Volleyball players from across the New York area will be trying their hand at the off-the-wall sport of wallyball at a tournament to be held on February 12, 2006, at the newly renovated Eastern Athletic Clubs in Brooklyn Heights.

            “This tournament will introduce some intermediate players to wallyball, and we will have our intermediate EAC players there as well,” says George L. Cassius, coach of the National Champion Wallyball teams from EAC.  “The new EAC courts are easy on the knees, and bigger and brighter.”

            Last year, Cassius and Richard Heiles, tournament director at East End Volleyball (EEVB) ran a dual volleyball/wallyball tournament.  This year’s twist is to have a wallyball-only tournament for volleyball players who haven’t played a lot of wallyball, says Heiles, who added:  “The first event went well, so we wanted to do something like it again.”

            The tournament will include three or four divisions of 50 to 60 players, from beginners to the AA level.   Teams will include up to five players per team, with three on the court at once.  Besides the EAC wallyball players, volleyball players in recreational volleyball leagues from Long Island are expected to participate. 

            “Wallyball offers volleyball players more playing time,” says Heiles.  “We can’t play beach volleyball in the winter.  But wallyball is good for maintaining beach volleyball skills because you have to react to the ball quickly.  Three players on a wallyball court is like playing doubles on the beach.”

            National Champion wallyball players from the EAC Open Division will conduct a clinic during the tournament, which will include such sponsors as Chass, EAC, Modell’s, and Native Eyewear Sunglasses.

            The 28^th beach volleyball season run by EEVB will begin with the traditional kickoff in Florida this month.   The Corona Light Big Shot Volleyball Series, which runs through April, offers play at all levels.  Last year’s highlight included 37 nets and 250 teams in Clearwater Beach, FL.  “Our series helps players get ready for the professional beach volleyball season, which begins the first week in April,” says Heiles.

For more information about the wallyball tournament or the upcoming beach volleyball season, go the EEVB Web site www.eevb.net.

            Wallyball leagues have started at EAC, which run from January through May, two days a week.  E-mail George Cassius (George@...) for more information about advanced leagues.

            The EAC will also host the Wallyball Nationals on April 6-9, 2006. Several hundred players from across the country are expected.  This year’s Wallyball Nationals will be extended an extra two days, simulating national and international volleyball tournaments.  Intermediate play will be held on April 6, Advanced play on April 7, and Open play (the highest division) on April 8 and 9.  Sponsors for the Wallyball Nationals will include Modells, Chass, Earth Gear and Samsonite, with new sponsors always welcome, says Cassius