COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Feb. 26, 2017) – Eric Duda and Brent Rasmussen captured the first-ever Tulsa 2-on-2 Narrow Court Sitting Volleyball Cash Tournament held Feb. 25, along with a top-prize of $2,000.
As part of a joint venture between USA Volleyball and Summit Nitro Volleyball, the tournament was held in conjunction with the Tulsa Classic Volleyball Tournament, a junior volleyball tournament, to spur awareness for the fast-paced sitting volleyball games as well as get player participation among both abled-bodied and disabled athletes.
A total of 12 teams, some with mixed-gender and some mixed disabilities, entered the unique event held at the Tulsa Expo Square. The teams were split into two pools of six with the top three teams from each group advancing to the money bracket.
Pool A top finishers were Old Farts in first place, Rainbow Kitties in second and Beauty & the Beast in third place. Pool B top finishers were The Nubs in first place, Little Tough Guys in second place and Dos Lisiados in third place.
In the quarterfinal round, Tough Little Guys beat Beauty & the Beast and Rainbow Kitties beat Dos Lisiados. Old Farts beat Little Tough Guys and Rainbow Kitties beat The Nubs in the semifinal matches, setting up a rematch of Pool A’s top two teams for the title.
In the final match, the game went back and forth with Rainbow Kitties taking the lead and serving match point at 24-23. However, the Old Farts escaped defeat and won the final 27-25.
In the bronze-medal match The Nubs edged out Little Tough Guys.
“It was a great beginning to the first-ever 2 on 2 Narrow Court Sitting tournament for cash prizes,” U.S. Women’s Sitting Volleyball Team Head Coach Bill Hamiter said at the conclusion of the tournament.
Each team consisted of two players who are 18 years old or older. All teams played at least four matches consisting of one set to 25 points.
Final Results
First: Old Farts (Brent Rasmussen and Eric Duda) – $2,000
Second: Rainbow Kitties (Monique Burkland and Jese Schag) – $1,000
Third: The Nubs (James Stuck and J Dee Marinko) – $500
Fourth: The Little Tough Guys (John Kremer and Nick Dadgostar) – $250
Fifth: Dos Lisiados (Ben Aman and Dan Regan) – $150
Sixth: Beauty & the Beast (Patrick Young and Lexi Shifflett) – $150