By Lionel Green
The Daily News

Published May 10, 2009

GALVESTON – More than 125 two-person volleyball teams were busy diving, hitting, jumping and spiking in the sand Saturday at Stewart Beach Park.

Teenagers and preteens were competing in the Texas Open, a USA Junior Beach Volleyball Tour tournament, while many of the older players tested their skills in the Gulf Coast Volleyball Association’s “bring your mother to the beach” tournament.

Saturday’s event was the first time the USA Junior Beach Volleyball Tour had a tournament in Texas.

USA Volleyball, in conjunction with Elevation Group, created this year’s 14-city tour for participants ages 10 to 20. The tour kicked off in Gulfport, Miss., last weekend, and next travels to Muskegon, Mich.

A total of 78 teams competed Saturday. Another 49 teams played in the GCVA Mother’s Day tournament.

The majority of teams in the USA Junior tournament competed in the 16-and-under and 14-and-under age groups. The 16U featured 35 teams, and the 14U had 20. 12U and 18U teams comprised the rest of the field.

“We actually started this tour three years ago,” USA Volleyball Manager of Events Kristy Cox said. “This is the first time we’ve come to Texas. Galveston’s been a great stop. We’ve got plenty of teams, and this is one of the bigger tournaments. We’re going to Dallas in two weeks, so we’re going to Texas again.”

The USA won gold medals in men’s and women’s beach volleyball at the Beijing Summer Olympics last year, giving the sport a higher profile.

“Beach volleyball’s definitely something we’re trying to grow, so that was part of the conception of this tour three years ago,” Cox said. “Indoor volleyball is more popular, but beach is getting more popular as we go on. We’ve definitely seen growth in the tour by a hundred teams each year.”

Rick Schanz is a managing director for Elevation Group, a sports marketing company based in Cleveland.

“We’re kind of taking advantage of the Beijing bounce,” Schanz said, adding the tour sponsor is Spalding. “We’re trying to take that enthusiasm for the sport and bring it to the public and get more people involved with beach volleyball. I think it’s a great time and growth opportunity for beach volleyball.”

GCVA President Vic Clifford said the 127 total teams registered might be a record number of participants for a single-day event involving his association. GCVA operates beach volleyball leagues in League City.

“It’s bring your mom to the beach day, so we give T-shirts to moms who have players or moms who are playing,” Clifford said. “We even did that for the Junior Beach Open for all the moms who brought their kids down.”

James Rogers, 21, of Friendswood competed in the GCVA Mother’s Day tournament as an advanced beginner.

“It’s really competitive,” Rogers said. “I know I come out here and try my best, but people play for keeps out here and for reputation. The Open division plays for money. Some of the people play for their living. But it’s a great atmosphere. Everybody’s pretty much family.”

Teenagers, many who play indoor volleyball, dominated the USA Volleyball Junior tournament field.

Winners in each age group qualified for the Tour championships Aug. 16 in Huntington Beach, Calif.

Shea Elliott, 17, and Natalie Holt, 17, were teammates and won their first match.

“This is my first beach tournament,” said Elliott, a junior at Deer Park. “I think it’s a lot of fun. It’s not so technical like indoor. The court’s a lot smaller, and the wind is definitely a big factor. I’m definitely going to come back.”

Holt, a junior at Clear Brook, has competed in beach tournaments before.

“You want to win but still have fun at the same time,” Holt said.

Olivia Casavecchia, 16, and Peggy Flores, 16, are Clear Lake sophomores who grew up together.

They say the beach game is “a lot different” from indoor.

“Just being able to move and jump,” Casavecchia said. “Like the sand weighs your feet down and makes you a lot slower.”

Sisters Katelin and Hayley Koop finally got to play together at the event. Katelin, 20, plays volleyball for East Carolina University and arrived home Friday. Hayley, 17, is a junior at Klein and has committed to playing volleyball at the University of Arkansas.

“It’s a lot of fun because we never get to play with each other, and I’m 1,300 miles away,” Katelin said. “We’re really competitive, and we really don’t like to lose. It’s supposed to be fun, but we kind of take it pretty seriously.”

Hayley agreed.

“We both play volleyball, and it’s never worked out where we get to play together,” Hayley said. “My sister just recovered from having shoulder surgery and knee surgery in the last couple months. This is her first time to really play again. It’s nice for us to get to play a sport we both love and play all the time.”

Katelin is a setter for East Carolina and said the rules of the beach can be tougher on her, particularly the one restricting overhand passes.

“I have to keep telling myself, ‘Don’t use your hands,’” she said.