SANDCAST: Beach Volleyball with Tri Bourne and Travis Mewhirter

Latest Episodes:

Miles Partain And The Rekindling of a Volleyball Fire Jul 15, 2026

Show notes

This episode of SANDCAST: Beach Volleyball with Tri Bourne and Travis Mewhirter, features Miles Partain, who has rekindled his passion for the game of beach volleyball. We're sitting down in Gstaad, chatting:

How Miles has rediscovered his love of volleyball again
His partnership with James Shaw
How a baseball pitching coach has changed his offensive game in beach volleyball
When he is going to solidify his partnership decision for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games

And a whole lot more.

SHOOTS!

We have a NEW BOOK! Pre-order your copy of Volleyball for Dummies today at Barnes and Noble!

Get 25 PERCENT off and FREE SHIPPING on all Mikasa products with our code, SANDCAST and play with the ball. played with the best in the game. Head to Mikasa's website and get your bag of balls today!

Get 10 PERCENT OFF VBTV using our discount code, SANDCAST10

Want to get better at beach volleyball? Use our discount code, SANDCAST, and get 10 percent off all Better at Beach products!

Want SANDCAST merch? We got you covered. Check it out here!

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Savvy Cory Believes She Belongs, And That Has Made All The Difference Jul 08, 2026

Show notes

This episode of SANDCAST: Beach Volleyball with Tri Bourne and Travis Mewhirter -- and Kyle Friend, in this case -- features Savvy Cory, who is currently having the best year of her career alongside her former UCLA teammate Devon Newberry.

Chapters with Savvy Cory, Kyle Friend, and Tri Bourne
00:00 Reconnecting and Reflecting on Recent Travels
02:54 The Challenges of Competitive Volleyball
06:02 Understanding the Point System and Its Impact
09:06 Building Confidence and Consistency in Performance
12:02 Mental Toughness and the Importance of Belief
15:13 Skill Development and Coaching Dynamics
18:03 The Role of Team Support and Financial Considerations
27:31 Investing in Coaching and Resources
30:10 Financial Struggles and Support Systems
31:39 Understanding the Elo System
34:38 Monthly Funding and Travel Stipends
39:16 Mental Challenges and Balancing Life
45:35 Performance Metrics and Transition Rates
48:43 Foundational Work in Volleyball
49:11 Transition Setting as a Key Weapon
51:02 The Importance of Aggressive Setting
52:43 Handling Long Rallies and Frustrations
56:15 Excitement for Upcoming Competitions
57:51 The Social Aspect of Volleyball
01:00:40 Building Relationships in the Volleyball Community
01:03:32 Future Plans and Competitions

SHOOTS!

We have a NEW BOOK! Pre-order your copy of Volleyball for Dummies today at Barnes and Noble!

Get 10 PERCENT OFF VBTV using our discount code, SANDCAST10

Want to get better at beach volleyball? Use our discount code, SANDCAST, and get 10 percent off all Better at Beach products!

Want SANDCAST merch? We got you covered. Check it out here!

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

TKN's Historic THREE-PEAT; Brouwer's Magic; Cheng-Kraft's Demon-Slaying Weekend | Gstaad Recap Jul 05, 2026

Show notes

We have our final recap from the Gstaad Elite, where Travis Mewhirter and Kyle Friend sit down to chat:

Kristen Cruz and Taryn Brasher completed their three-peat of Gstaad gold medals
Kelly Cheng and Megan Kraft slaying almost every demon en route to a silver medal in Gstaad
Alex Brouwer's magic, where the universe seemed to be conspiring for him to win his first Gstaad gold medal in 14 years trying alongside Stefan Boermans
Trevor Crabb and Chase Budinger winning a huge silver out of the qualifier
Arthur Lanci's dream come true, with a bronze medal in Gstaad

SHOOTS!

We have a NEW BOOK! Pre-order your copy of Volleyball for Dummies today at Barnes and Noble!

Get 10 PERCENT OFF VBTV using our discount code, SANDCAST10

Want to get better at beach volleyball? Use our discount code, SANDCAST, and get 10 percent off all Better at Beach products!

Want SANDCAST merch? We got you covered. Check it out here!

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Gstaad's American Takeover; Cheng-Kraft's Revenge Tour; Crabb-Budinger's Honeymoon; TKN 3-Peat Jul 04, 2026

Show notes

Welcome back to the Huus Hotel in Gstaad, where Travis Mewhirter and Kyle Friend chat well past sundown -- as you can see -- about the quarterfinals and men's semifinals at the Gstaad Elite, where:

Three USA Volleyball women's teams -- Kristen Cruz and Taryn Brasher, Kelly Cheng and Megan Kraft, Lexy Denaburg and Julia Donlin -- have made the semifinals
Another USA Volleyball team, Chase Budinger and Trevor Crabb, going on an epic Gstaadian honeymoon, making the finals in just their second tournament as a team
Alex Brouwer and Stefan Boermans commanding the energy, vibes and aura of the volleyball world to make the finals
And Raisa Schoon and Katja Stam, up against an All-American force

SHOOTS!

