February 16 USA's Overhaul Good morning, beach volleyball fans, Nothing is happening with Kristen Nuss and Taryn Brasher as far as USA Volleyball goes, BUT, Kristen did officially change her name to Kristen Cruz -- is there a better name than that for a defender? -- so I thought a congratulations was in order. Brasher and Cruz sounds like a name out of a Disney movie, the beach volleyball version of the Mighty Ducks' Conway and Banks. It just fits. Anyway, onto the actual week in beach...

February 9 U.S. <3 New Zealand Good morning, beach volleyball fans, The Mount Maganui Futures is no Super Bowl. It is exactly what it says it is: A Futures. But it also holds a certain significance as the annual season-opening event on the Beach Pro Tour calendar for the past three years. And as it goes every year, the U.S. got off to a hot start -- only this time, it was the U.S. men! Gage Basey and Thomas Hurst took silver, while Dave Wieczorek and Diego Perez were also on the podium with...