"I'm very impressed with the design of the Cobra volleyball net."
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"Hi,
Received the Cobra volleyball net system on Saturday while I was away. Put it up on Sunday A.M. for a practice volleyball game. I'm very impressed with the design. It will be a big hit, I'm sure, with my client.
Thanks,
Russ"
Tucson, AZ
WE LOVE IT! (Cobra Indoor/Outdoor volleyball net)
Hey Les and Shelly,
I wanted to let you know how FANTASTIC the Cobra indoor/outdoor volleyball net system is for us! Our gym was built in 1934 before in-floor volleyball systems so when I took over the middle school volleyball program, I was given the task of rigging up the net. This meant tying the net to the window and the wall because there were no poles or room for portable poles. It was horrible: the net sagged, it was held down by a basket of bowling pins, balls hit into the net didn’t bounce back. It was unsafe and dysfunctional! It made the program look and feel “bush league”!
Last spring we raised funds to buy a system, anything was better than what we had. When I saw the Cobra System online I couldn’t believe it. It was portable, functional, and cost effective. EXACTLY what we needed! Les provided me with sage advice and I was able to install the system with no problems. Les’ technical support was invaluable! Now we are able to put up/take down the system in less than 5 minutes, it has variable heights, it has padded poles so it is safe. Practice no longer starts or ends with the dreaded net! WE LOVE IT!
I tell everyone about the system and would recommend it to any program at any level!
Thanks for all you’ve done!
janet
dr janet bogle, PhDS
Salmon Bay School
206-252-1776
Dalhausser/Rogers win third straight gold at 2012 Brasília Open
In the finale that pitted two teams that know each other very well in front over an overflow center court crowd of over 6,000 enthusiastic fans, USA’s top-seeded Dalhausser/Rogers controlled the gold medal match from start to finish over USA’s fourth-seeded Fuerbringer/Lucena, earning their third straight championship in this event, 21-17, 21-18 in 44 minutes. Dalhausser/Rogers will split in the will each split $30,000 for winning the gold medal and their friendly rivals will receive $21,000 for their silver medal.
Celebrating the 25th anniversary of the first FIVB-sanctioned event (Rio de Janeiro in 1987), the international beach volleyball circuit began for the fourth consecutive season with the Brasília Open was held on The Esplanada dos Ministérios in Quadrante 1 as the Brazilian capital celebrated its 52nd anniversary on Saturday in the area surrounding the venue.
It was the 13th time in the history of the FIVB SWATCH World Tour that two teams from the United States met in the gold medal match. The last time was July 24, 2011 in Quebec, Canada when the same two teams met and Dalhausser/Rogers defeated Fuerbringer/Lucena. It was also only the fourth time in 34 FIVB events held in Brazil and first since 1991 that there was an all-USA gold medal match.
In the first tournament for Dalhausser/Rogers since Rogers injured his knee last August in Aland, Finland, as Rogers showed no ill effects from the surgery in Brazil. After losing in the second round on Thursday, Dalhausser/Rogers have won seven straight matches to finish the Brasília Open with an 8-1 record. Fuerbringer/Lucena lost in the third round on Friday and ended with a 6-2 record in this tournament. On the FIVB SWATCH World Tour, Dalhausser/Rogers now have a 6-1 record against Fuerbringer/Lucena. This was the third time the two teams have met in a FIVB gold medal match and Dalhausser/Rogers have won all three.
USA’s Dalhausser/Rogers, the 2008 Beijing Olympic champions, were playing in their 50th FIVB SWATCH World Tour event as a team made it to their 39th final four. They have now played in 29 gold medal matches and have earned a gold medal in 22 of them. Individually, the veteran Rogers has played in 97 FIVB events and Dalhausser has 53 on his resume. They have made the final four in all three of their appearances in this event with three gold medals and one fourth place as they join the rest of the field in the quest for a spot in the 2012 London Olympic Games.
USA’s Fuerbringer/Lucena have played in 24 world tour events as a team and have made it to their fifth final four without a gold medal but they do have two silver medals as a tandem. Individually, Their best finish in this event was a fifth place last year. Fuerbringer has played in 61 FIVB events and Lucena has been in 35.
