The lowdown: How about some
beach volleyball? In Southfield! OK, so it's not really a beach,
but the sand volleyball courts at the Civic Center Park in Southfield
are a big draw for Christine Buen and Bob Holdridge. They typically
have played there once a week during the summer -- sometimes more
-- for about six years. A two-person team for about five years,
the pair recently finished in second place in a co-ed two league
run by the Stay & Play Social Club.
Who they are: Redford resident Buen, who describes
herself as "older than 30," is a teacher at Dunckel
Middle School in Farmington Hills. She played one year of varsity
volleyball at Madonna University and coaches junior varsity volleyball
at North Farmington High. Holdridge, 32, of Troy works in accounting
at DaimlerChrysler and coaches high school and YMCA swimming.
They share an easy, but sometimes intense, partnership on the
sand, shouting encouragement and directions at each other like
"Get it! Get it! Get it!" or "Me! Me! Me!"
as the ball moves up, down and around.
The lowdown: There are five adjacent courts
at the Southfield complex, and on a recent Sunday afternoon that
stretched into the evening, each was occupied. There were about
40 people spread across the five games, some of which were informal,
and others were part of the Stay & Play league.
Although it was obvious the volleyball was taken fairly seriously
-- we saw some sand-bursting spikes and several serious digs and
saves -- the Stay & Play players said it's the camaraderie
that keeps them coming back. Many of them have been playing against,
or with, each other for years -- and become girlfriends and boyfriends
or husbands or wives in the process.
"It's cool fun, good exercise -- hang out and have a good
time," Holdridge said. "You come out here at 2 or 3
in the afternoon, play whenever. Just watch some good volleyball.
It's like your Sunday relaxation."
Wearing a tie-dyed tank top, reflective sunglasses and MSU shorts,
Buen gestured her hands toward several friends who were playing
or spectating and explained what she likes best about the league:
"It's social."
The club: Stay & Play Social Club is a Royal
Oak-based organization that's as much about good times as it is
sports. That said, it has about 2,500 participants in sports leagues
that run Sunday through Thursday in the summer months, including
sand volleyball divisions in co-ed (six-, four- and two-player)
and men's two. It also offers soccer, softball, kickball and tennis.
In addition to sports, it organizes trips, bar and restaurant
nights and many other events.
Article Originally Posted on The Freep.
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