KAILUA-KONA — The Keauhou Volleyball Association is starting to get noticed in town once again as it begins to host tournaments at the Coconut Grove volleyball court, which opened back up earlier this year.
KVA used to be a regular presence downtown, hosting tournaments, but over the last 10 to 12 years, they have been scattered around, usually playing at their home court, just outside of town in Keauhou.
Now back in the heart of Kailua-Kona, the KVA is looking to gain some attention and so far they have hosted two tournaments this year, the Summer Jam a few months back and the Volley-Boo Tournament, which was held this weekend to help benefit the Kona Community Hospital’s Cancer Treatment Center.
“Keauhou Volleyball has been around for at least 40 years, well before I was born,” said long time member Jesse Hinchcliff, who was raised in the sport and has plans to tryout for the pro volleyball tour soon. “We used to play down here when Humpy’s was the Hard Rock but the court was closed down. Now it is back and it is exciting. It is a central location, more convenient and we can get bigger crowds. There are also a lot of good restaurants.”
KVA is known for its community involvement, and the Volley-Boo Tourney is no exception. The club is helping to raise money for renovations to the cancer center and all the money raised from the tournament is going to be used to make information packets, which will be given to patients who have been recently diagnosed with the disease.
“It’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month, which is why we put this event together,” said Volley-Boo Tournament director and KVA board member Mia Dorr. “The cancer treatment center really needs assistance, financially, and hopefully we can help out.”
The three-day tourney, which wrapped up on Sunday, had roughly 60 participants ranging from pro talent to beginners and intermediate players. Teams were selected randomly by drawing for the two-team Ghoul of the Beach tourney, a fun play on words for a King of the Beach format.
There was also a four-team competition where players were required to dress up in Halloween costumes. Each team had to have a female member, and the female member was required to touch the ball on every possession.
During the two-person tournament, every player was required to wear something pink so they would not get docked a point.
“It was a good mix of players and a very fun event,” said Jim Dorr, co-tournament director and KVA board member. “We also had a silent auction on a bike and we were passing a hat around to take donations that would go directly to the cancer treatment facility.”
Hinchcliff was the favorite to win the Ghoul of the Beach after winning the Summer Jam. After the first day of competition, he found himself in a tie for first place and played a tiebreaker on Saturday, but fell to his former teammate by one point.
“I could feel everyone gunning for me,” said Hinchcliff, who played 12 matches on Friday and had to be at the court at 8 a.m. on Saturday for his tiebreaker match. “Volleyball pretty much means everything to me. It is nearly on the same level as family. I am in my prime right now and It is a lot of fun.”
