Northwestern’s Student Activities is organizing the annual Giant Beach Volleyball tournament to be held on Monday and Tuesday next week. The event, which first began in 2012, puts a twist on the familiar volleyball sport by making everything bigger.
As in years past, Student Activities leaders hope to pair brother and sister wings together to form teams for the games. There is no limit to the number of players who can be on the court at one time. Every teammate is allowed to be on the court during the entire course of the match. In a combined effort, the teams will have to work to soar the forty-inch inflatable ball over the net.
To add some difficulty and creativity to the tournament, each team is encouraged to dress up to match a specific theme.
“There will be an option for the teams to choose their own school-appropriate theme for the games,” said member of Student Activities Aaron Rinehart. “But, we will also have an overall theme for the teams to dress as.”
As an added bonus to the Giant Beach Volleyball event, the team who is best dressed to fit their theme will be awarded a prize.
Student Activities director Aaron Beadner , explained that two prizes will be presented at the end of the tournament. The team winning best dressed will be awarded a gift card to a local restaurant, and the team winning the tournament overall will be awarded another other gift certificate.
Veterans of the game don’t need to worry about the rules — they haven’t changed from previous years. Each team is allowed three hits to get the ball over the net. Both a male and a female member of the team must hit the ball before it can go over to the other side, unless the ball makes it over with just one hit. Additionally, a block does not count as a hit.
One of two things must take place for the game to end: a team must make it to 15 points or 15 minutes of game time must go by.
When asked what students enjoy most about the event, Rinehart only had one answer.
“It’s basically the community. Giant Beach Volleyball is a great competitive or low competitive activity where the whole campus can come together to play and have fun.”
On top of that, Beadner added that the games are an “opportunity to meet new people and are a great social mixer because both males and females are on each team.”
Student Activities extends an invitation for every student to come to this fun event. “Come play and have fun with friends,” Rinehart encouraged.
Giant Beach Volleyball will take place in the RSC basketball court area with open play on January 22 and then a bracket round on the 23rd.
