DIG, SET ...SPIKE! Armed Forces Men's and Women's Volleyball Championship May 2-13

  • Published
  • By Mary Lou Gorny
  • Hilltop Times Editor
HILL AIR FORCE BASE, Utah --  Twenty-two Airmen are hitting the volleyball courts hard at Hill AFB's Warrior Fitness Center. With ten members of the Air Force Women's Volleyball team on one side of the main basketball court and 12 on the Men's Volleyball team hard at it, their coaches are preparing them for the Armed Forces Men's and Women's Indoor Volleyball Championship May 8-12. May 3-5 is the beach volleyball competition.

Katie Kimmich, women's coach for the indoor team, expressed great confidence in her team. "We're very excited for the opportunity to bring home the trophy again this year," she said.

Kimmel played for Pepperdine University four years and played on the national team for five years. She has been the assistant coach previously for the women's indoor team.

Lani Kekahuna, coach for the men's indoor team, coached regularly for Air Force international play in a league in which volleyball is played year-round. She was also previously an assistant coach for the men's team.

"It's a tough team this year to pick the starters," she said as the final candidates are all so strong.

Kekahuna coached overseas as her family was stationed in Germany with her husband serving in the Air Force. He has since retired.

She is looking forward to the competition and going for gold.

Everyone with base access is welcome to attend any of the games to cheer on the teams, said Carey Karger, Fitness Center director.

Both teams are practicing twice a day, and making sure players have the level of preparation and skills needed to compete.

"We do eight hour days, four hours in the morning, two hour lunch and then four hours in the late afternoon," said Kekahuna.

The women practice three hours in the morning, and two hours in the afternoon. "We're doing most of our jumping and scrimmaging in the morning," said Kimmich.

As the two look forward to competition they both hope that members of the Air Force come out to support them for their games. They will be playing early in the week, Thursday, May 8, at 8:30 a.m. and then both teams play again Sunday, May 12 at 2 p.m. for the final games of the competition.

Each team plays each other twice in the competition.

Said Kekahuna, "It would be nice to see a bunch of young players coming out here to see what they have to look forward to if they decide to join the military."

Armed Forces Indoor Volleyball Tournament Schedule:

May 8 at 8 a.m.
Opening ceremony at Warrior Fitness Center Gym

May 8 at 8:30 a.m.
Women USAF vs. Navy/USMC
Men USAF vs. USMC

May 8 at 1:30 p.m.
Men Army vs. Navy

May 8 at 7:30 p.m.
Women Army vs. Navy/USMC
Men Navy vs. USAF

May 9 at 8 a.m.
Men USMC vs. Army
Women USAF vs. Army

May 9 at 1 p.m.
Men Navy vs. USMC

May 9 at 7 p.m.
Men Army vs. USAF
Women Navy/USMC vs. USAF

May 10 at noon
Women Navy/USMC vs. Army
Men USCM vs. USAF

May 10 at 6:30 p.m.
Women Army vs. USAF
Men Army vs. Navy

May 11 at noon
Men USAF vs. Navy
Women USAF vs. Navy/USMC

May 11 at 6:30 p.m.
Men Army vs. USMC
Women Army vs. Navy/USMC

May 12 at 9 a.m.
Men USMC vs. Navy

May 12 at 2 p.m.
Women USAF vs. Army
Men USAF vs. Army