Sports
From NBA to Olympic sand, Chase Budinger takes on AVP Intuit Dome
LOS ANGELES — Chase Budinger’s athletic career doesn’t fit in a box. He played seven seasons in the NBA with the Rockets, Timberwolves, Pacers and Suns. Then he switched sports entirely, grinding his way onto the U.S. Olympic beach volleyball team, making him the first person to appear in both an NBA regular season game […]

LOS ANGELES — Chase Budinger’s athletic career doesn’t fit in a box. He played seven seasons in the NBA with the Rockets, Timberwolves, Pacers and Suns. Then he switched sports entirely, grinding his way onto the U.S. Olympic beach volleyball team, making him the first person to appear in both an NBA regular season game and the Olympic beach volleyball competition.
Now fresh off the Paris Games, Budinger is back with partner Miles Evans for the AVP League’s Intuit Dome event in Inglewood July 11–12, representing the San Diego Smash. He sat down with The Sporting Tribune to talk about his path, what sets these AVP League matches apart, and the new team format.
The Sporting Tribune: You just made history as the first person to compete in both the NBA and the Olympics in beach volleyball. Now that you’ve done it, what does that milestone mean to you personally?
Chase Budinger: It means the world to me because I put so much hard work and time into both sports. For me to grow old and tell my kids I played in the NBA and also became an Olympian, those are two of the biggest accomplishments of my life. It wasn’t easy. There was a lot of grueling work and growing pains, especially switching to a new sport and getting my butt kicked at first. Learning from that and building the confidence to become an Olympian was really satisfying for me.
TST: What first drew you to beach volleyball after your NBA career? When did it shift from being a hobby to something you knew you could pursue at the highest level?
CB: The plan was always to play beach volleyball once my basketball career was done, since basketball careers usually don’t last super long. And beach volleyball is something you can play into your 40s, most of the top U.S. players are in their late 30s or early 40s. I thought I’d have a longer basketball career, but when that ended sooner than I wanted, I had time to really go for it. I made it a goal to become an Olympian instead of just playing for fun.
TST: How did your background as a professional basketball player help you, or challenge you, when you switched to elite beach volleyball?
CB: It helped a lot. In basketball your days are so structured with training, practice, lifting, recovery. That routine was something I carried over. One thing I noticed in beach volleyball is people fall in love with the lifestyle, you go to the beach, practice for two hours, then you’re done. I really tried to approach it like a career. I wanted to help my partners see that too. If you want to compete with the best in the world, you have to do more than just show up for a couple hours.
TST: Looking back, from NCAA basketball to the NBA to the Olympic sand, could you have pictured this path? What advice would you give young athletes about staying open to change?
CB: I never envisioned this route at all. I thought I’d play beach volleyball for fun on the AVP, but fully embracing it professionally and representing the country wasn’t something I saw coming. The advice I’d give is: try multiple sports. These days kids get pushed into specializing in one sport too soon. For me, basketball and volleyball actually helped each other. Playing multiple sports made me better overall, and that’s something I think is missing for a lot of kids now.
TST: The AVP League is bringing 300 tons of sand into the Intuit Dome for this event. For fans who’ve never seen an AVP League match before, what can they expect?
CB: It’s the best of the best teams going at it. The level is really high and the games are super fast-paced because they’re played to 15 instead of 21. You have to come out aggressive right away with your serves and try to create points because things can slip away so quickly. Being indoors in an arena, with the lights, the crowd, the MC, Mark Schuermann is one of the best, it’s really a show. I’ve never been to Intuit Dome before so I’m excited to see what it’s like to play beach volleyball there.
TST: You’re playing for San Diego Smash in the AVP League. How has representing a city as part of a team changed the feel of competition?
CB: I love it. Representing a city gives you that team atmosphere you don’t usually get in beach volleyball since it’s usually just two-on-two. Here you have a full team, including the women’s side, so you’re cheering for each other and invested in each other’s success. It brings that camaraderie that I really enjoy.
TST: The AVP League format is faster-paced, with best-of-three sets to 15 points. How does that change your strategy?
CB: You have to be really aggressive with your serving. Most matches come down to one or two points, and those usually come from blocks, aces, or big digs. If you can get teams out of system or snag those aces, that’s huge. That’s something I’ve really focused on in the last year and a half, just how important the serve is in these quick games.
TST: Coming off the Olympics, how does playing a big event like this at Intuit Dome help you stay sharp and motivated for what’s next?
CB: After playing in the Olympics in front of 15,000 or 20,000 people under the Eiffel Tower, I don’t think anything is going to rattle me anymore. Those games were such high-stakes and nerve-wracking. That experience taught me to be calmer, to play more freely, and to be really mindful of my thoughts and my body. It made me a better player overall.
As Budinger gears up for the AVP League event at Intuit Dome, he’s bringing Olympic-tested poise and an NBA-level work ethic to the sand. Fans can expect fast-paced, high-stakes volleyball, with Budinger and the San Diego Smash ready to showcase their skills.
Sports
Lottery.com and Sports.com Sponsor Rising INDY NXT Driver Sebastian Murray.
Lottery.com and Sports.com have partnered with INDY NXT driver Sebastian Murray and the Andretti Cape team. The deal includes branding on Murray’s race car, a behind-the-scenes series, and social media activations. This partnership is expected to enhance brand exposure and provide networking opportunities. The deal will debut at the Grand Prix of Alabama in May […]

