles in February and the two announced their engagement.
Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift kiss after the AFC championship game against the Buffalo Bills in Kansas City, Mo., Jan. 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis, File)
But it was a special night for Kelce as he mulls his NFL future.
Amazon Prime Video aired an interview between him and Chiefs legend Tony Gonzalez before the game began.
“I think I’m still searching for those answers. I think, obviously, the way this one ended with a sour taste in my mouth, I feel motivated, but I got to make the right decision for me,” he told Gonzalez. “I’ve got to hope that, you know, if I do want to come back, the Chiefs are willing to bring me back.
2025 NFL WEEK 17 BUZZ: PACKERS’ JOSH JACOBS CLEARED; RAVENS QB JACKSON DOUBTFUL
Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce is introduced before a game against the Denver Broncos Thursday, Dec. 25, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)
“So it’s a two-way street on that, but, at the same time, man, I am, at this point in this year, I’m just trying to finish out and give Chiefs Kingdom everything I got and go out there and do it with some of that flair that you said I play with.”
Chiefs head coach Andy Reid was asked what it meant that it could be Kelce’s last game at home.
“I don’t know if it is or not. I haven’t talked to him,” Reid said. “I think his numbers and personality and the person, I think, speak for themselves. Phenomenal person (and) great for the community. He’s everything you want from a player representing an organization.”
Bundle FOX One and FOX Nation to stream the entire FOX Nation library, plus live FOX News, Sports and Entertainment at our lowest price of the year. The offer ends on Jan. 4, 2026. (Fox One; Fox Nation)
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
The Chiefs were taking on the Denver Broncos in the Week 17 matchup. Kansas City has already been eliminated from playoff contention.
Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
-
Maine1 week agoElementary-aged student killed in school bus crash in southern Maine
-
Massachusetts1 week agoMIT professor Nuno F.G. Loureiro, a 47-year-old physicist and fusion scientist, shot and killed in his home in Brookline, Mass. | Fortune
-
New Mexico1 week agoFamily clarifies why they believe missing New Mexico man is dead
-
Culture1 week agoTry This Quiz and See How Much You Know About Jane Austen
-
World7 days agoPutin says Russia won’t launch new attacks on other countries ‘if you treat us with respect’
-
Entertainment2 days agoPat Finn, comedy actor known for roles in ‘The Middle’ and ‘Seinfeld,’ dies at 60
-
Minneapolis, MN1 week agoMinneapolis man is third convicted in Coon Rapids triple murder
-
Maine1 week agoFamily in Maine host food pantry for deer | Hand Off