Results: 06.20.2010_Coed Sand Series…Atlanta verses Hilton Head…another city?

So this time let’s bring in a team from Hilton Head, South Carolina and see if the Atlanta teams can hold onto the city title.  Last time, it was Brian and Penelope from Raleigh, North Carolina in the Reverse Coed Grass Series.  This time it is Steven and Jola Graham from Hilton Head, South Carolina.  Special thanks to them for making the trip down to Atlanta to play in an AirVorne Volleyball event…4 hours is a long trip, but did they make it worth the trip?

As pool play can to an end, the teams were ranked as follows based on their record first and then points for any ties:

1.  Ryan Hojnacki / Chibuzo Aguocha

2.  Steve and Jola Graham

3.  Darin and Michelle Edler

4.  Greg and Judy Baker

5.  Jonathon Barbaree / Melissa Schmitz

6.  Tim Carlson / Janice Fung

7.  Chris ‘Cajun’ Allemand / Debbie Price

Before playoffs began, the #6 – Tim / Janice and #7 – Cajun / Debbie had to play a playoff for the Quarterfinals.  One game to 21…no cap.  It was good to see Cajun, the crafty veteran, back on the court again and also good to see Debbie as his partner.  Unfortunately, #7 – Cajun / Debbie lost to #6 – Tim / Janice…21-13.

So Quarterfinals were set.  The #1 – Hoj / Chewy and the #2 – the Grahams received a ‘bye’ in the first round.  #3 – the Edlers verses #6 – Tim / Janice were on the yellow court; #4 – the Bakers verses #5 – JB / Melissa were on the red court.  Quarterfinals were games to 25 points…again, no cap.  So the question to start off with is:  does Tim / Janice have enough game to beat the defending champs?  The Edlers knew it was Tim’s birthday and gave him his present…the clip board and pen for the Semi-finals as the Edlers defeated the birthday boy and Janice…25-13.  Happy Birthday, Tim…

The other Quarterfinals puts #4 – the Bakers against #5 – JB / Melissa.  One of the interesting things about JB / Melissa’s play can be described in two words:  role reversal.  On a men’s net, Melissa went up to the net and block while JB sat back waiting to play defense.  Did this work?  Unfortunately, it didn’t work with the Bakers although JB / Melissa kept it close…the Bakers would advance to the Semi-finals…25-20.

So the Semi-finals were set with the top 4 teams advancing.  Yellow Courts:  #1 – Hoj / Chewy verses #4 – the Bakers and the Red Court:  #2 – the Grahams verses #3 – the Edlers.  What do you expect from these matches?  Again, one game to 25 points, win by 2 points – no cap.

On the Yellow Court, an upset was in the making…let’s just say Greg brought his game on which I haven’t seen in awhile.  Hoj and Chewy were struggling to sideout consistently and fell behind.  It seemed like the mental game became a factor with Hoj and Chewy or maybe the heat…not quite sure.  In the end, #4 – the Bakers defeated #1 – Hoj / Chewy to advance to the finals for the first time…25-18.

On the Red Court, we had two married couples ready for battle…#2 – the Grahams and #3 – the Edlers.  This match was like a reality game show in the making…experience veterans from out of town verses the crafty / hustle your arse off parents.  From the start of the match to the very end, each team traded point for point.  The Grahams began to take the lead at the end of the game and eventually won the match…25-21.

So it comes to the battle of the cities once again – each represented by two wonderful couples…#2 – Team Hilton Head – The Grahams verses #4 – Team Atlana – The Bakers.  Final match:  2 out of 3 games…first two games to 21 points with no cap…third if necessary, 15 points with no cap.  Judy looked like she was about to shoot me when I mentioned that to her.  The first game again was point for point…siding out from each team.  The Grahams took the lead 20-17, but then Greg once again brought his game with jump serves.  All the Grahams needed to do is sideout to win…unfortunately, Greg’s serve was too much and Team Atlanta won the first game…22-20.  The second game was similar to the first but this time Team Hilton Head closed the game out with a win of their own…21-17.  As  mentioned before, the third game was to 15 points with no cap.  The momentum of the second game carried through to the third game for Team Hilton Head.  By this time, it looked like Team Atlanta seemed exhausted.  The travel down to Atlanta that morning was worth their drive down as Steve and Jola Graham won the final game…15-9.

Congratulations to Steve and Jola Graham from Hilton Head, South Carolina!!!  Not only did you play well that day…you also made some new friends here in Atlanta.

For more photos from this tournament, please visit the photo page above.

Please check the calendar for our next Coed Sand Series Tournament.

See you guys on the courts…

Dennis Jocson

AirVorne Volleyball