Lottery.com and Sports.com have partnered with INDY NXT driver Sebastian Murray and the Andretti Cape team. The deal includes branding on Murray’s race car, a behind-the-scenes series, and social media activations. This partnership is expected to enhance brand exposure and provide networking opportunities. The deal will debut at the Grand Prix of Alabama in May 2025.
Lottery.com Inc. (Nasdaq: LTRY, LTRYW) and Sports.com have announced a high-visibility sponsorship with rising motorsport talent Sebastian Murray, who competes in the 2025 INDY NXT by Firestone with the renowned Andretti Cape INDY NXT team. The sponsorship, set to debut at the Grand Prix of Alabama in May 2025, includes branding on Murray’s No. 2 INDY NXT car, decals on the driver’s race suit, and a behind-the-scenes series produced by Sports.com Studios. The partnership also encompasses social media activations across the remaining 13 INDY NXT races, providing Lottery.com and Sports.com with enhanced brand exposure and networking opportunities.
The sponsorship centers on Murray, one of the sport’s most exciting young drivers, and includes branding rights, digital content, and fan engagement activations facilitated through his participation with Andretti Cape. The car will run this weekend with its new look featuring Lottery.com and Sports.com branding at the Grand Prix of Alabama, taking place May 2–4 in Birmingham, Alabama.
The sponsorship was introduced by Warren Macal, Founder of Prosperity Investment Management and a board member at Lottery.com. Matthew McGahan, Chairman and CEO of Lottery.com and Sports.com, commented, “Sebastian Murray is a standout talent, and this sponsorship places Lottery.com and Sports.com right alongside his journey to the top of U.S. open-wheel racing. We’re investing in speed, story, and a new generation of fans.” Sebastian Murray added, “It is a huge honor to carry the Lottery.com and Sports.com brands. The support from Matthew, Warren, and the entire team fuels my drive to deliver on and off the track.”
This announcement follows the launch of the Company’s sponsorship of Donate to Win’s™ Miami Sweepstakes, offering exclusive hospitality at the Miami Grand Prix this past weekend — part of a broader campaign to engage fans and elevate brand exposure. Lottery.com is transforming how official lottery and sweepstakes games are played across the globe, combining cutting-edge technology with consumer-first innovation. Sports.com is a premier digital sports platform dedicated to delivering cutting-edge content, fan engagement, and technological innovation in the sports industry.
The sponsorship with Sebastian Murray is expected to enhance both brands’ visibility and engagement within the motorsports community, aligning with their strategic vision to grow their digital presence and fan base. The partnership reflects the companies’ commitment to investing in promising talent and leveraging high-visibility platforms to drive brand awareness.
References:
[1] https://www.marketscreener.com/quote/stock/LOTTERY-COM-INC-128898692/news/From-Wall-Street-to-the-Pit-Lane-Lottery-com-and-Sports-com-Sponsor-Rising-INDY-NXT-Driver-Sebastia-49805849/
Sports
Mines Volleyball Approaching 2025 Opener
By: Sam Boender Story Links 2025 Mines Volleyball Schedule GOLDEN, Colo. – Just three weeks separate the Colorado School of Mines Volleyball team from its 2025 season opener which will kick off a 26-match campaign including 13 showdowns featuring the Orediggers inside Lockridge Arena. Mines’ season starts on Sept. […]

