Youth is served as ‘Gravediggers’ win sand volleyball league

Chayse Hawbaker, left, hits through a block attempt during a Comet Bowl Sand Volleyball League tournament game.
Staff Report
CHARLES CITY — Finding your own beach is not as easy as they make it in beer commercials, especially when thunderstorms are in the forecast.
The Comet Bowl Sand Volleyball League postseason tournament had its double-elimination format shrunk to single-elimination due to a thorough windswept rinse cycle that washed out its opening round last Thursday.
This week offered more of the same when another storm front rolled into the area, delaying play for more than an hour and a half.
The rain water may have made the sand heavier, but it didn’t really matter for the Gravediggers, who won their first two games of the tourney.
Two weeks before, the Gravediggers were crowned league champions. The tourney was put on more for fun and didn’t have any bearing on league accolades.
“This is the first time we played together in this league,” said Chayse Hawbaker of the Gravediggers, which were easily the youngest and most athletic team in the league.
They consist of two of the top returning players — Katie Foster and Tayler Schmidt — from the Charles City High School volleyball team, which was 30-11 last year and was one match victory away from advancing to state.
Other Gravediggers include B.J. Foster, Caleb Hageman, Sam Lipke, Meagan Miller and Tracy Walker.
“We lost a few times this season,” Hawbaker said. “For this, we’re out to have fun.”
Indeed, they were.
Even without two of their top players — B.J. Foster and Miller — the Gravediggers appeared to be toying with their opponents. Whenever they needed a sure kill, they would simply set up Hageman — a former Comet basketball star — who was unstoppable with his hits.
But when it appeared the game was going to be over soon with a blowout victory, the Gravediggers dialed down their killer instinct.

Social Share