Informal grass volleyball tournament draws players from several counties

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The San Andreas Volleyball Academy (SAVA), San Benito County’s only club volleyball team, held a for-fun grass volleyball tournament on Aug. 3 at Hollister’s Rancho San Justo Middle School in preparation for the upcoming 2024-25 season.

“I’ve been kicking around this idea since last season,” said Hollister High volleyball coach Adrian Masoni. “I thought, ‘How fun would it be if we all got together early in the summer to play some grass volleyball?’”

Masoni advertised the tournament through social media and word of mouth and was surprised when enough players showed up to form 15 teams, ranging in age from 11 to 30.

“We had kids from Hollister, Anzar, Monterey and Seaside High Schools,” he said. “We had middle schoolers, and their parents played as well. Alumni from our club also showed up, like a reunion. It was kind of a grab bag, which was just fine.”

One of the participants was Carlos Garcia, who has played on the SAVA and Hollister High volleyball teams. While his team at the tournament was eliminated during the semi-finals, he said enjoyed the event.   

“It’s just been a great time,” he said. I just like being outdoors—it’s just my thing. I’d rather play outdoors than indoors. And it doesn’t hurt as much when you hit the ground!”

The event was not as structured as the league’s regular games but did serve as a lead-up to SAVA’s tryouts for the 2024-25 season, to be held on August 18 at 6 p.m. at Hollister High. 

Masoni hopes to gain enough players to fill all four of his teams, drawn from four different age groups: 18 and under, 16 and under, 14 and under and 12th and under. 

“We happily accept all levels of experience,” he said, “from those who have never touched a ball to those who play every year.”

Masoni said one of the challenges to learning volleyball is that you have to be in a group to play it. 

“It’s not like basketball where you can go out in your driveway and learn how to shoot hoops,” he said. “You can’t practice volleyball by yourself. And young ones who watched the Olympics can see that its a cool sport. There’s no better way to learn than to go out there and play.”

Masoni founded SAVA in 2018. A physical therapist at Hollister’s Focus Sports Therapy and beer maker, he started playing volleyball at Hollister High and continued through college. Chance brought him back to the high school after college.

“When I returned to Hollister,” he said, “a parent told me that the high school needed coaching help. I told them, ‘I’m in,” and I have been there ever since.”

While SAVA is not a feeder team for the high school, it is no coincidence that players from the league frequently make it onto the high school team.

“It’s been great having those kids,” Masoni said. It keeps the team healthy, and we grow by leaps and bounds every year.”

The non-profit organization participates in five major events throughout Northern California during a season that lasts from August through December. SAVA is sanctioned by the Northern California Volleyball Association under USA Volleyball, the national governing body for the sport in the United States. 

For more information about tryouts or to volunteer as a coach, contact SEVA at sanandreasvolleyballacademy@gmail.com.