At this year’s Spike Out Cancer event in Aurora, former All-American volleyball player and Aurora resident Bob Jones is playing on the Yorkville Roofing Company team — even though no one on the team owns a roofing company and he doesn’t live in Yorkville.
The four man, two woman co-ed team name pays homage to the volleyball term “roof” which means to block a spike and most of the team’s players besides Jones and his oldest daughter Mallory, who plays on the Waubonsee Community College volleyball team, live in Yorkville.
Already more than half of the team spots have been filled with 26 teams signing up for one of the 48 open spots for the event, which will be held Nov. 12 and 13.
The event during its history has raised more than $362,000 for the American Cancer Society.
Teams pay a $300 registration fee to participate in the event (an early bird discount is available until Nov. 3). In addition, each participant is encouraged to raise $150 for the American Cancer Society.
It doesn’t matter what level of player you are, Jones said.
“The tournament divides up teams into advanced, intermediate, and recreational. Everyone has a fun time,” Jones said.
Volleyball is a very social sport, he said.
More Top Picks Miele Classic C1 Pure Suction Powerline
“I have made so many friends off the court from playing this sport and playing in this tournament,” he said.
Tournament Director Michael Ochs said teams come in from other parts of the country to play in the event, which takes place at Great Lakes Volleyball Center in Aurora.
Some of the players are former Division One college players and compete at the U.S.A. Volleyball Open Championships. However, he stressed that the tournament is for all levels of players including recreational and intermediate levels.
For those individuals who haven’t played volleyball or haven’t played in a while, the tournament is a great way to try volleyball on one day, while also giving back to the American Cancer Society, he said.
“We all have been touched by cancer in some way whether it is a friend, neighbor, or family member,” Ochs said.
For the first time, the Spike Out Cancer tournament has been expanded to two full days.
On Nov. 12, the team tournament will be held and a separate blind draw tournament will be held Nov. 13. Up to 192 individuals can sign up to randomly be placed on teams, Ochs said.
The tournament, which began about 12 years ago, moved around to several locations before finding its home at Aurora’s Great Lakes Volleyball Center, the base for the nationally-ranked Sports Performance Volleyball Club.
“One of the things I most love about this tournament is that despite its size and number of players, it is one of the few tournaments that gives no trophies for team performance,” Ochs added.
“I shake the hands of the winning teams,” he said. “That’s it.”
He said the emphasis of the event is simple.
“We give the recognition to those that raise funds for the American Cancer Society,” he said.
Cathy Janek is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News
Spike Out Cancer
What: Volleyball tournament to raise funds to fight cancer.
When: Nov. 12, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., for team tournament; Nov. 13, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., for blind draw tournament
Where: Great Lakes Volleyball Center, 579 N. Oakhurst Drive in Aurora
How much: Registration fee is $300 per team. Participants are encouraged to raise $150 for the American Cancer Society. There is a $50 fee to participate in the blind draw tournament.
Tickets: Free for spectators
Information: www.SpikeOutCancer.com