“We love play in Brazil, we love playing Americans and we love winning in Brazil and it certainly showed this week,” said Rogers following his team’s gold medal triumph. “We had a tough week, especially losing in the second round and having to come back in our first tournament of the year and me coming off a serious knee injury. In the second set I was tired and made a couple of mistakes and they got back in the game. We had a long way to go to win the title, including beating four teams from Brazil, which isn’t easy, and we had to play nine games in the tournament which doesn’t happen often. We know Matt and Nick so well we have a lot more rallies than against most opponents, but I can say any questions I had about our off time from the tour are gone.”
USA vs. USA by sets
Setting the tone early, Dalhausser blocked Lucena’s kill attempt in the first set and the only tie was a 1-1 as Dalhausser/Rogers made few errors and scored on several blocks and cut shots by both players. Fuerbringer/Lucena did mount a rally to close to 13-15, but the Olympic champions pulled away from there to win the set that ended a serve by Lucena that went long.
The second set was closer in a set of runs, tied at 6-6 when Dalhausser/Rogers ran off three straight points, only to see Fuerbringer/Lucena come back with two points of their own. The last tie in the set was at 12-12, when Dalhaausser had another of his massive blocks followed by a Rogers poke cut shot for a point and they rallied for four points. After several long rallies which seemed to wear on both teams in the heat, Dalhausser/Rogers led 20—16 before another by Fuerbringer/Lucena closed it to 20-18 before the set and match ended another colorful Brasília Open when Lucena’s serve went long
Brazil vs. Spain bronze medal match
In Sunday’s bronze medal match, Brazil’s third-seeded Ricardo Santos/Pedro Cunha pleased their packed-house, home-country fans on center court by defeating Spain’s fifth-seeded Adrian Gavira/Pablo Herrera, 21-18, 21-14 in 39 minutes. The first set was played very close up to 12-12 before the Brazilian pulled ahead by two points with strong play at the net by both Ricardo and Cunha. In the final set, Cunha started the Brazilian roll and he and Ricardo never trailed and there were no ties as the closest Gavira/Herrera got was 4-5 before the Brazilians took off and kept about a five point margin until they scored the final two points for the seven-point victory margin. Ricardo/Cunha will split $15,000 for the bronze and Gavira/Herrera will receive $11,200 for their fourth place finish. Both teams finished with 4-2 records in this event.
It was the first meeting between the two teams, but not between Ricardo and Herrera. Herrera, playing with Javier Bosma, lost to Ricardo and Emanuel Rego in the gold medal match at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games.
“It is very important for our team to start the international season with a podium placement,” said Ricardo. “The FIVB SWATCH World Tour is our top priority this season and with this result we are close to achieving our biggest goal of representing Brazil in the Olympics. We earned important points, which will improve our position in the ranking and that will help us in the next tournaments. I am glad as we are having the results we expected.”
Brazil’s Ricardo/Cunha, both veterans, were playing in only their sixth FIVB SWATCH World Tour event together and made it to their third final four. Ricardo has played in 177 FIVB tournaments with 53 gold medals while Cunha has played in 87 tournaments overall with eighth gold medals, including two since forming the partnership with Ricardo. This was the team’s first bronze medal.
Spain’s Gavira/Herrera were playing in their 33rd world tour event as a team and they now have 11 final four appearances but are still striving for their first FIVB gold medal. This was the second event back for the team as Herrera injured his knee last July in the grand slam in Gstaad, Switzerland and returned for the last event of the season where the team had a fifth place finish. In two previous tournaments here, they finished ninth both in 2010 and last year.
Brazil’s big beach history
Brazil has staged a FIVB SWATCH World Tour event every year since the start of the international series for men in 1989 and women in 1992. This was the 34th men’s event and 29th women’s tournament on the FIVB SWATCH World Tour held in Brazil. It was also the 14th time that the FIVB SWATCH World Tour had its season-opening event in Brazil and fourth consecutive year the tour came to Brasília.
