The SpikeKey Beach Volleyball Team is on a cross-country blitz as the sport heats up beaches from the East to West Coasts! The Siesta Key, Florida-based team plays in several different tours with the AVP (Association of Volleyball Professionals) being the top rung. Competition is tough on every level and Megan Wallin and Chara Harris go head-to-head with the guys and gals in each tournament. They’re level of play is top-notch and so is their commitment to the Waboba sponsorship and the 2010 charity endeavor, fundraising for To Write Love On Her Arms (TWLOHA), a non-profit organization dedicated to presenting hope and finding help for people struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury and suicide.
One of the recent stops was to Ocean City, Maryland for the Young Guns AVP event. Ocean City is known for its 3 mile boardwalk with arcades, rides, performers, shops, fries, and Maryland crab cakes. It has a fun carnival feel to it and is one of the most popular beaches and tourist spots on the east coast. During the summer Ocean City hosts several national beach volleyball tournaments. In June, Pro Beach East joined with AVP Young Guns to host over 45 men’s and women’s teams in total. Todd Strassberger (VA) & Ihor Akinshyn (NJ) went undefeated over the two day tournament on the men’s side, and Dana Fiume (NY) & Shanya Munson (FL) won the women’s bracket.
Kortney Dalrymple and Chibuzo Aguocha were Waboab’s featured athletes who were wearing hot pink branded suits. Kortney who is an Ocean City local shared that “Ocean City, MD is where I learned how to play beach volleyball and lived for a number of summers. I love to play here because of the local support and to compete at a place that I can call home!” Kortney is not only a volleyball stud she also is a Clinical Adjunct Instructor at Coastal Carolina University.
Chibuzo Aguocha who flew in for the tournament was an ALL STAR at Furman University not only on the volleyball court but on the track and field arena as well. She was awarded first-team all-conference honors…named the Southern Conference Volleyball Player of the Week after recording 63 kills, 30 digs and seven blocks in three matches at the ECU Invitational. Chibuzo is playing on the beach and is also an account coordinator at an interactive marketing agency.
Later in June, SpikeKey Beach traveled to Belmar, New Jersey for the AVP Tour event. This “jersey shore” location is known for its mile long boardwalk and beach, its large marina that attracts many sports fishing boats, and its surfing. The annual Eastern Surfing Competition takes place there every Labor Day. When the AVP comes to town the “The Shore” becomes a place to be for all volleyball enthusiasts or those who enjoy nice weather and of course the background of professional athletes working hard amid the recreational beach-goers. The weekend can be described as a big enthusiastic crowd, beautiful weather, action-packed days and social nights–and a high level of volleyball featuring some of the hottest teams in the world continuing their dominance.
Waboba had a prominent booth location near one of the featured courts. The high volume of foot traffic made it challenging for the athletes to see much of the action, but they were focused on some serious play! This is one of the many stops that WABOBA is fundraising to benefit TWLOHA. The response to the specially branded balls was so high that the team sold out of all the inventory in stock, but will replenish for the Siesta Key, Florida “Dig the Beach” Tournament, July 10-11. A donation of $10 will be requested with ALL monies collected going directly to TWLOHA. This is Waboba’s and SpikeKey Beach’s way of “giving back” to those less fortunate or in need of help.
If you were not at the Belmar AVP and would like to support TWOLOHA make sure you look at the SpikeKey tour page and map out the next event where you can buy the WABOBA SPORT balls signed by SpikeKey team players. More information is also available at www.wabobablog.com
“We are pleased to be healthy role models to troubled young people,” says Megan Wallin, “We are fortunate in many ways, but we work hard to maintain our healthy bodies and outlook and want to share that spirit with everyone we encounter!”
100% OF ALL THE FUNDS COLLECTED WILL GO TO TWLOHA
Excellent cette petite balle, cela promet de belle rigolade à la plage cette été !