2025 Mines Volleyball Schedule
GOLDEN, Colo. – Just three weeks separate the Colorado School of Mines Volleyball team from its 2025 season opener which will kick off a 26-match campaign including 13 showdowns featuring the Orediggers inside Lockridge Arena.
Mines’ season starts on Sept. 4 with the 2025 Oredigger Volleyball Classic presented by Marriott Denver West. It marks the 16th time since 2008 that Mines will start its regular season with its own invitational-style event. The Orediggers play a non-conference match against South Dakota Mines on Thursday night at 5 p.m. at Lockridge Arena with action continuing on Friday, Sept. 5, and Saturday, Sept. 6. Colorado Christian, Davenport, Grand Valley State, Valdosta State, and Washburn will join the Orediggers and Hardrockers for the three-day, two-court, seven-team jamboree. In addition to SDM, Mines will face Davenport and Valdosta State on Friday and Grand Valley State on Saturday.
Non-conference action continues for the Orediggers Sept. 11-13 at the Northwest Nazarene Tournament in Nampa, Idaho. Mines starts that trip with a matches against Seattle Pacific and host NNU on Thursday. Friday features Concordia University Irvine. The Orediggers’ finale at the NNU tournament comes Saturday against Westmont. It marks Mines’ second consecutive appearance at the Nighthawks’ invitational.
The remaining 18 matches of 2025 feature Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) opponents, but not all results will count in the league standings. Mines opens conference play with a split weekend Sept. 19-20, hosting MSU Denver on Friday and traveling to UCCS on Saturday. Adams State and New Mexico Highlands come to Golden, Colo., Sept. 26-27 before the first of two RMAC pods which do not count in the standings. For the Orediggers, the RMAC Regional Pod brings Colorado Christian to town on Sept. 30 and MSU Denver comes to Lockridge Arena on Oct. 3. Then, conference matches resume with Mines traveling to CSU Pueblo, Colorado Christian, Fort Lewis, and Western Colorado for four straight road contests. The last eight matches feature a pair of home weekends Oct. 24-25 and Nov. 7-8. In the middle, Mines journeys west to Fort Lewis for the RMAC Power Pod against FLC and UCCS. The final weekend of the regular season has the Orediggers playing at Chadron State on Regis on Nov. 14 and 15, respectively.
All home and conference matches stream live on the RMAC Network which is officially, completely pay-per-view for the 2025-26 academic year. Fans can purchase annual subscriptions for $120 until Aug. 17 when the price goes up to $130. Monthly subscriptions are $25. Individual games and matches can be purchased for $10 per broadcast. Tickets to matches inside Lockridge Arena can be purchased online at www.minesathletics.com/tickets, or at the door.
2025 Mines Volleyball Schedule
Thursday, Sept. 4 – South Dakota Mines, 5 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 5 – Davenport, 2 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 5 – Valdosta State, 6 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 6 – Grand Valley State, 4 p.m.
Thursday, Sept. 11 – vs. Seattle Pacific, 11:30 a.m. (Nampa, Idaho)
Thursday, Sept. 11 – at Northwest Nazarene, 7 p.m. (Nampa, Idaho)
Friday, Sept. 12 – vs. Concordia Irvine, 4:30 p.m. (Nampa, Idaho)
Saturday, Sept. 13 – vs. Westmont, 11:30 a.m. (Nampa, Idaho)
*Friday, Sept. 19 – MSU Denver, 7 p.m.
*Saturday, Sept. 20 – at UCCS, 3 p.m.
*Friday, Sept. 26 – Adams State, 7 p.m.
*Saturday, Sept. 27 – New Mexico Highlands, 5 p.m.
Tuesday, Sept. 30 – Colorado Christian, 7 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 3 – MSU Denver, 7 p.m.
*Friday, Oct. 10 – at CSU Pueblo, 6 p.m.
*Saturday, Oct. 11 – at Colorado Christian, 3 p.m.
*Friday, Oct. 17 – at Fort Lewis, 6 p.m.
*Saturday, Oct. 18 – at Western Colorado, 4 p.m.
*Friday, Oct. 24 – Colorado Mesa, 7 p.m.
*Saturday, Oct. 25 – Westminster, 4 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 31 – vs. UCCS, 4 p.m. (Durango, Colo.)
Saturday, Nov. 1 – at Fort Lewis, 3 p.m.
*Friday, Nov. 7 – Black Hills State, 7 p.m.
*Saturday, Nov. 8 – South Dakota Mines, 5 p.m.
*Friday, Nov. 14 – at Chadron State, 6 p.m.
*Saturday, Nov. 15 – at Regis, 3 p.m.
Home matches in bold at Lockridge Arena. *-denotes RMAC matches. All dates and times are subject to change.
Fans can keep up with Mines volleyball on “X” (formerly Twitter) at @MinesVolleyball and on Instagram at @mines.volleyball. They can also keep up with Colorado School of Mines Athletics all year long on Facebook, “X” and Instagram using the handle @MinesAthletics.
Sports
Beach Nationals volleyball championships set for Ashbridges Bay this weekend – Beach Metro Community News
Beach volleyball players compete at the Ashbridges Bay courts in this Beach Metro Community News file photo. Volleyball Canada’s Beach Nationals will be taking place this weekend at the Ashbridges Bay courts on Woodbine Beach. Some of the best beach volleyball players in Canada will be in competition this weekend at Ashbridges Bay. Volleyball Canada […]