Road to London
Nearly 140 teams from 35 countries were part of this year’s The women’s competition ended Friday with China’s Chen Xue/Xi Zhang defeating Brazil’s Maria Antonelli/Talita Antunes for the gold medal. With the season-opening event on the 2012 FIVB Beach Volleyball SWATCH World Tour calendar in Brazil, the road to the 2012 London Olympic Games has resumed as 16 of the 24 teams in each gender will be determined through year-long Olympic rankings on the FIVB SWATCH World Tour. This event was the first of nine double-gender events on the 2012 world tour schedule. Beach Volleyball at the London Olympic Games will run from July 28 to August 9.
Busy schedule ahead
After the Brasília stop, the 2012 FIVB SWATCH World Tour continues with events on four consecutive weeks. The genders split venues next week for open events with the women in Sanya, China and the men in Myslowice, Poland. Following those events will be consecutive double-gender grand slam events in Shanghai, China (April 30-May 6) and Beijing, China (May 7-13) and a men’s event in Prague, Czech Republic (May 22-27).
Take your fun with you on your vacation
Attached please find photos taken last week as we vacationed on Fripp Island South Carolina with family & friends. We had 24 total 13 of which play the game. We used it every day as soon as the tide gave us the room on the beach. I got really high marks for getting the system down there but I was careful to credit you for actually making it happen. Our crew was quite surprised to find this big box waiting for us in Statesville NC on our way down. You are a credit to your organization and we will "sell" this system at every opportunity.
Thanks again for all your help,
Regards,
Amherst Police Department
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Captain David R. Hoy
Amherst Police Department
716 689 1307 office
Winona, MM YMCA
Hi guys, Patrick from the Winona, MN YMCA. Loving the Cobra indoor volleyball net systems we got from you. They are AWESOME! I need to order two of the black handled (knobbed) floor bolts. Can you invoice us for the two bolts?
Thanks again for such a great product. -Patrick Patrick Menton Program Director WINONA FAMILY YMCA 207 WINONA STREET, WINONA MN 55987
(P) 507 454 1520
Hall of Fame inductees revealed
The 27th induction class consists of men’s volleyball players Peter Blange of the Netherlands, Mauricio Lima of Brazil, Georgiy Mondzolevski of Russia and Jeff Stork of the United States, women’s volleyball player Lyudmila Buldakova of Russia and men’s beach volleyball player Mike Dodd of the United States.
The induction class is elected via a vote of current Volleyball Hall of Fame inductees. A total of 20 different countries are represented in the Volleyball Hall of Fame with at least one inductee. The new players added to the list will take the tally up to 112 individuals.
“The six inductees for the 2012 Volleyball Hall of Fame are remarkable athletes and leaders who have brought distinction to the sport over a number of years,” FIVB Board of Administration member and co-chair of the Volleyball Hall of Fame Selection Committee Doug Beal. “This induction class honours the legends of the game through both diversity of gender and country representation. Peter Blange enters the Volleyball Hall of Fame as the first representative from the Netherlands, and this continues the Hall’s mission to showcase the international spectrum being memorialized forever within its walls. Georgiy Mondzolevski and Lyudmila Buldakova of the old Soviet Union represent a positive anchor to the history of our sport while being part of formidable teams. Mauricio Lima bridges Brazil’s early success in the 1990s to the start of its current run of dominance at the start of this century. Both Jeff Stork and Mike Dodd are trailblazers in their own rights in establishing the United States as Olympic medal contenders in each quadrennial.”
The Volleyball Hall of Fame induction activities continue to grow in celebrating the accomplishments of the top volleyball players and leaders from around the world. Incorporated in 1978 it continues to create a more representative institution with inductees of both genders and disciplines – indoor volleyball and beach volleyball – coming from a wide range of countries.
“Volleyball is truly a global sport, not only with its six countries representing the 2011 inductees, but the almost 220-plus national federations associated with the FIVB making our international federation the largest sports body in the world,” Beal added.
