Episode 314, Viral Volley Podcast, Names in the Game - Alaina Chacon, 6-5-26
Elena Chacon, a former Florida State standout and now a rising force on the AVP Pro Beach Tour, reveals how her journey from Indiana club volleyball to becoming a dual-threat beach player was shaped by family, resilience, and a fearless mindset. Despite being undersized and initially overlooked for indoor volleyball, Elena found her calling in beach, where her all-around athleticism and relentless work ethic allowed her to thrive. Her breakout season with Madison Fitzpatrick—culminating in a heart-stopping national championship victory—was just the beginning. After a brief detour coaching and exploring international play with Mexico, she returned to the pro circuit with a vengeance, teaming up with her sister Morgan to dominate Futures events. When Morgan became pregnant, Elena made the bold move to relocate from California to Florida to support her, only to then reunite with Fitzpatrick for a stunning AVP League debut—winning both matches in Belmar, New Jersey, despite poor stats and tough conditions. Elena attributes their success to mental toughness, consistency, and a 'semis or bust' mindset. She also shares her excitement for Rabbit Volleyball, the app co-founded by her boyfriend Trevor Briggs, which aims to democratize elite training. At the core of her identity? The honey badger—symbol of tenacity, fearlessness, and never backing down, a trait she and her sisters embody on and off the court.
Elena Chacon turned her 'undersized' status into an advantage by embracing beach volleyball, where her all-around athleticism and relentless defense shined.
She and Madison Fitzpatrick won the 2022 NCAA Beach Volleyball National Championship in a dramatic comeback, a moment she still calls 'the most sentimental' of her career.
After coaching at Florida State, Elena played internationally with Mexico but returned to the U.S. after realizing she needed English-speaking coaches and better resources.
She and her sister Morgan won multiple Futures events together, proving their chemistry and resilience, even after overcoming years of sibling rivalry and communication issues.
When Morgan became pregnant, Elena moved from California to Florida to support her—showing that family loyalty is central to her values.
…and 3 more takeaways available in PodZeus
Welcome to the Viral Volley Podcast
Rob introduces the podcast, explaining the shift from college volleyball coverage to a summer-focused show, and welcomes Elena Chacon as the guest.
From Indiana Club to Beach Volleyball
Elena recounts her volleyball origins in Crown Point, Indiana, where she and her sisters started playing together in club volleyball, eventually moving schools to join a more competitive team.
High School Dreams and State Championship
Elena and her sister Morgan played together in high school, moving to Crown Point to join a competitive program and ultimately reaching the Indiana state championship—though they lost to a top-tier private school.
Choosing Beach Over Indoor
Despite being recruited as a libero for indoor volleyball, Elena chose beach due to her all-around skills and desire to play a position that allowed her to touch the ball more often.
Florida State and the Learning Curve
Elena shares her transition to Florida State, where she had no formal beach training but was trusted by coach Brooke Niles to develop quickly, starting as a backup before becoming a key player.
“see it through a screen across the country so I moved my stuff from California to Florida in January and I've been in St. Pete Tampa area ever since so now we're now we see how she's right across the hall hopefully not listening to this podcast if she wants to jump on we'll always take her on she would say no because she's just uncomfortable at the moment”
“But yeah, we ended up losing that game to Devin and Jaden. Yeah. And the third. Who aren't hacks by the way, just if you guys don't know who they are. I mean, yeah, Devin's still winning medals at elite 16.”
“So if we lose, we're going to lose to the winners. Yeah. I was looking at the Paraguayans, which were college players in the States. Juliana Corrales and Michelle Valiente. Obviously LMUs. So, some familiar faces. We played bad, but that's another mental performance note just for anybody watching. It's just like sometimes your 80% is good enough and you don't have to play perfect to beat all the teams. You just have to play your 80%.”
Host
Guest
Elena Chacon
person
Madison Fitzpatrick
person
Morgan Chacon
person
AVP League
organization
Florida State
organization
Brooke Niles
person
Savannah Chacon
person
Nick
person
Trevor Briggs
person
Rabbit Volleyball
organization
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