Adrian Rodriguez (right) just misses a block during Wednesday's competitive sand volleyball match at Freedom Park. (Ed Wright photo)

Local athletes dig the adrenaline rush of competitive sand volleyball

BY ED WRIGHT
Aug. 7, 2010, 9:15 a.m.

  That was not your typical family reunion-caliber sand volleyball game unfolding on the west court at Canton's Freedom Park Wednesday night.

  The serves had a lot more zip, the slams defied gravity with a noticeably higher degree of velocity and the diving digs, well, they were much more entertaining than what you'd see your aunt Isabel stretching for with her left hand while holding a plate of potato salad in her right.

   Wednesday's match was an encounter between Team Kryska and the Bumpin' Uglies, members of the Canton Leisure Services Competitive Sand Volleyball League, which features several former high school and collegiate players.

  Throw in an ocean and replace the tall oak trees just south of the courts with palm trees, and you'd swear you were on a Southern California beach watching big-time sand volleyball.

  "I love the competition in this league," said Mary Kryska, a member of the team that bears her last name. "You know it's going to be a good match every night you come out here.

  "The skill level is pretty high. At the beginning of the season, there were only five competitive teams and seven rec teams signed up, so they had to move one of the rec teams to competitive. The team they moved over to competitive is 0-27, which shows the difference between the rec and competitive teams."

  While there was a steady stream of good-natured joking going on between Team Kryska and the Bumpin' Uglies Wednesday night, it was also apparent that both teams were in it to win it.

  Teammates communicated much like high school teams would do and set up their big players for sizzling slams that often hit the sand at non-returnable speeds.

  "The rules are basic sand volleyball rules," said Kryska. "It's four-on-four, you can't tip the ball and you can't hand receive. We play three games to 21 with rally scoring.

  "I like this league because you show up every Wednesday knowing you're going to get a good game. Sometimes when you try to organize pick-up games on Sunday afternoons, it's hard to get everybody to show up."

  With the season winding down, Team Kryska sits atop the competitive league standings with a stellar 29-1 record, nine games up on Wilson (17-10), aptly named after the co-star of the movie "Castaway".

  After getting swept in three games on Wednesday, the Bumpin' Uglies slipped to 14-16. Team Schwiderson (13-14), Airborne (11-16) and Just the Tip/Bowery (0-27) rounded out the standings.

  Heading the recreation division was Smilin' 2 Screamin', which had served up a 20-7 mark to stay just ahead of the Irish Setters (18-9). Other rec teams include Release the Kraken (16-11), Sparty (11-16), Sets on the Beach (9-18) and the Vollybeasts (7-21).

  For more information on Canton Leisure Services sand volleyball leagues and upcoming indoor leagues, call (734) 394-5460.

  Ed Wright can be reached at (734) 453-1980 or info@plymouthcantonsports.com.

Beth Trader goes low to pass the ball. (Ed Wright photo) 

Adrian Rodriguez settles under a pass. (Ed Wright photo)

Steve Kuznicki elevates high to knock down a kill. (Ed Wright photo)

Mary Kryska prepares to serve during her team's Wednesday night showdown against the Bumpin' Uglies. (Ed Wright photo)

The recreation game that unfolded on the court next to the competitive match featured some high-quality action. (Ed Wright photo)

Annie Hughes makes a nice play on the ball. (Ed Wright photo)

This attempted kill sailed just deep of the end line. (Ed Wright photo)

Shannon Pietruszk makes a nice play to prevent a kill. (Ed Wright photo)