The induction festivities include a VIP reception on Friday, October 19, at Wistariahurst Museum, followed by a public “Meet & Greet” on Saturday, October 20, with the formal Enshrinement Dinner and Ceremony taking place in the evening.
For additional information on attending the 2012 Volleyball Hall of Fame induction ceremony, contact the Volleyball Hall of Fame at info@volleyhall.org or visit the Hall’s website at www.VolleyHall.org.
Peter Blange (Netherlands) – MALE INDOOR PLAYER
Peter Blange represented the Netherlands in four consecutive Olympic Games from 1988 to 2000. He helped his squad to the 1992 Olympic Games silver medal in 1992, then followed that up with the gold medal at the 1996 Olympic Games with a five-set victory over Italy in the title match. During the 2000 season, Blange broke the world record for most international volleyball matches played (463 by compatriot Ron Zwerver) before going on to finishing his career with over 500 total caps. After his playing career, Blange accepted the role as coach for the Dutch men’s team.
Lyudmila Buldakova (Russia) – FEMALE INDOOR PLAYER
Lyudmila Buldakova led the Soviet Union to three consecutive Olympic Games medals as both an attacker and setter. After claiming the bronze medal at the inaugural volleyball Olympic Games in 1964, she lifted the Soviet Union to the gold medal at the 1968 Olympic Games and the 1972 Olympic Games. During her 14-year-career, Buldakova won three FIVB World Championship titles (1956, 1960, 1970), along with the silver medal in 1962. She led the Soviet Union to three European titles (1958, 1967, 1972) with a silver medal in 1955. Buldakova led her club team to five USSR titles and eight European Cups.
Mike Dodd (USA) – MALE BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYER
Mike Dodd enjoyed an 18-year beach volleyball career that included winning the silver medal with partner Mike Whitmarsh at the inaugural Olympic Games for beach volleyball in 1996. He captured 75 titles during his career, including three of the 14 FIVB events he competed. Dodd is a 2000 inductee into the California Beach Volleyball Association Hall of Fame.
Mauricio Lima (Brazil) – MALE INDOOR PLAYER
Mauricio Lima is one of only two athletes to compete in five Olympic Games volleyball tournaments, matching a record also held by Italy’s Andrea Giani, who was inducted into the Volleyball Hall of Fame in 2008. Lima earned Olympic Games gold medals after helping Brazil defeat Netherlands at the 1992 Olympic Games and Italy at the 2004 Olympic Games. He was named the Best Setter in the 2002 FIVB Volleyball Men's World Championship and the 1993 FIVB Volleyball World League. Overall, Brazil won five World League titles, the 2002 FIVB World Championship and the 2003 FIVB World Cup with Lima on the roster.
Georgiy Mondzolevski (Russia) – MALE INDOOR PLAYER
As their setter, Georgiy Mondzolevski paced the Soviet Union to the first two titles in Olympic Games volleyball history at the 1964 Tokyo Games and the 1968 Mexico City Games. He contributed to the Soviet Union’s title at the 1960 FIVB Volleyball Men's World Championship after finishing with the bronze at the 1956 FIVB World Championship. During his career, Mondzolevski won eight USSR championships and two European Cup titles. In 1967, Mondzolevski helped the Soviet Union to the European Championship.
Jeff Stork (USA) – MALE INDOOR PLAYER
Jeff Stork was the starting setter for the United States during its gold-medal performance at the 1988 Olympic Games. He followed that up with the bronze medal at the 1992 Olympic Games and competed in the 1996 Olympics. Stork helped the US dominate the international scene in the 1980s with gold medals at the 1985 NORCECA Championship, the 1985 FIVB World Cup, the 1986 FIVB Volleyball Men's World Championship, the 1987 Savvin Cup and the 1987 Pan American Games. He played a number of years in Italy and was named the Italian Serie A most valuable player in 1993 while setting for Mediolanum. Stork was selected to USA Volleyball’s All-Era Team for the 1978-2002 time period.
Guyana begins volleyball season with special Volleyball Festival
The festival attracted a host of teams from across the country and featured two sections.
