WILDWOOD CREST, N.J. – The fourth annual Ukrainian Sports Federation of U.S.A. and Canada (USCAK) National Beach Volleyball Tournament was held on a sunny Friday, August 28. The tournament was held during “Ukrainian Week” on the beach behind the Pan American motel. Organized and hosted by Lys Sports Academy of Whippany, N.J., the tournament was sponsored by Selfreliance Ukrainian American Federal Credit Union and Ukrainian Selfreliance Federal Credit Union of Philadelphia.
Registration began on Thursday, August 27; a registration table was located prominently on the beach, and a volleyball flag flew above it. In order to participate, teams needed to be affiliated with USCAK member clubs, such as Chornomorska Sitch, Lys Sports Academy, Plast Ukrainian Scouting Organization, Tryzub or the Ukrainian American Youth Association. Eleven adult teams registered for the tournament.
The tournament began at 10 a.m. on Friday with opening ceremonies. The national anthems of Canada, Ukraine and the United States were played. Walter Syzonenko, director of volleyball for USCAK and president of Lys SA, introduced Myron Bytz, USCAK president, who officially offered words of welcome, encouraged participants to play their best, and especially, to have fun. Mr. Syzonenko reviewed the rules of play.
Tournament sponsors and organizers (from left): Roman Kujdych, Ukrainian Selfreliance Federal Credit Union; Myron Bytz, USCAK president; Walter Syzonenko, USCAK director of beach volleyball; Roman Stelmach, Ukrainian Selfreliance FCU.
The teams registered were: “Top Gun,” “USC Diaspora,” “Sitch – Moutai,” “1984,” “Whatever,” “CYM – Hartford,” “Average Joes,” “Paslawsky,” “Babushka,” “Sitch – RAMB” and “Old Style Lite.” The round-robin format had each team playing all of the others. The teams were then ranked by the number of their wins and losses. The top-four teams qualified for the semifinals. The top four teams in order of standings were: 1.) “Old Style Lite,” 2.) “CYM – Hartford,” 3.) “Sitch – Moutai,” and 4.) ”Sitch – RAMB.”
The final was held between two very competitive and talented teams, “Old Style Lite” and “Sitch – Moutai.” A large crowd gathered to watch the final, and the beach around the net was crowded with spectators anticipating a hotly contested match. The final match was exciting, with a high caliber of play, and continues to raise the bar for future tournaments. All games in the final match were very close; in the end “Old Style Lite” prevailed to become the 2015 USCAK beach volleyball champions.
After the final match, the tournament trophy was presented to team “Old Style Lite,” consisting of Andre Olexy, Mark Olexy, Brian Tomko and Danylo Savyckyj. The winner of the tournament’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) award – and a new volleyball – was Andre Olexy.
The tournament was pronounced a great success by all involved, and plans are already being made for next year’s event.
2015 USCAK Beach Volleyball Finalists “Sitch – Moutai” (second to fifth from left) and 2015 USCAK Beach Volleyball Champions “Old Style Lite” (second to fifth from right) with USCAK tournament organizers.