In a finals match that underscored both sportsmanship how much more exciting beach volleyball is with side-out rather than rally scoring, Bishop Montgomery volleyball coach Kevin Norman led his team to a 19 to 17 victory in the 55th Annual 17th Street Labor Day Weekend Volleyball tournament on Sunday.
The former AVP pro and teammates Derek Levy, Danny Boehle and Joe Rumsey were behind at match point, 13-14. Then the game began. Norman’s two kills gave his team the lead. But their opponents Paul Spittle, Mike Ferris, Todd Taugner and David Burke sided out and retook the lead.
The tension-building sides outs continued for over half an hour as the sun set and the teams painstakingly inched up the score.
With Norman’s team leading 16-15, Norman blocked Spittle and the ball fell to the sand at Spittle’s feet. The crowd exploded with cheers and Norman’s teammates began to celebrate. But then Norman raised a hand in the air and said, “I netted.”
No one in the crowd or on the opposing team had seen the net, which left the game tied at 16-16.
Spittle took advantage of the opportunity on the next play to reach match point for the third time.
But Norman’s inspired team fought back and finally won, 19-17.
Former AVP pro Canyon Cemen called rally scoring a “bastardization of the game” when it was implemented a dozen years ago to accommodate television and event schedules. Sunday’s tournament was a reminder of why side-out scoring’s unpredictability couldn’t be tolerated by the sports’ commercial interests, and why it’s demanded by the sports’ purists, including Sunday’s organizers Charlie Cangialosi and John Star.
Norman’s net call on himself was also a reminder of the old beach traditions that make the South Bay’s neighborhood tournaments so memorable.
The Lee Campbell MVP Cup, presented to the player who best embodies the spirit of the 17th Street tournament, went to Derek Levy. It was the first time the award has gone to a “D” player. The award is presented by Kevin Campbell and his family in honor of his father, who co-founded the tournament.
As the D player, Levy was the frequent target of opposing teams’ serves. During the semi finals, Pete Henze sent a floater serve that zeroed in on Levy’s chest. Because it’s illegal to receive the ball with open hands, Levy started backing up so he could get his forearms under the ball.
“The more I backed up, the more the ball floated up and I didn’t want to be called for a throw, so I dropped my hands and threw out my chest,” Levy said.
The ball bounced forward in a perfect arc to Bohele, who set it for Norman, who put the ball away.
Following the tournament, Levy and Taugner, his opposing “D” player in the finals, took the MVP Cup to Cantina Real restaurant on Pier Plaza, where it received a reception worthy of the Stanley Cup.
The tournament was sponsored by Bud Light and El Gringo restaurants. Proceeds will benefit the Jimmy Miller foundation, the Hermosa Beach K9 Unit, the Redondo and Mira Costa high school volleyball programs and the Hermosa Beach Education Foundation. ER
