Volleyball Tourney Still Growing
Growth.
In a word, that pretty much describes the Spike & Dig Volleyball Tournament, slated for its fourth annual edition Aug. 5-6 on the grass and sand courts at Spokane Falls Community College.
“We had 177 teams last year and we’ll go over 200 this year,” said organizer Jerry Schmidt. That, he added proudly, “puts us in the top 10 in the country for participants.”
And at the top of the list, he said, for areas with four-season climates. “Those ahead of us are all in places like Orlando and Los Angeles.”
The family-oriented, six-on-six event will be contested in six divisions for adults and youth, from strictly recreation to highly competitive. Nearly half the participants, he noted, are women.
“This is a fun tournament,” said Schmidt. “It’s not real competitive except at the top level. It’s geared around the family,” with activities including a food fair.
But at the competitive end, teams are coming from Canada, Colorado and throughout the Northwest. The format calls for four pool matches Saturday. Teams are then bracketed for a singleelimination tournament Sunday, and at least two more matches.
Registration forms are available at Rosauers stores, Cox Cable, KZZU-FM, Barton Oldsmobile and area sporting goods stores.
Info: 325-0740.
Bowling
A hush, Jeremy Allen was told, went over the building. His heart was pounding so loudly he didn’t notice.
Allen, 16, who’ll be a junior at North Central High School in the fall, silenced the crowd at Leilani Lanes in Seattle July 8 when he rolled a 300 game during a junior team Swiss tournament.
“I was a little nervous,” he admitted as his first perfect game unfolded. “It went real quiet; everyone was standing around watching, my Mom and Dad told me, but I was too nervous to look up.”
Having his parents there, he added, was special. “That’s all I wanted for my first 300.”
The Empire Ford team from Spokane had four top-seven finishes, led by Gary Friberg’s scratch all-events title, in the 79th Northwest International Bowling Congress Tournament at Frontier Lanes in Tacoma last month.
Friberg, who had a 300 game in compiling an 802 doubles score, had a 2,220 scratch all-events. His 2,244 handicap was good for seventh.
Bob Meulner, who teamed with Friberg for seventh in doubles with a 1,532 handicap score, was third in all-events handicap with a 2,291.
Tennis
The 26th annual Kootenai County Championships, Aug. 18-20 at North Idaho College in Coeur d’Alene, is being expanded to include nonKootenai County residents in hopes of attracting players from Spokane.
Entry deadline is Aug. 14. Info: David Dickinson (208) 667-8912.