Up first was the four-a-side competition, with all matches played over eight minutes. Many of these matches featured female players against junior males and “mixed teams” as well as “beginner players” against “B” players of more established teams. The Guyana Hockey Federation female team caused a major upset during this part of the tournament after defeating the “B” players of the national under 19 team, prompting many officials to ask whether they should give volleyball a try.
The second section of the day saw Demerara and Berbice clash in a match described as a relay format, with the first six of each team playing for 10 minutes (with no time outs or substitutions) and the second six continuing for the next 10. The match proved to be a fitting climax with both teams producing some exciting rallies. Demerara led 18-15 at the first changeover before Berbice rallied back with the score tied at 32-32 when time expired. The officials decided on a one minute playoff and the Berbice players held their nerve to triumph 34-33.
The event was deemed highly successful by volleyball players and fans alike, particular because of the interaction between regular players and beginners.
“This was the most fulfilling birthday present I ever got,” Shuffler said at the end of the day, before congratulating the Berbice team and presenting captain Errol Yannick Chase with the trophy.
President Shuffler also thanked all associated with the successful event and called for more continued support in the future.
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Cook/Hinchley clinch latest stage on Aussie tour
Coming off the back of a successful win in round three, Cook and Hinchley did not lose a set throughout the event, dominating the net throughout the weekend.
“The girls performance is clear indication on how they will be handling the next few months leading into qualifying period for the next Olympic games,” said commentator and previous Olympic patner Kerri Pottharst.
Cook is currently in the mix for an unprecedented fifth Olympic Games through the AVC Beach Volleyball Continental Cup and if she and Hinchley can finish in the top three of the final zonal tournament in Mt Maunganui, New Zealand which begins next Thursday, the duo will be just one step from a London 2012 berth. The winners of the Continental Cup will gain an automatic place at the Games.
“Tamsin and I have been working on some new systems in the lead up to the Olympics and the Renault National Beach Volleyball Series this summer has really helped us prepare,” Cook revealed.
In the mens final, fifth seeded Cedric Legrand and Will Mercer picked up a narrow 14-21, 21-18, 15-12 victory over number two seeds Joshua Slack and Chris Mchugh
Both teams remained aggressive despite the rain however Legrand and Mercer took advantage of the vicious conditions serving aggressively into the wind.
“We haven’t made the finals all series so to get to here and win is a fantastic feeling, especially on my home sand,” Legrand said.
80 knot winds throughout the match, event marquees coming down and match play continued throughout a sand storm on St Kilda Beach.
Severe conditions did not keep crowds away with locals sticking around throughout rough winds and pouring rain.
Pottharst explained that although teams have experienced all sorts of conditions throughout the Australian summer, these are possible the worst wind gusts seen throughout the finals.
St Kilda will host the following round five of the Renault National Beach Volleyball Series from February 17 to 19.
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Top NORCECA teams ready for Olympic fight in latest Continental Cup stage
Mal Pais, Costa Rica, February 8, 2012 – Teams from 10 countries representing Central America (Costa Rica, Panama, Guatemala, El Salvador and Nicaragua) and the Caribbean (Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, Curacao, Jamaica and Cayman islands) will battle from February 10 to 12 at the NORCECA Beach Volleyball Continental Cup Women’s Inter Zonal tournament, the penultimate phase of the qualifying process for the London 2012 Olympic Games.
Starting on Friday, El Salvador meet Cayman Islands while Nicaragua take on Jamaica in the first series of a double-elimination competition which will see the top four in the standings moving on to the finals against teams from the Central Region from June 19 to 24 in Nayarit, Mexico.
Barbados and hosts Costa Rica, the top ranked teams, will play the winners of those best-of-five series in a second round that also features contests between Panama and Curacao as well as Trinidad and Tobago and Guatemala.
"We are anticipating a very exciting competition as teams are really hungry for the chance to compete in the final stage of the tournament,” Arnaldo Sanchez, technical director said on Wednesday after arriving in Mal Pais the previous night. “It has been a long process for some of these teams, especially those from the Caribbean who have survived two zonal tournaments before getting here.”
