1st Annual New Years Invitational

What better way to ring in the new year than 4 hours of quality volleyball at our favorite sand venue. Ana, Chris, Dave, Eric, George, Gregg, John, Kurt, and Scott had a great time playng in the sporadic rain and wind. Gregg was back on the court for the first time since tearing his quadriceps tendon in September (his first time on the new courts), but playing on the "no jump" court.



Nice stylin gators, Scott!


Lots of great play...unfortunately little of that was captured by the camera.

John doesn't let George's sweep block bother him. Check out their height above the net...almost as if they were playing on a women's height net.


Scott follows through off of John's set.


Dave adjusts in mid-air to achieve a full force spike...either that or he's just a spazoid jumper.


Eric shows daughter Ana what a good topspin serve can do.


The only good video of some decent play. Kurt snaps one to the middle on a great set out of the supple gloved hands of George.

More Snow Ball

This time it was 6 who showed up for play in the 30 degree temps and falling snow...George, Dave, Scott, Kurt, JohnV, and Chris.


George...


Chris...


Kurt...


John and Chris...


John roofing George...


John slamming crosscourt

Now some video clips. First, Kurt hits middle...just out of Scott's reach


Next Kurt pounds line on a beautiful set from George but violates Gregg's rule #1 by calling his own net.


JohnV can hit weakside, too...


George gators off camera...

Snow? No worries!

Dave, George, Kurt, and Eric kept the string intact for consecutive weeks played on new courts, despite frigid 20 degree weather.


Dave, the 2-D Santa pounds middle...


Eric gets into the action...


We're all tired of seeing Kurt's week side chippy...


George overcomes gravity and 10 pound boots to smack another...


The sand was lumpy and hard (imagine that!) but softened with play. Dave wastes a perfect set from Eric.


I love how this one ends with Kurt and George hand-slapping while Eric pounds the snow on his knees.

Play continues through the winter

Despite a failing hillside, frigid temperatures, and even snow, you'll find folks playing on the courts at least once a week. Discovery of windsurfing booties at the local Ship & Shore store was a key find, as these are tougher and warmer than the standard sand volleyball socks.

After watching the UW Women take out Utah on Friday night, it was time to play, so Dave sent a broadcast text msg plea and later met George, Kurt, and John at the courts on Saturday afternoon. Braving the 40 degree temps, they played 3 hard-fought games before the sun went down.


Only a poor set could cause acrobatics like this from Dave.


Johnny waits ready for an overhand dig behind George's pathetic kong block. Note the pair of kids playing on the other courts. The word is out about these courts, and we continue to see more people using them...even in the winter.


John finishes with a cross-court hit past Dave after a long, accurate set from George.

It's Bad Yuh Know

Erosion and drainage problems surfaced during a long week of hard rain. We're working with PenMet Parks to somehow get the swamp on the south end of the courts properly drained.

George says you'll sink to your knees if you venture out into this area.


Meanwhile worse problems on the northwest corner where the City placed lots of fill dirt and left a steep bank...uh oh, signs of a potential landslide.

City comes through with beautiful fence

The City has surrounded two sides of the court area with a beautiful wood fence that keeps people from falling down the steep slope on the West side and also reduces the number of times we need to chase down an errant dig.


Stephan and Kurt await the next game. The fence has extra rails to keep the ball from leaking through. Kurt is next to the net pole pads that would be installed later in the evening. No sense wasting daylight when there are games to play.



George approaches in expectation of a good set from Mike...is he already checking out holes in the defense?


The Dave-hauser in mid-set...

Play Resumes!

No photos or videos, but on one of the stormiest days of the year, Dave, George, John, Jason, and Kurt moved 8 logs, cleaned up the remainder of the construction mess, and played three games in the wind and rain. Marco came by to remove the caution tape, give us the approval to play, and later he installed temporary pole pads that will serve us until we receive the fancy yellow ones in a couple weeks.

We've now settled on noon October 18th for the grand opening ceremony.