Friendship Volleyball Tour to China


For the first time ever, the Huntsman World Senior Games has gone "offshore" with a Friendship Volleyball Tour to China.  A group of 43, of which 24 are volleyball players ranging in ages from early 50s to late 70s are currently making the rounds in the Shangdon Province of China.

Monday, July 26, 2010

Monday, kicked off the first day of volleyball.  The US teams, divided mostly along age group lines of approximately 10 years went up against a decidely younger China contingency in Qingdao. However, when the day was over, USA Team 3 made the medals stand with a silver medal performance in the round robin tournament.

Team 3 Players
Captain: Lu Kormuluk, Rockville, MD
Bruce Stanley, Hershey PA
Paul Moret, Minneapolis, MN
Jeff Kryzak, Hamburg, NY
Lee Clauss, Fenton, MO
Jerry Morris, Henrico, VA
Bill Scalice, St. Louise, MO

The teams were also treated to an amazing Opening Ceremonies which incuded, among others things, a Tai Chi demonstration by over 100 Chinese senior citizens.

For his blocking and all-around great play, Paul Moret earned the distinction of Player of the Day, which was voted upon by the USA players.

Friday, July 30, 2010

The Friendship Tour played in a sultry-hot gym on Friday, but overcame new line-ups and sweaty conditions to once again make the medals stand.  Team 2 scored the third place position with a stong performance, once again against younger Chiense teams.

Jim Krull was voted Player of the Day by his fellow countrymen for his contributions to his team.

Sunday, August 1, 2010

After some last minute scrambling ot replace a lost venue in Tai'an, the American delegation participated in their last day of volleyball for the Tour on August 1.  Cloudy skies and an afternoon rainstorm cooled the gym significantly, but cooler and wetter skies did not dampen the volleyball play.  Every American team lest the court with at least one win under their belts and the final game between American Team 3 and China team one was one for the memory books.  Big hits and massive blocks dominated the entire match.

"I had no idea that senior players were capable of such a display of athleticism," said Mr. Zhang, Vice-Governor of Shandon Province who was present for the final match.

Once again, the American Team 3 found themselves nestled between two Chinese teams with a second place at the end of the day.

The Tour continues with sight-seeing including a trip to Mount Lao, Qufu and Beijing where they participants will tour the Forbidden City, the Summer Palace and a few of the Olympic venues from the Beijing Olympics.

Find out more about the Huntsman World Senior Games Friendship Volleyball Tour.