THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, June 4, 1995 TAG: 9506040249
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BOB MOLINARO
LENGTH: Medium: 83 lines
Sun and surf. Umbrellas flapping in the sea breeze. Bikini-clad spectators. The scent of coconut oil wafting through the air. Maybe a palm tree or two.
This is a perfect setting for beach volleyball as brought to us by America's image makers - television and beer companies.
Not so ideal, maybe, are a couple courts hard by a parking garage in Norfolk, constructed from 325 tons of industrial sand trucked in for the weekend.
If any of the traditional beach volleyball trappings were to be found along Boush Street on Saturday morning, I didn't see them. Overhead, a gray sky spit rain off and on. Substituting for palm trees were a couple street lights. While I was there, no bikini sightings were reported.
``These guys,'' Tommy Garner said, ``usually don't play in the middle of a downtown area.''
Garner is director of the two-man pro volleyball tournament being held in conjunction with Harborfest. In its sixth year, the Best of the East Invitational attracts some of the finest players from volleyball's still largely anonymous cast of outstanding athletes and free spirits.
``Doubles in the sand is its own entity,'' said Dave Schlosser, who hails from the beach volleyball capital of Philadelphia.
Back home, Schlosser, 30, coaches youth teams in conventional six-person volleyball. That's his job. Playing on sand is his passion.
``Indoors, you can screw up and there are five other people to bail you out,'' he said. ``On this stuff, you've got to be a more well-rounded, versatile player.''
Not to mention, a very quick one. The barefooted players move around like sand crabs.
As Garner reminded me, ``These guys cover the same amount of court as six players usually do.''
From what I could see, they go about their digging, setting and smashing in great high spirits. Sand volleyball players, whether they be No. 1-seeded teammates Chris Hanneman and Ronny Jenkins of Florida, or Willie Hughes and Dan Barrows of Virginia Beach, are easy to approach, easy to like.
Could this be because they don't take themselves too seriously? That's my guess.
The sport has reached television now. But worldwide, only about 20 players, such as the team of Karch Kiraly and Kent Steffes, make a great living on the sand.
Others, like Hanneman, consider volleyball to be ``a summer job.''
Looking out from behind ``Killer Loop'' shades (a sponsor, of course), Hanneman, 30, spoke fondly of his experiences on the Spanish tour, and his campaigns in Africa and Australia.
``It's a real good opportunity to see the world and to get paid for it,'' he said.
Meanwhile, Barrows, 38, recalled that it wasn't that long ago that he and his buddies ``played at 89th Street at the ocean, and nobody knew we were there.''
Now the world knows about beach volleyball. In '96, it will be an Olympic medal sport in Atlanta.
I'm more impressed by what I saw in a couple hours of spectating down by the parking garage.
While I was there, the tournament was nearly as self-contained as a track meet or swimming competition, where the competitors and audience are basically the same people. The heavy weather couldn't have helped.
The conditions, though, didn't interfere with my appreciation of the players' skills. The way they use the inside of their forearms as shock absorbers. How they dig out hard shots inches off the sand, then feather passes to their teammates. The sixth sense they possess in moving to the right place at the right time.
What is it like watching the downtown sandmen compete?
Like a day at the beach. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
L. TODD SPENCER
Sean Beasley tries to block a shot by Ronnie Jenkins, who with
teammate Chris Hanneman is seeded No. 1, at the Best of the East
Invitational pro volleyball tournament, held in conjunction with
Harborfest this weekend.
by CNB