In February of 2001 a phone call was made.  Chris Hairston had called his friend Chris McGarity and asked if he could take him to lunch.  It was at this lunch that the idea for Volleyball Virginia (V2) was originated.  Hairston wanted to put together a cost effective, fun, volleyball event with quality prizes.  "Can't be done." was the response.  Hairston went to his local Home Depot and purchased all the materials that were needed to build eight high quality portable courts.  Where did the money come from?  His own pocket.  Seeing Hairston's dedication to the cause, McGarity decided to do his part.

 

     McGarity acquired needed materials from the old Marina Shores crew and was able to get the rights to the "Kill Team" name.  Then the discussions followed of just what we wanted to accomplish.  We wanted to run events and not just tournaments.  Hairston, the stickler for details, wanted everything to be professional and done right.  Scoreboards were acquired.  Antennas were gathered and thick strap lines were gathered.  Sponsors were gathered, a date was set, and the first newly revamped "Kill Team" event was held.

 

     It rained the week prior to the event and the grass field was underwater.  But, if you looked close enough out over the KOA campground you would have seen Hairston and McGarity out there in the drizzle setting up nets at 5:30 in the a.m.  The sun came out and the event went off.  It was a huge success.  Everyone was happy, even the crappy and complaining player who has never been happy in their entire life.

 

     After the first "Kill Team" we decided to make a real business out of what we were doing and C and C volleyball was born.  The name was later changed to Volleyball Virginia.  Hairston also started hosting kids camps each week over the summer.  These camps filled rapidly and were full the entire months of June, July, and August.  Who knew that Hairston knew so much about this game?  We held events throughout the City of Virginia Beach, at the north end of the beach and at city parks.  We promoted the events by word of mouth, calling players at home and handing out a lot of flyers.  Did it work? Yes.

 

     In the winter of 2003 Hairston also took another bold step forward and acquired a partnership with the AVP.  That's right, I said AVP.  We are now an AVPnext affiliate. 

 

 

5 YEAR UPDATE

 

     In our first year as an AVPnext affiliate (and our first year of keeping track of membership) we had 35 members.  Now 5 years later we have upwards of 500 members from around the country and various countries!!!!!  McGarity has become the Mid-Atlantic Regional Director for the AVPnext and helped to write the new AVPnext volleyball rulebook.  We have also taken into the fold fellow volleyball enthusiast Gene Wade.

 

     V2 has taken over the oceanfront boardwalk!!!!  In our short 5 year history we have taken prime real estate at 33rd street on the Virginia Beach oceanfront.  We have also started our own V2 beach leagues that filled in their first year. 

 

     Living up to our company name we have hosted tournaments/camps/clinics in almost every city in Hampton Roads (Virginia Beach, Hampton, Suffolk, Chesapeake, Norfolk, Newport News), in our state's capital, Richmond, and in our nations capital Washington D.C.  We have also either hosted or helped to host events in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, North Carolina and Colorado. 

 

     In our first 5 years we have taken over the Virginia Beach oceanfront and quickly became the beach volleyball leader in the state.  As we look forward to our next 5 years we are making HUGE strides in volleyball for the local area.  We have eyes on a new indoor facility.  And quite possibly two, yes 2, separate indoor adult leagues.  Look for us to take over the indoor scene just like we did the beach and grass. We will do it the right way and stay true to our V2 foundation which is aimed at keeping tournaments, camps, and clinics affordable and fun for all.  We will continue to promote the volleyball lifestyle, especially the beach volleyball lifestyle, and be organized in a professional and respectful manner to all participants.  Our costs will remain nominal and affordable so we can attract even the most casual of players.  The volleyball business was in need of a quality run organization in Tidewater, one not caught up in only making money, and that is where Volleyball Virginia stepped up.  The promotions of volleyball is our main focus.  We not only wrote the rule book, we provide court balls, antennas on each court, scoreboards, and quality prizes for all tournament participants.

 

     If we have made this much progress in only 5 short years just imagine what we will be accomplishing over the next 5 years.  Be sure to check back for the next 5 YEAR UPDATE