The experienced duo of Ingrid Morales and Natalia Alfaro (Costa Rica A), bronze medallists in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico during last year’s NORCECA Circuit, were the first to arrive in Mal Pais, a surfers’ paradise located on the shores of the Pacific Ocean.
Most of the teams are expected to arrive late Wednesday and early Thursday.
Morales and Alfaro helped Costa Rica clinch first place in the Central America Zonal Tournament when they won their two matches over the teams of Panama last year at Montelimar, Nicaragua.
“We are very optimistic about our chances of claiming the first place playing at home,” Morales said. “We have been training hard in preparation for this event and it is great to welcome all the teams taking part in the competition.”
Barbados’ teams of Anthazia Mason and Shari Matthews and Sharon Bovell and Mona Crawford are fresh from two three-set victories over Trinidad and Tobago last December in the Cayman Islands to claim the top position among the countries from the Caribbean region.
Cuba, Canada, Mexico and Puerto Rico claimed the top four places of the Central Zone at last year’s zonal event held in Boca Chica, Dominican Republic.
The NORCECA Control Committee held a joint-meeting with the local organisers on Wednesday to review all details before 28 matches across three different courts begin on Friday morning.
The Control Committee is led by Marta Centeno de Sajche as NORCECA delegate, Sanchez as technical director, Miguel Ramirez, referee manager, Bienvenido Mateo, BVIS delegate and Roosevelt Comarazamy, press delegate.
Caribbean Zone Teams
Barbados A (Anthazia Mason/Shari Mathews), Barbados B (Sharon Bovell/Mona Crawford), Cayman Islands A (Jennifer Bily/Cristin Alexander), Cayman Islands B (Taylor Burrowes/Stefania Gandolfi), Curacao A (Samira Luis/Christine Anthony), Curacao B (Kionna Gregorius/Christal Gregorius), Jamaica A (Cherine Richards/Cheryl Daley), Jamaica B (Tsahai Williams/Nardarake Hutchinson), Trinidad and Tobago A (Ayana Dyette/Elki Phillip), Trinidad and Tobago B (Pauline Woodroffe/Malika Charles).
Central America Teams
Costa Rica A (Ingrid Morales/Natalia Alfaro), Costa Rica B (Ivette Alas/Marianela Alfaro), El Salvador A (Diana Romero/Marcela Avalos), El Salvador B (Nadia Soler/Laura Molina), Guatemala A (Susana Alvarado/Anna Ramírez), Guatemala B (Rut Gómez/Stefany Bolaños), Nicaragua A (Amalia Hernández/Lolette Rodríguez), Nicaragua B (Elia Torrez/Swan Mendoza), Panamá A (Katherine Tajú/Jazmín Rojas), Panamá B (Carina Corella/Dionelys Delgado).
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volleyball net height, volleyball players
Fiji fired up for Continental Cup
The duo forms part of the team set to take on Australia, Vanuatu, Samoa, Papua New Guinea and the hosts and are well aware of the challenge that faces them.
"This is not an easy tournament, it is more tough than the Pacific Games so we are lifting our preparation to another level," said Raratabu, who is more used to battling flames than other beach volleyball teams in his regular job as a fireman. "We want to finish as the top team, right now we are number one and the pressure is there on us. Other teams will be gunning to beat us but we are prepared for that."
The duo were with different partners when they qualified for the zonal tournament, Raratabu with Qilu Elliot and Suka with Mikaele Tuvoli, but are still confident on helping their side qualify.
"If we can win in 2010 why can't we do it again in 2012?” Suka added in their interview with the Fiji Times. “Nothing is impossible and I have faith in myself that we will have a good outing in New Zealand next week.”
Fiji will need to finish in the top three to seal a spot in the Continental Cup final where they will take on 11 other countries for a London 2012 Olympic Games berth.
Tags: volleyball net, volleyball nets, volleyball equipment, volleyball court, volleyball and net, sand volleyball net, volleyball net height, volleyball players