Volleyball took center stage in Chicago over the weekend as the AVP League Championship at Oak Street Beach kicked off a series of high-profile events leading up to the Big Ten/SEC Volleyball Challenge Week. The two-day weekend featured a mix of emerging talents and established professionals competing against the backdrop of Lake Michigan and the city’s iconic sports venues.
Among those present was University of Missouri freshman Maizy Agnello, a Crystal Lake native and Prairie Ridge alumna, who has been immersed in volleyball from an early age. Inspired by her mother Hilary—an accomplished player from Penn State—Agnello and her Missouri teammates gathered at Oak Street Beach wearing pinstriped “Mizzou” jerseys to support alumna Kylie DeBerg and her partner Betsi Flint of the Dallas Dream. DeBerg and Flint were eliminated in three sets by the Brooklyn Blaze pairing of Lexy Denaburg and Julia Donlin during the quarterfinal round.
The weekend also highlighted opportunities for athletes to envision careers beyond collegiate volleyball. Agnello expressed hope that growing professional avenues would enable players to continue competing after graduation. “Just being here at the beach shows you that you can keep playing,” she said, emphasizing the expanding possibilities in the sport.
The championship round featured several notable figures, including two-time Olympian Brandie Wilkerson, who earned a silver medal at the 2024 Summer Olympics with Canada. Wilkerson and her Palm Beach Passion teammate, Melissa Humana-Paredes, secured a semifinal victory over the Brooklyn Blaze, setting up a Sunday final appearance. The Blaze had won last year’s Oak Street Beach title, underscoring strong rivalries within the AVP circuit.
Kelly Cheng, competing alongside Miami Mayhem partner Megan Kraft, praised the Chicago crowd’s volleyball knowledge and enthusiasm. The two advanced to the semifinals after defeating the San Diego Smash duo Megan Rice and Geena Urango in straight sets. “Chicago, the people know,” Cheng said, highlighting the city’s appreciation for the sport’s complexity and athleticism.
The day concluded with the New York Nitro duo James Shaw and Chaim Schalk upsetting the Miami Mayhem team of Andy Benesh and Taylor Crabb in straight sets. The Nitro had earlier defeated the Austin Aces in a three-set quarterfinal to reach the semifinals. Shaw noted the special connection to Chicago, where his wife, Molly—also a Nitro player from Naperville—has local ties, though she did not advance to the quarterfinals. “Everybody’s so passionate about the sport,” Shaw said, reflecting on the crowd’s energy.
Coming up Sunday, the AVP Tour featured marquee matchups at Wrigley Field, including Missouri’s matchup against top-ranked Nebraska as part of the Big Ten/SEC Volleyball Challenge. For Agnello, the weekend’s events symbolized more than competition, offering a rare opportunity to play and witness volleyball growth in her hometown. “I’ll get to tell my kids this in 30 years—that I got to play on Wrigley Field, where I grew up,” she said, underscoring the significance of the weekend for both her athletic career and the sport’s expanding profile in Chicago.