We have a NEW BOOK! Pre-order your copy of Volleyball for Dummies today at Barnes and Noble!

Get 10 PERCENT OFF VBTV using our discount code, SANDCAST10

Want to get better at beach volleyball? Use our discount code, SANDCAST, and get 10 percent off all Better at Beach products!

Want SANDCAST merch? We got you covered. Check it out here!

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Gstaad Goes BONKERS: Upsets Everywhere; USA, Swiss Women Rolling; Emotions Pouring Jul 03, 2026

Show notes

Day three at the Gstaad Elite was a positively bonkers one, as there were upsets, upsets everywhere, and hardly a favorite to survive -- unless, of course, you're a USA women's team, in which case, you're just fine. Travis Mewhirter and Kyle Friend recap a wild day in Switzerland, where:

Arthur and Evandro shock Sweden's David Ahman and Jonatan Hellvig...right after Israel's Kevin Cuzmiciov and Eylon Elazar stunned Latvia's Martins Plavins and Kristians Fokerots
Six USA women's teams are into the playoff rounds, where Kristen Cruz and Taryn Brasher's three-peat hopes remain alive, Kelly Cheng and Megan Kraft are on a revenge tour, Savvy Cory and Devon Newberry slipped by after a huge win over Melissa Humana-Paredes and Brandie Wilkerson, Geena Urango and Megan Rice quietly are putting together a tremendous tournament, and more
Trevor Crabb and Chase Budinger extended their record to 5-0 and are into the quarterfinals
Jacob Holting-Nilsson and Elmer Andersson are making a firm case as the best team in the world

And a whole, whole lot more

SHOOTS!

We have a NEW BOOK! Pre-order your copy of Volleyball for Dummies today at Barnes and Noble!

Get 10 PERCENT OFF VBTV using our discount code, SANDCAST10

Want to get better at beach volleyball? Use our discount code, SANDCAST, and get 10 percent off all Better at Beach products!

Want SANDCAST merch? We got you covered. Check it out here!

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Crabb-Budinger's Dominant Debut; Graudina Thrives; USA Women Push Onwards | Gstaad Day One Recap Jul 01, 2026

Show notes

Welcome back to SANDCAST: Beach Volleyball with Tri Bourne and Travis Mewhirter, and welcome back to the Gstaad Elite, the greatest place on Earth. We're recapping an action-packed opening day in Gstaad, where:

Trevor Crabb and Chase Budinger delivered an enormous day one, qualifying with a win over Adrian Heidrich and Yves Haussener and then handling Taylor Crabb and Andy Benesh with ease
Tina Graudina continues thriving here in Gstaad, making the main draw with young Liv Ebere
USA Volleyball's women so-so day, with three teams punching their main draw tickets and four bowing out
Switzerland's young guns, Luc Fluckiger and Andrin Kolb upsetting the Grimalt cousins before ALMOST taking David Ahman and Jonatan Hellvig to three

And more!

SHOOTS!

We have a NEW BOOK! Pre-order your copy of Volleyball for Dummies today at Barnes and Noble!

Get 10 PERCENT OFF VBTV using our discount code, SANDCAST10

Want to get better at beach volleyball? Use our discount code, SANDCAST, and get 10 percent off all Better at Beach products!

Want SANDCAST merch? We got you covered. Check it out here!

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Gstaad Preview! Americans Descend In RECORD BREAKING FORCE on 250th Birthday Jun 30, 2026

Show notes

Welcome back to SANDCAST: Beach Volleyball with Tri Bourne and Travis Mewhirter and, far more important, welcome to the Beach Volleyball World Gstaad Elite!! Greatest place on planet Earth, it's worth every single penny, y'all.

On this episode, I'm chatting:

The USA Volleyball contingent who has descended upon Gstaad in record-breaking force, with six American women straight into the main draw, and another seven potentially coming out of Wednesday's qualifier.
The "real" debut of Chase Budinger and Trevor Crabb
Anders Mol and Christian Sorum missing another tournament, and Anastasija Samoiloiva skipping to attend a friend's wedding, leaving Tina Graudina to pick up young Liv Ebere, an 18-year-old future star at USC
Ondrej Perusic's retirement tour continues! He's picking up Matyas Dzavoronok for this one

And much more. We'll have TONS of coverage from Gstaad, so stay tuned!

SHOOTS!

We have a NEW BOOK! Pre-order your copy of Volleyball for Dummies today at Barnes and Noble!

