Grand Champions Cup

Nagoya, Japan - Beijing Olympic silver medallists Brazil became the first team to defence the World Grand Champions Cup men's volleyball when they outgunned Japan on Monday.

The Brazilian men, who won the tournament in 1997 and 2005, powered their way through to a 25-12, 26-24, 25-22 victory for their third title in the six-team round robin competition.

"In the tournament as a whole, Brazil had our ups and downs but when we needed to be stable in the big matches we played better. That is the most important thing," said Brazilian coach Bernardo Rezende.

"Right now we are going to have a party tonight but from tomorrow I must start thinking how to build a stronger team for next year's World League and the World Championship," he added.

Captain Gilberto Godoy Filho said: "Brazil played one of the best matches today, because it was like a final and I know what happens in the Brazilian players' mind. We have a little bit more experience in taking the moments in the set to win the game." ~ Source: India Times

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Product Spotlight: Sport Tutor

The silver model volleyball machine great for digs and kills.

The Silver Model volleyball machine has a high release point 5-1/2 feet high, which makes timing on kills virtually the same as from a human setter. The high release point also allows shooting downward to practice digs.

A simple dial controls the amount of topspin or underspin you desire. The combination of a high release point and spin control lets you easily duplicate varying degrees of topspin serves. Other features on the silver model volleyball machine include large, non-marking casters for easily moving around the court, and assembly/ disassembly in minutes with no tools for improved portability.

Not long ago baseball pitching machines were a novelty. Today, no serious baseball program would be without one. The volleyball machine Sport Tutor can give you a competitive edge right now. Tomorrow, you may need this Volleyball Tutor just to be competitive.

For more information on our volleyball machines, please visit our website!

How to Build a Volleyball Court

1. Excavate the court area to your desired depth using a Bobcat or front-end loader. Our experts all advise against using a bulldozer or backhoe (the bulldozer won't be able to pick up and replace the dirt, and the backhoe won't dig a level surface). If you're in a low sea level area (for example, shoreline areas in Florida), the court should be built slightly above ground. Use the dirt you excavate to create a slight slope up to the court.

2. Arrange your court perimeter (if desired) around the edges of the excavated site. This keeps dirt and grass from leaking into the court and vice-versa. If you're using railroad ties or similar materials, our experts suggest covering the exposed top edges with some sort of padding to minimize injury potential. One expert says he's had great luck buying used rubber escalator handrail material from escalator-or companies and seating it atop his 2 x 6-inch wooden boundaries.

3. Lay out your drainage pipe, perforated side down, with the open end at the low point of the court. You may wish to wrap each section of pipe with some type of filter to keep sand from filling up the pipe: burlap is one choice although eventually it will rot. Our experts suggest using flex wrap or "handicap wrap," which can be bought at plumbing supply houses.

To see the rest of the steps, or get more information on volleyball equipment, please visit our website.

Power Volleyball Set with Jose Cuervo logo power net

Looking for a cool beach volleyball set to impress your friends. Check out our Jose Cuervo set! On special now!

Poles
Set features three section telescoping 2.25-inch O.D. anodize aluminum standards. Tubes are ribbed providing extra strength and less surface area for sand or dirt to jam together. Tubes telescope to men's, women's or junior heights with double reinforced push button locking device.

Net
For the Ultimate in power net, ball play, no sags or pockets! Unique independent suspension, with webbing straps attached to top, bottom and side bindings. This allows you to cinch each part of the net separately. Jose Cuervo Logo top and bottom on three-inch wide 18-oz. yellow vinyl tapes, 32' X 39", #42 knotted nylon, weather treated netting.

Limited 5-year warranty on standards, one year other components, except 90 days on boundary and stakes. Laminated illustrated directions.

For more product information, please visit our site.

US Men Hold Off Netherlands

WICHITA, Kan. (July 17, 2009) - On July 17, 2009 in Wichita, KS, The United States Mens Volleyball Team secured its the top spot in Pool A, and earned a spot in the FIVB World League final round with a 3-0 (25-21, 32-30, 31-29) victory over Netherlands before an audience of 5000, on Friday at Koch Arena in Wichita.

The victory improves the United States' an impressive record to 8-3 in Pool A. Netherlands falls to 4-7. The two teams will play once again on Saturday at 7 p.m. Following that match, the U.S. Men will travel straight to Serbia for the final round, which runs July 22-26.

"We were able to accomplish one of our goals to advance out of group A," U.S. Head Coach Alan Knipe said. "I thought the match was hard-fought. Both teams are capable of playing better."

The History of Volleyball

Ever wonder where volleyball originated?

On February 9, 1895, in Holyoke, Massachusetts, William G. Morgan, a YMCA physical education director, created a new game called Mintonette as a pastime to be played preferably indoors and by any number of players. The game took some of its characteristics from tennis and handball. Mintonette (as volleyball was then known) was designed to be an indoor sport less rough than basketball for older members of the YMCA.

The first rules, called for a net 6 feet 6 inches high, a 25 × 50 foot court, and any number of players. A match was composed of nine innings with three serves for each team in each inning, and no limit to the number of ball contacts for each team before sending the ball to the opponents’ court. In case of a serving error, a second try was allowed. Hitting the ball into the net was considered a foul (with loss of the point or a side-out)—except in the case of the first-try serve. To protect the fingers of the ladies, they were allowed to catch the ball and then throw it back into play....

My, how times have changed.

Pro Beach Volleyball Tour

This past weekend the Pro beach Volley ball tour was in Houston Texas and it would have been a great finish, but unfortunately the Sunday games were delayed.