Two weeks ago, when the AVP League hit Aspen, Colorado, for the second stop of its 2026 League season, Taylor Crabb made a series of play that was so vintage Taylor Crabb that, if somebody had never seen him play volleyball before, that single play against Chaim Schalk and James Shaw was all they really needed to know.
It was 15 seconds of creative genius, one that began with a play few, but some, could make.
Shaw, down six in the third set and in dire need of monstrous service run, uncorked a cross-body jump serve that was hissing towards Crabb’s line. Crabb dove, sticking his right hand out, getting his forearm on it to stave off what would have been an ace to, oh, roughly 98 percent of the volleyball world.
The result, however, was still an overpass.
Shaw handled the overpass well, sending it over, just pass the middle of the court, to Chaim Schalk. Schalk’s been playing volleyball for a long time, having made his first main draw nearly two decades ago and his first Olympics in 2016. He knew Crabb was on the ground on his right-side line. He knew Andy Benesh, Crabb’s blocker, would be late to block his line. Schalk did the smart thing: He snapped an option down his line – the opposite side of the court from Crabb, and where Benesh had left a window.
And yet, somehow, there was Crabb, shuffling into Schalk’s line, a perfect read on the play. Beyond the read, however, which was fantastic in itself, Crabb’s control, to stop moving, get his platform out, spaced away from his body, angled towards his blocker, was ethereal.
Not only did he make the dig – he put it right into Benesh’s hands.
Twice, then, Crabb had kept a ball up that would have been an ace or kill against almost any other player not named Taylor Crabb.
And we’re only halfway there.
The set from Benesh was, while good, imperfect. A touch low, even for Crabb’s speedy feet. Crabb motors in and breaks out a signature short line shot, a go-to of his, especially in transition.
Shaw was ready.
The 6-foot-9 blocker swatted it with his right hand – a block that would go uncovered for a kill against almost anyone.
Taylor Crabb is not anyone.
Because there was Crabb again, calmly forming a poke with his opposite hand, a little under his left shoulder, a quicksilver reaction trained through tens of thousands of reps upon reps. A reaction that cannot be taught.
Again, however, the touch went over the net.
Again, Shaw made an excellent pass, putting Schalk up on two, who made another decision that can be filed under “smart decision.”
He knew Crabb was at his short line. Knew Benesh would be late to the net. Knew a deep swing into the angle should go for a kill.
It didn’t.
Because Taylor Crabb was – where else would be he? – somehow in the angle, hands up, prepared for the deep swing. Yet Schalk’s swing hit the net, taking the momentum clear out of the swing, forcing Crabb to adjust.
Here, again, many defenders would give up on the play. His momentum was all deep, prepared for a swing to the back meter – not to a trickle into the front half of the court. Yet Crabb adjusted, switching from high hands to that perfect platform of his. Not only did he dig the swing – he lobbed it right into Benesh’s awaiting right hand for an option and a kill to set up a match point.
Vintage Taylor Crabb.
Fifteen seconds of creative genius.
If you enjoyed this Film Room episode of SANDCAST and want more content like it, check out my upcoming book I wrote with the legendary Gabby Reece, Volleyball for Dummies, which you can preorder today at Barnes and Noble!
