Volleyball as a scholastic sport is no longer played only in the fall. Just as "travel" soccer exists, "club volleyball" is its equivalent. At various age groups, upper-ability club volleyball teams compete to qualify for the national championships, which are being held this year in Salt Lake City, Utah. Club teams participate in intermittent weekend tournaments throughout the East Coast.

Teams travel to New York, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Connecticut. The Garden Empire Volleyball Association (GEVA), the local regional office of USA Volleyball and the national governing body of volleyball sanction these tournaments.

Currently five members of the Garden City High School varsity and junior varsity teams play for well-established local volleyball teams. Varsity team captain Jamie Lardner, a junior, plays for Kaepa LIBA VBC 18-2. Patrice Collins, a junior, plays for L.I. Power 18-2. Sophomores Jeanne Castel and Christine Beihoff play for Long Island Juniors VBC 16-1 and Creole VBC 16-1, respectively. Freshman Alexandra Ortega also plays for LI Jrs 15-2.

Volleyball in town has become increasingly popular over the last few years both at the high school and middle school levels. This is due to the efforts of high school and middle school coaches Phil Opinante, Jackie Beihoff and John Leake and the support they have received from Athletic Directors Nancy Kalafus and Linda Backer. Thanks also goes out to the Garden City Men's Association for their continued support. Currently, over 30 middle and high school girls have registered for various day and resident summer volleyball camps.

For the 2002 fall volleyball season, the Garden City varsity team will be competing in the "Upper Level 'B'" division of Nassau County. They will face perennial powerhouses South Side, West Hempstead and defending state champs, Wantagh High School.

Last season, the varsity team finished the season with a 14-4 record and looks forward to a successful season with 11 returning players.

Charles Water Karate & Fitness recently held a street clothes self-defense clinic, one of several special clinics the school offers its students. The clinic reinforced the self-defense philosophy of the school. "Karate is a treasure to be held in your pocket, however no one has the right to touch you!" Charles Water said.

Boot camp is three days of the martial arts, three hours a day for a grant total of nine hours of training with Master Charles Water of Charles Water Karate & Fitness and his head instructor, Ms. Quintano.

Students worked on their curriculum and did intensive training, including special workouts Master Water devised. There was time for a couple of water breaks and at the end of the three hours, there was an awesome fruit and vegetable platter.

Junior Tyler Heavenor earned his second NYCAC Player of the Week honor after leading the nationally ranked Panthers to a 1-0 week.

Heavenor recorded nine points on six goals and three assists in Adelphi's 14-7 conference win over #10 Southampton. He figured in the scoring of nine of the 14 goals by Adelphi or 64 percent of the team's offense for just that one game.

The Panthers head to West Chester on Saturday, May 4, for its final regular season conference game at 1 p.m.

Senior Allison Schultz was named this week's New York Collegiate Athletic Conference (NYCAC) Player of the Week. This is the first conference nod for the 6-0 pitcher/third baseman on the season.

Schultz did the job both on the mound and at the plate for the Panthers last week, hitting .538 (7-13) while also tossing a three-hit shutout in a win over Merrimack College. She had four doubles among seven hits for the week, while also collecting four RBIs.

The Adelphi University softball team clinched a second place spot in the NYCAC Tournament after defeating Concordia, 10-2 in conference action. Although the Panthers celebrated "Senior Day" it was freshman Ivy Klein who blasted a grand slam homerun to pull Adelphi past Concordia en route to the win.

The Clippers led 2-1 in the bottom of the second inning. With the bases loaded, Klein's home run brought home four runs for the Panthers, 5-2. Adelphi would score three more runs for the victory. Senior Stephanie Antonelli was the winning pitcher on record.

Adelphi baseball drops to Molloy, 4-15; #4 seed Adelphi will play #1 Concordia in the first round of the NYCAC Tournament. Golf finishes seventh at the Northeast regionals. Kevin Loftus plays well, placing 14th overall.