AirVorne Volleyball – How HOT is TOO HOT at Piedmont Park…

Well, you can ask the women who played in the third tournament of the Women Sand Series of AirVorne Volleyball. This women’s tournament was held for the first time at Piedmont Park and was our biggest yet with 9 teams registered. Two teams from Tennessee came down to represent their state: Jennifer Woodard / Sonya Mansfield Ross and Melissa Kilroy / Karime Binkley. The weather condition that day was torturing as temperatures reached up as high as 96 degrees. The players were getting their sand socks out to prepare for their matches. All teams played a round robin format during pool play – games to 21 with no cap. The top 4 teams were to advance to the playoffs. The result for June 20th’s Women’s Sand Series (after pool play) were:

Advanced to Playoffs:
• Jackie Viren / Sheila Gatlin
• Kristi Barrett-Hayes / Amber Ramga
• Kim Dalimonte / Amanda ‘Ada’ Dashwood
• Elaine Sha / Kristin Zschau

Finished in their respected places:
• Melissa Kilroy / Karime Binkley
• Laura Benjamin / Kate Wilson
• Jennifer Woodard / Sonya Mansfield Ross
• Judy Mar-Baker / Patti Vrobel
• Amanda Pilcher / Kenyatta Lovelace

Semi-finals were one game to 21 points. Jackie Viren / Sheila Gatlin played Elaine Sha / Kristin Zschau. Jackie and Sheila battled to win over Elaine and Kristin 21-15. In the other semi-final, Amber Ramga / Kristi Hayes played Kim Dalimonte / Ada Dashwood. This semi-final ended in a very close game that resulted in Kim and Ada victorious over Amber / Kristin 23-21.

The finals were set – Jackie Viren / Sheila Gatlin against Kim Dalimonte / Ada Dashwood. The game went back and forth until the switch at 15-13 with Jackie and Sheila ahead. Kim and Ada battled back to tie the game at 16-16. From the sidelines, you can see the player’s exhaustion from the heat of the day. Jackie and Sheila then took a dominating lead with a 19-16 switch, but Kim and Ada battled back even harder with tough serves and amazing plays tying the game at 20-20. In the end, Jackie’s determination for winning and Sheila’s consistent play and amazing shots took them to the end with a win 23-21.

Congratulations to Jackie Viren and Sheila Gatlin for winning a long and extremely hot day of volleyball.

Again, special thanks for the players from Tennessee for coming down and playing in this event. We hope to see you back here for another tournament soon.

See you guys on the court…

Dennis Jocson
AirVorne Volleyball, LLC.

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