Super-Spike serves up smiles

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This article was published 24/07/2022 (1350 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

SUPER-SPIKE returned to action this weekend, much to the delight of organizers and competitors who say they have sorely missed Winnipeg’s annual volleyball tournament.

“Coming back out of the pandemic after two years… I’ve honestly gotten emotional a couple times — but in a fun way — laughing, seeing the familiar faces again and seeing how happy people are that Super-Spike is back,” said Greg Paseshnik, the event’s general manager.

Uncertainty about the event’s future dominated much of Paseshnik thoughts over the last two years. Recreational sports tournaments typically have a limited life span, he said, and when the pandemic struck in 2019, Paseshnik wondered if Super-Spike had served its last set.

But on Friday the event kicked off at Maple Grove Rugby Park on 90 Frobisher Rd., officially marking its 19th anniversary.

Around 2,100 players across 280 teams registered to compete this year, a dip from previous years, which have seen around 400 teams.

Volleyball Manitoba, the host organization, anticipated a drop in attendance and plans to return to pre-pandemic levels by 2025, Paseshnik said.

“We knew there was going to be attrition, especially in that 18 to 22-year-old demographic, so 280 teams actually exceeded our expectations,” Paseshnik said. “It’s a huge win for us… Super-Spike is here to stay.”

The two-day event featured a lineup of live concerts, a series of competitive, intermediate and recreational volleyball tournaments, food vendors and beer gardens.

Manitoba Organization of Disc Sports also hosts an Ultimate tournament throughout the weekend with its own recreational and intermediate divisions.

Setting up the courts, stage and other infrastructure required to host Super-Spike costs roughly $500,000 annually. The money comes primarily from Volleyball Manitoba and various sponsors, Paseshnik said.

Volleyball Manitoba uses the funds raised from the event to support its programs and local non-profits. Over the last two decades, it has donated more than $1.3 million to Winnipeg organizations.

Day 2 was in full swing by 11 a.m. Saturday morning, with competitors — many clad in sunglasses and spandex — preparing for a full day of bumping, setting and smashing.

Some, like Savannah Friesen and her teammate Taylor Ladobruk, came to enjoy some casual fun.

The women, both in their mid-20s, joined the tournament’s intermediate division, which is reserved for players who have experience but are not overly competitive.

“After COVID, (I was) just looking to have some fun again, get back out there,” Friesen said.

Friesen and Ladobruk had attended the event in previous years and enjoyed the concerts and beer gardens. This year, they were less interested in the party and more interested in just playing volleyball, they said.

“There’s good vibes all around,” Taylor said, adding that the event has something for everybody at any skill level.

As the women waited in the grass for their next matchup, teams with a more competitive edge were vying against each other in the sand courts near the beer gardens.

The games there are faster-paced than in the recreational and intermediate divisions. Many of the competitors are athletes with experience playing at the university level and beyond, Paseshnik said.

Some teams rally for up to a minute at a time, with neither team willing to give up a point. When smashes come, they are fast, hard and direct, often kicking up large sprays of sand as they slam into the court.

“Super-Spike as an event is probably one of the neatest and most unique events that Manitoba has… To be able to come here and feel like life has resumed, it’s pretty refreshing,” said Rich Nieckarz, who played with his team, The Dixie Nicks, in the competitive division.

Nieckarz credited the efforts of organizers and volunteers for making Super-Spike happen.

“Nothing says life’s almost back to normal like a competitive event like this,” he said.

tyler.searle@freepress.mb.ca