Larry Hamel

Freelance journalist and volleyball coach. Fan of Our Sox, boxing, volleyball. Not to mention those adorable Bodega Cats.

[Larry Hamel @LPHAMEL]

The AVP drew another audience exceeding half a million for a telecast of a League event on CBS. The domestic tour also extended the reach of it national-TV package to include ESPN family, The CW and CBS Sports. Click the link: @avpbeach @CBSSports
https://t.co/AhT612TWtD

[Larry Hamel @LPHAMEL]

The LA Launch’s Maddie Anderson and Alaina Chacon go 2-0 at Belmar AVP League opener, and San Diego Smash vets Chase Budinger and Miles Evans put up a pair of W's. All Volleyball's report recaps the results and more. Click on the link below: @avpbeach
https://t.co/x8LUBF7KY3

[Larry Hamel @LPHAMEL]

@things_sox The first priority for Andrew Benintendi in the first inning should have been scoring the runner from third with no outs, but he played hero ball with two home-runs cuts before striking out. Simply pathetic situational hitting.

[Larry Hamel @LPHAMEL]

Rick Adelman was serviceable NBA player who transitioned into outstanding coach. During Hall of Fame career, he held top job for five NBA franchises from 1988-89 through 2013-14, accumulated 1,042 regular-season victories and won and 58.2% of his games. R.I.P., Rick Adelman.

[Larry Hamel @LPHAMEL]

Travis Mewhirter does a bang-up job wrapping up a newsworthy weekend of beach volleyball in the Czech Republic with the BPT Ostrava "Iron Major" Elite, and at Belmar Beach on the Jersey Shore with the AVP League's opening weekend.
https://t.co/6l1RtYaGxV

[Larry Hamel @LPHAMEL]

@Kristinartz An obscure 1960s band named The Beatles had a song simply titled "Rain."

[Larry Hamel @LPHAMEL]

We got a first indication Saturday of fan support for AVP League's quasi-exhibition matches contested before live audience of hundreds. During men's match between New York Nitro and Brooklyn Blaze from Belmar, 699 "live views" were registered on free AVP YouTube channel feed.

[Larry Hamel @LPHAMEL]

This how the tiny venue that was set up by the AVP for its 2026 League series opener at Belmar Beach looks on TV for national broadcast Saturday afternoon on The CW. The 10-row bleachers sitting on sand in view from sideline "hard" camera comes across as decidedly Little League.

[Larry Hamel @LPHAMEL]

First game of AVP League between San Diego Smash and LA Launch from Belmar Beach on Saturday will be televised by over-the-air CW network (WGN, Channel 9, in Chicago) from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Second game between New York Nitro and Brooklyn Blaze will stream on AVP YouTube channel.

[Larry Hamel @LPHAMEL]

Nicholas Kallos (recent Walter Payton grad, rising Michigan freshman) and Tripp Coduto (rising eighth-grader at ICSJ) claimed Gold Coast Spikers advanced- and intermediate tournament-level titles, respectively, on Memorial Day.

[Larry Hamel @LPHAMEL]

James Shaw and new partner Miles Partain earned spot in BPT Ostrava Elite main draw, leaving gaping hole in AVP League's first stop at Belmar. All Volleyball! reports on the latest black eye suffered by Bobby Corvino’s ill-conceived League. Click the link:
https://t.co/qiNpEzGX93

[Larry Hamel @LPHAMEL]

Well-heeled Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong ponied up reported $15-$20 million fee to MLV to buy an expansion team in Los Angeles. All Volleyball! reports the details as MLV and rival League One Volleyball now have competing clubs in five markets. Click the link:
https://t.co/eLNpQcEPwZ

[Larry Hamel @LPHAMEL]

The podium for Gold Coast Spikers initial intermediate competition of 2026, a King/Queen of the Beach: First place, Tripp Caputo (center, rising eighth-grader at ICSJ); second, program newcomer Julia Garcia (left), and third, Ariyana Gotleib.

[Larry Hamel @LPHAMEL]

Nicolas Kallos (center, rising freshman at the U. of Michigan and recent graduate of Walter Payton), JJ Haaf and Timothy Kempton (right) graced the podium of Gold Coast Spikers first advanced tourney of 2026, a seven-player Quiniela Games, Monday afternoon at North Avenue Beach.

[Larry Hamel @LPHAMEL]

Another one of the all-time favorite sports stars from my youth has passed and I am deeply saddened by it. Manny Fernandez, a stalwart at defensive tackle for the Miami Dolphins during their magical run during the 1970s, died Tuesday at age 79.

[Larry Hamel @LPHAMEL]

@ChiSoxFanMike Only three teams in the AL are above .500. A break-even record puts the White Sox in the playoffs. That would be a remarkable accomplishment considering the team's last three years. Just playing meaningful games in late May is a huge step forward.

[Larry Hamel @LPHAMEL]

League One Volleyball will have 10 teams next season, including an expansion franchise in Miami. Also in All Volleyball’s report, the MLV Omaha Supernovas and Orlando Valkyries hired new coaches. Click the link: @leagueonevb @mlvolley
https://t.co/9Xx7LJ8YTT

[Larry Hamel @LPHAMEL]

Longtime aide Colin McMillan has been named to succeed the retiring Mark Pavlik as Penn State's men's volleyball coach. Pavlik had guided the Nittany Lions program since 1995.

[Penn State Men's Volleyball @PennStateMVBALL]

Colin’s 20th year in Happy Valley will be as head coach!

He is the fourth head coach in the 50-year history of the program.

#WeAre

[Larry Hamel @LPHAMEL]

All Volleyball! provides the details of a significant development in the AVP’s TV plans. The Belmar Beach stop that opens the summer League series will see one Sunday match on May 31 broadcast by the legacy network giant CBS. Click the link: @avpbeach https://t.co/ZqGEJY6DOY

[Larry Hamel @LPHAMEL]

Andy Benesh serves up a storm in AVP Huntington Beach Open final, Taylor Crabb registers 22 digs as the Dream Team sweep Chase Budinger and Miles Evans. All Volleyball! recaps the Sunday semifinals and title tilts from “Surf City.” Click on the link below:
https://t.co/atgEx3gXtq