Some of the best beach volleyball players in Canada will be in competition this weekend at Ashbridges Bay.
Volleyball Canada will be hosting the Beach Nationals championships for the country’s top players from the age of 14 and up on Friday, Aug. 15, Saturday, Aug. 16, and Sunday, Aug. 17, at the Ashbridges Bay beach volleyball courts on Woodbine Beach.
Matches will be played in both boys and girls divisions for under-14, under-15, under-16, under-17, under-18 players. There will also be Senior women’s and men’s matches this weekend.
Competition begins on Friday and continues through to Sunday afternoon.
Local residents are invited to come out to watch the action and see some of Canada’s future beach volleyball stars on the Ashbridges Bay courts as they seek to win national titles.
Beach volleyball has a long history in the East Toronto area with the Balmy Beach Club being one of the most popular places to play as far back as the late 1950s and 1960s. The sport’s popularity continued to grow and the beach volleyball courts at Ashbridges Bay are among the most used in the country.
In August of last year, Canada’s Melissa Humana-Paredes and Brandie Wilkereson (both of Toronto) teamed up to win the silver medal in women’s beach volleyball at the Paris Olympic Games. Canada’s other Olympic medal in beach volleyball was a bronze won by the men’s team of John Child and Mark Hesse, who both grew up in East Toronto, at the 1996 Games in Atlanta.
For more information on this weekend’s tournament, please go to the Volleyball Canada Beach Nationals stie at https://volleyball.ca/en/competitions/2025-beach-nationals#:~:text=Volleyball%20Canada%20is%20excited%20to,well%20as%2020U%20and%20Senior.
Sports
Dedicated websites for U18 European Water Polo Championships in Oradea, Rio Maior and Gzira launched
With the spotlight ready to shine on the continent’s top U18 water polo players, European Aquatics has launched three dedicated new websites for the upcoming Men’s Elite and Division 1 European Championships, and the Women’s European Championships. The websites will feature daily reviews from each prestigious competition and contain links to all the squad lists, […]


With the spotlight ready to shine on the continent’s top U18 water polo players, European Aquatics has launched three dedicated new websites for the upcoming Men’s Elite and Division 1 European Championships, and the Women’s European Championships.
The websites will feature daily reviews from each prestigious competition and contain links to all the squad lists, fixtures, results and standings. Media outlets can also access photos of the action via the Media Center menu.
Live streaming details will be available as well, ensuring all fans are kept fully up-to-date across all three exciting tournaments.

The U18 Men’s Elite European Championships will take place in Oradea, Romania, from 18-24 August and the website for this event can be found by clicking here.
Four groups of four will contest the preliminary stage in Oradea, with Greece, Hungary, Italy, Netherlands, Croatia, Spain, Montenegro, Serbia, France, Poland, Romania, Türkiye, Georgia, Germany, Malta and Ukraine the 16 teams vying for the trophy.

