MEMORIAL DAY VOLLEYBALL 2026

Not your average Monday out at Charlotte Beach, unless it's Memorial Day and you are part of the long running crew who comes out every year to enjoy their passion of competitive beach volleyball. 33 teams and 66 sun loving volleyball addicts participated this year. And that’s not even counting the half a dozen fur babies and youngsters who were either digging in the sand or basking in their stroller. What a beautiful Memorial Day this was.

GOLD CHAMPS - “Mon-Dre’s, Am I right?”
(UPPER INTERMEDIATE)

14 teams in 3 pools made up this division. A few infamous volleyball couples, some long time beach players, and a handful of up and coming youngsters. But, who would have thought a libero from Roberts Wesleyan and bride to be would be the ones to take it down………..o ya, everyone did. Overall #1 seed Andrea Coyle and Moises Jimenez took care of business on their way to their first Memorial Day victory.

It wasn’t smooth sailing all day for these two and sorry Gen Z you can’t just ask AI how to win a volleyball tournament. Ok you can, but you can’t rely on it. The only thing you can rely on is your own skill and a partner to lift you up. Dre and Moises went 3-1 in pool play with a small blemish coming from old school Scotty B and his partner Maya taking a 25-22 victory from the soon to be champs. A loss like that early doesn’t show up as an issue immediately during the tournament, but come play off time when you look up and have to go through not only 1 but 2 of the top seeds in the tournament you realize your mistake. And that’s why it took a blitzing start and a comeback fend off to take out Shaun Turner and “needs no last name” Tara in the semis and a 3 game match play battle to finish off the Bittker’s and take home gold.

SILVER CHAMPS - “Silver Hair”
(UPPER INTERMEDIATE)

Remember Scotty B and Maya, the only team to take one from the champs? They won silver handily. Defeating the teams of Mikelly/Amanda and Ben/Kay. Similar to how the day started, their tournament was a little cloudy and cold in the beginning, but in the playoffs they shined like the afternoon sun. A good way to finish the day.

GOLD CHAMPS - “Pulverzing the Competition”
(LOWER INTERMEDIATE)

Don’t let this division's name fool you. With a big turnout of 19 teams, it took a lot of stamina, guts, and a little bit of love to take this division. And that’s exactly what Mike and Jess Pulver are made of.

A perfect 7-0 record throughout the day. Didn’t matter if it was windy, didn’t matter it was hot, didn’t matter if they were facing long time Sunday Funday staples Chrissy and Todd Allen, didn’t matter if they were playing Ben Zipprich with a bowl of (Julia) Kellog’s Frosted Flakes, the result was the same, win!

Colin and Steph were happy with their run making into semis after a long volleyball hiatus. Both of them have two of their own boys and they made them very proud. Ciotti and Wes also had a fantastic day playing and both were happy knowing a loss in the finals still secures them a judgement free spot in lower intermediate…..or does it?

SILVER CHAMPS - “Two Burgos, One Victory”
(LOWER INTERMEDIATE)

Lots of volleyball for Team Burgos Matt and Kristen to take down the silver victory today. 3-3 on the day, but almost all their wins came when it mattered. With a second win over Kenny and Paige in playoffs and a finals beatdown of a Skinny Rick and Mariah secured this lovely couple the win.