week7

The Rockaway Beach Volleyball League was greeted in week 7 with more beautiful weather at Riis Park. Will it ever end? This is like the roulette wheel coming up “Black” seven times in a row. It just doesn’t happen. Next week is position week for 8 of the 10 divisions, pitting 1^st vs. 2^nd, 3^rd vs. 4^th, 5^th vs. 6^th and 7^th vs. 8^th place trams. Only the Beach and Moon divisions have a regular scheduled game. It is a time pennant races usually tighten up as the stretch run to the playoffs begins. If your points are tied with another team or teams in the standings a tie-breaker has been applied to distinguish your position. The tie-breaker is head-to-head record and it determines who plays whom in this important week. The Invisible Girl was missing from Casino Auto Body and she even took the Visible Girl, Brianna, with her. That meant it was once again time for Emergency Girl, Alana McCarthy, to step up to the plate. And so she did, serving beautifully and even hitting a winner at the net. She must be feeling more comfortable each week because a ball landed at Joe’s feet without him making a play on it and she quickly exclaimed, “Really, Joe.” Who knows how long it will be before she moves Rocky out as captain? The match against Witt’s End was incredibly tight at 2 games each and 15-15 in game 5 when Billy Collins went on a blocking rampage and blocked the last 6 points for a 21-15 win. And those blocks were against 6’8” and 6’4” hitters, who were very tall though very old, too. Mr. Happy continues to build Your Name Could Be Here______ with happiness and love. However, Wednesday night Olivia was locked in her house by her evil parents and was forced to climb out the bathroom window to escape. She didn’t arrive until game 3 of the match but combined with Caroline did major damage. She took it to her mom and the Gliders but could only muster up 2 wins with her late start. Watch out next week. (Unless she gets locked in the basement.) The team still remains in 2^nd place with a bright future.

It is getting darker earlier and earlier. Picking up your net early and setting up early are really good ideas. Returning your net when you are finished is still the way we need this to go. A dozen nets were returned to the POD this week in pitch darkness. What took you so long? The 2^nd team on the schedule is the home team and responsible for picking up the net by 6:30 PM at the latest. If it is not set up by 6:45 the home team just forfeited game 1. If you are the away team on the schedule and you arrive first, please pick up the net and get to it. You keep telling us you just want to play. Well, go play. The first team on the schedule is the away team and is responsible for returning the net to the POD, where Steve is waiting for you. Bring it back as soon as your match finishes. Check the bag for the ball and all other equipment. Try to get the sand out, too. Do not place the shovel in the bag; bring it up separately. Bring the bag and shovel to the table outside the POD and open it up. (Steve is Superman but he does not have X-ray vision.) Wait until it has been marked “Returned” and then go on your merry way. Finally, if there are problems with the net or broken or missing pieces let someone know and it will be fixed. On 7/5, 5 in a Bodi from the Ocean Breeze never returned their bag and will forfeit any wins they had that night. On 7/12, the Melons from the Beach Breeze never returned their bag and will forfeit any wins they had this week. Both teams are on probation which means they could be out of the league with any other violations, including unsportsmanlike conduct, forfeits, etc. People wait years to get into the RBVL when there is a rare opening; don’t blow it, people. Special thanks to Ryan Ford who went home to get his own net so we all could play on Wednesday. Otherwise, we were one net short from last week. Right now forfeits and probations are in order but if this problem continues in the RBVL it is likely fines will soon follow as well.

EZ Company took 4 against the Odd Couples. Now that the team has a winning record, coach decided we can break radio silence. Deb showed off her new under the net shot that reminded her opponent that not only baseball catchers should wear cups. Happy birthday TJ and Sheila. All those cupcakes seemed to slow the birthday boy down. As usual, Martina was flying all over the place to retrieve every ball. Her new nickname has to be Marty McFly. Tony O spent enough time in the sand that a hungry passerby asked him if he was a veal cutlet. Barbara proved yet again that she knows talent when she sees it. DQ secretly let only the best secret-keeper know which teammate you would want in a foxhole with you. The younger Rock Family led by Bobbo, Ted, Emma and Jackie took it the slightly older Rat Pack four games to one. However, three of the wins were quite close and seem to turn on little things like a "Ball" call and a foot fault. The Rat Pack got their Sinatra on and facing a Bob-less lineup, routed the Rock Family, led by the incredible part-time setter, part-time spiker, Jackie, as well as Mike and Kevin in game 5. The weekly after-party was held at the beach, highlighted by the Gray Riders Band, led by RBVL legend Bugsy Goldberg. The music and perfect weather made for another spectacular night at Riis Park. Next week the after-party will be hosted by the Community House so come on inside and enjoy a few cold beverages with the rest of the league.

Captains are reminded that they can have items entered in the weekly Wave article by e-mailing Joe at jmcgivney2@nyc.rr.com by 11 PM on Wednesday night. So far, hardly anyone has submitted items and your articles will get shorter and shorter each week. And that’s OK if that’s your choice. Otherwise, send a sentence or two to be printed. Or, if you know someone in the league interested in writing, let us know. Maria Perez is a reporter/photographer from the Wave and she will be taking pictures at the beach each week. Make her feel welcome at our Wednesday night extravaganza. I’m sure you’ll agree; pictures are nice. If you have any questions along the way please contact Steve Gifford via e-mail at irvman331@verizon.net.

See you on the beach!