New sand volleyball court installed by East Lake

On Saturday, Aug. 10, the Paris Park Board is hosting a sand volleyball tournament on the new volleyball courts at West Lake Park. According to Paris High School volleyball head coach Clay Bess, starting at 9 a.m. up to 40 teams will compete in teams of two or four. People from all over the area are expected to show up for the tournament.

“With two courts and 30-minute games, we can pull this off,” said Bess. ‘We obtained special event insurance, so we will have waivers for each player to fill out.”

Earlier this week, finishing touches to the volleyball court were added with the help of the park board. Unfortunately, the permanent nets will be installed on a later date due to shipping issues.

“The group we’ve been working with is based out of Washington. They sell the nets and shipping is going to take around 45 days,” said Bess. “We’ll use two portable ones this year and everything will be fine until the permanent ones come in.”

On Wednesday, Aug. 1, members of the Paris High School volleyball team were the first ones to leave their mark on the court. Girls played games and practiced their skills in the sand.

“The high school girls are really excited for this, especially after getting onto the court Wednesday and playing. I’m excited for the courts because it’s another great amenity that the city and park board have added to our parks, and it will increase interest in volleyball,” said Bess. “Volleyball’s a tough sport to play pick-up style since, until now, you’d need gym space and nets. Once the permanent nets are installed, that changes for the community, and I know that will drive a love for the game.”

Registration for the event is available online, but will also be open for athletes starting at 8:30 a.m. on the day of the tournament. The entry fee for the competition is $15 per player.

“Once teams are registered, they’ll be split into different brackets based on age and competitiveness level,” said Bess.

The event is currently looking for sponsors “to submit either monetary donations to cover equipment and insurance costs or to submit prizes/gift cards for the champion teams.” Any individuals or businesses interested in donating are asked to reach out to Clay Bess at 217-264-3305.