OTHELLO — The Othello Fourth of July volleyball tournament was held once again at Lions Park. The tourney, organized by O-Town Volleyball, brought in teams from all around the basin for an afternoon of competitive fun. 

“I think it went pretty good actually,” said Evelyn Miron, from O-Town Volleyball who helped organize the tournament. “It was a good time.” 

This year’s tournament was slightly different from how it had operated in previous years, she said. Instead of operating with the typical six-on-six setup, the tournament was four-on-four. This, she felt, made the tournament more competitive.

Throughout each game of the tournament, the reduced active player count forced players to cover more area and led to more intense saves. Miron said overall the games were a little slower-paced, but had more action. 

“From a coaching perspective, it was fun to see people make those cool saves and be more involved,” said Miron 

The tourney featured 10 teams with players coming from all around the Basin, including Moses Lake, Warden and Ritzville along with players from Othello, some of whom were current and former Othello High School volleyball players. 

Team Powerade came out on top for a first-place finish by the end of the afternoon with the Ballbusters taking second. The two top teams were awarded medals from Zion Designs and Awards. First place also took home prizes from Krazy Kravings Coffee, including a custom water bottle and a gift certificate.  

“That was awesome, that they were willing to step up and donate all that stuff for the event,” said Miron. 

Play was evenly matched throughout the entire afternoon with each team displaying high levels of skill during the tournament, she said. 

“It’s super competitive,” Miron said. “We actually all know each other because we play volleyball in Moses Lake, Warden and Othello, so a lot of the teams were very familiar with one another.” 

This familiarity between teams allowed the tournament to have a very friendly feel to it as everyone felt comfortable and had fun competing against one another, she said.  

“I think because we all know each other it makes it competitively fun,” said Miron. 

One team consisted entirely of Othello high school students; others had older players and some had a mix of both. Miron said at least two of the teams participating were family-based. 

“Those are even fun too because they bring backyard-style volleyball into competitive volleyball,” she said. “It’s fun to see that mixed in, but it was super fun, super competitive.” 

Bringing in other communities from outside of Othello to participate in the tournament was something Miron said she is proud to have accomplished. It not only allowed people to come into Othello to experience their Fourth of July celebrations. 

“It’s great because I feel like they get to see the people in our community and how welcoming we are,” said Miron. “We’re proud of Othello; we grew up here and we’re giving back to the community that gave us so much.” 

This tournament also helps raise money for the youth teams at O-Town Volleyball to get more recognition. 

“We’re such a small town, so we go to local tournaments, but events like these help us raise money for our tournament teams so that our club can get out there more,” said Miron. “And then people can know Othello has a volleyball club and they can come and join us too. We’re just trying to grow the volleyball community within Othello.” 

    A player from the Ballbusters team serves the ball to his opponents during Saturday’s tourney.
  

    Warden’s Jamylex Pruneda steps up to serve in Othello’s Fourth of July volleyball tourney Saturday afternoon.
  

    One of the players keeps the rally alive and bumps up the ball during the volleyball tournament in Othello.
  

    Three players get ready for the opposing serve during the 4-on-4 volleyball tourney in Othello for the Fourth of July.
  

    A player from the Star-Spangled Baddies spikes the ball over the net to his opponents during the Fourth of July tourney.
  

    The Ballbusters hold up mini volleyballs and wear their second-place medals after becoming the runner up at the Fourth of July tourney in Othello.
  

    The Star-Spangled Baddies, tournament organizer Evelyn Miron’s team, line up for a team photo at the Othello Fourth of July tourney. The Star-Spangled Baddies finished fifth by the end of the afternoon.