The U18 Men’s Division 1 European Championships is being held in Rio Maior, Portugal, from 18-24 August and the website for this tournament can be accessed by clicking here.
Two groups of four, one group of three, and one group of two will contest the preliminary stage in Rio Maior, with Czechia, Moldova, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Denmark, Ireland, Switzerland, Austria, Belgium, Great Britain, Israel, Lithuania and Portugal the 13 teams competing.

The U18 Women’s European Championships is to be played in Gzira, Malta, from 31 August-7 September and the website for this competition can be viewed by clicking here.
Two groups of four, one group of five, and one group of six will feature in the preliminary stage, with Hungary, Italy, Netherlands, Türkiye, Croatia, Spain, Greece, Israel, Germany, Ireland, Malta, Serbia, Ukraine, Bulgaria, Czechia, Great Britain, Romania, Switzerland and Slovakia the 19 countries taking part.
Sports
Kelly Natter Previews the Husker Volleyball Alumni Match, Talks Liberos, Practice Competition & More – University of Nebraska
Kelly Natter Previews the Husker Volleyball Alumni Match, Talks Liberos, Practice Competition & More – University of Nebraska – Official Athletics Website Javascript is required. Link 0

Sports
U.S. Beach Teams Set for 2025 Junior Pan American Games
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Aug. 14, 2025) – USA Volleyball is sending two beach teams to compete at the Junior Pan American Games in Asuncion, Paraguay, Aug.18-22, 2025. The Games, held August 9-23, feature more than 4,000 athletes from 41 countries and serve as the largest sporting event in Paraguay’s history. The Junior Pan American Games is […]

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Aug. 14, 2025) – USA Volleyball is sending two beach teams to compete at the Junior Pan American Games in Asuncion, Paraguay, Aug.18-22, 2025. The Games, held August 9-23, feature more than 4,000 athletes from 41 countries and serve as the largest sporting event in Paraguay’s history.
The Junior Pan American Games is a major multi-sport competition featuring athletes aged 17-22 from North, Central and South America. The competition offers 218 qualification spots for the 2027 Pan American Games in Lima and valuable international experience for athletes working toward senior-level international representation. In beach volleyball, 16 teams per gender will compete at the Los Pynandi World Cup Stadium.
The first Junior Pan American Games was held in 2021, and this is the first time that USA Volleyball is sending beach teams to the event. The Junior Pan Am Games is also a Team USA event, meaning the athletes will represent not only USA Volleyball but the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee on the international stage.
The U.S. teams earned their spots at the USA Volleyball Junior Pan American Games Trials in January.
Portia Sherman and Emma Donley, who both play beach volleyball at Cal, will represent the U.S. on the women’s side. Thomas Hurst (UC Irvine) and Gage Basey (Colorado) are the U.S. men’s competitors.
Both pairs arrive with recent international success. Donley and Sherman won gold at the U23 NORCECA Tour stop in the Dominican Republic and took bronze at the 2025 NORCECA Beach Tour event in Honduras. Hurst and Basey earned silver at U23 NORCECA Dominican Republic and finished ninth at the 2025 World University Games.
UCLA assistant coach Kelly Reeves will coach the women’s team, and Beach Nation’s Mark Fishman will coach the men.
“The Pan American Games is a special tournament. It’s an opportunity not only to compete against some of the best athletes in the world, but also to represent the future,” Reeves said. “It’s a true honor to coach Emma and Portia on this journey. They come from a strong collegiate program at the University of California, Berkeley, and bring a great deal of experience and leadership. As a group, we’re excited, locked in, and ready to compete.”
“Talent wins games, but intelligence and teamwork win championships,” Fishman said. “Thomas and Gage are just getting better and growing as a team. They are two of the smartest young men in the game and their best is in front of them. I’m honored to represent the United States and be part of this amazing team.”
Women’s Roster
Portia Sherman (5-9, Goleta, Calif., Cal)
Emma Donley (6-4, Los Altos, Calif., Cal)
Men’s Roster
Gage Basey (6-5, Lyons, Colo., Univ. of Colorado)
Thomas Hurst (6-4, Plano, Texas, UC Irvine)
Coaches/Staff
Women’s Coach: Kelly Reeves (UCLA assistant coach)
Men’s Coach: Mark Fishman (Beach Nation)
Team Leader: Carolina Garbato (Beach NTDP)
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