Get 10 PERCENT OFF VBTV using our discount code, SANDCAST10

Want to get better at beach volleyball? Use our discount code, SANDCAST, and get 10 percent off all Better at Beach products!

Want SANDCAST merch? We got you covered. Check it out here!

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Jacob LaBouliere: The Rise of USA Volleyball's Next Big Blocker Jun 24, 2026

Show notes

This episode of SANDCAST: Beach Volleyball with Tri Bourne and Travis Mewhirter features Jacob LaBouliere, USA Volleyball's next big blocker -- and we mean BIG blocker -- who has already made a quick name for himself both on the AVP and Beach Pro Tour. They're talking:

Where LaBouliere just appeared from
How he gave up a good job as an electrical engineer to pursue professional beach volleyball
Studying under Chase Budinger and others in the USA Volleyball pipeline while he's nursing an injury
His goals for beach volleyball and where he wants the game to take him

And a whole lot more!

Chapters with Jacob LaBouliere
00:00 Introduction and Initial Banter
05:35 Injury and Recovery Journey
10:40 Overcoming Health Challenges
12:34 Training and Performance Insights
18:51 Navigating the Competitive Landscape
22:06 The Power of Visualization in Sports
25:05 Experiencing Pressure in Competitive Environments
31:56 Defining Success: Championships vs. Olympics
35:21 The Journey of a World-Class Athlete
39:00 Mastering the Art of Blocking in Volleyball
45:42 The Art of Blocking in Volleyball
47:59 Strategies for Effective Defense
50:27 The Importance of Timing and Positioning
53:02 Visualizing the Game: Anticipation and Reaction
55:57 Practicing for Success: The Role of Drills
59:59 Navigating Injury and Recovery
01:02:00 Building Relationships in the Sport

SHOOTS!

We have a NEW BOOK! Pre-order your copy of Volleyball for Dummies today at Barnes and Noble!

Get 10 PERCENT OFF VBTV using our discount code, SANDCAST10

Want to get better at beach volleyball? Use our discount code, SANDCAST, and get 10 percent off all Better at Beach products!

Want SANDCAST merch? We got you covered. Check it out here!

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Dan Fisher: The High-Standards Blueprint of a Volleyball Dynasty Jun 17, 2026

Show notes

Welcome back to SANDCAST: Beach Volleyball with Tri Bourne and Travis Mewhirter, where we get off the sand for a second and delve into the world of NCAA Indoor Volleyball, chatting with Dan Fisher, the architect of the Pitt Volleyball dynasty that has won 7 ACC Championships in the past 9 years, made five straight final fours, and has won 82% of the matches since Fisher became the head coach.

How'd he do it?

Through high standards, and a culture that is constantly winning.

We're chatting:

What makes Pitt Volleyball different, allowing it to win at such an exceptional rate
How Dan Fisher has reframed failure, and how they practice winning, constantly
Beach volleyball's influence on the Pitt Volleyball team
How the city of Pittsburgh has come to adopt its volleyball team

SHOOTS!

We have a NEW BOOK! Pre-order your copy of Volleyball for Dummies today at Barnes and Noble!

Want SANDCAST merch? We got you covered. Check it out here!

Get 10 PERCENT OFF VBTV using our discount code, SANDCAST10

Want to get better at beach volleyball? Use our discount code, SANDCAST, and get 10 percent off all Better at Beach products!

If you want to receive our SANDCAST weekly newsletter, the Beach Volleyball Digest, which dishes all the biggest news in beach volleyball in one quick newsletter, click here and sign on up!

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

June Mailbag! Predicting the LA 2028 Podium; Selling Souls; New Partnerships Jun 10, 2026

Show notes

Welcome back to SANDCAST: Beach Volleyball with Tri Bourne and Travis Mewhirter, where, rather than Travis, it's our Amigo, Kyle Friend in the studio, answering all of your fan questions for our June beach volleyball mailbag episode. They're chatting:

Favorite newcomers in beach volleyball, both on the AVP and Beach Pro Tour
Who they think will make the LA 2028 podium
The impact of Sweden and Norway on beach volleyball
If Taylor Crabb and Andy Benesh sold their souls for two forfeit bronze medals

SHOOTS!

We have a NEW BOOK! Pre-order your copy of Volleyball for Dummies today at Barnes and Noble!

Want SANDCAST merch? We got you covered. Check it out here!

Get 10 PERCENT OFF VBTV using our discount code, SANDCAST10

Want to get better at beach volleyball? Use our discount code, SANDCAST, and get 10 percent off all Better at Beach products!

If you want to receive our SANDCAST weekly newsletter, the Beach Volleyball Digest, which dishes all the biggest news in beach volleyball in one quick newsletter, click here and sign on up!

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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