East End Volleyball Reaches 50th Season

SOUTHAMPTON, N.Y. - May 6, 2026 - PRLog -- East End Volleyball is entering its 50^th season of running beach volleyball tournaments, leagues, and clinics on Long Island in 2026. Initially running 1 tournament in 1977, the current program has weekly tournaments and leagues for over 8,000 players. EEVB has grown into one of the largest beach volleyball programs in the country.

The first tournaments were held in Hampton Bays. As the program grew, additional tournaments were added at Montauk, Shirley, and Long Beach, on LI, and Pt. Pleasant Beach, Ortley Beach, and Wildwood, NJ. Players came from throughout the northeastern US to compete in EEVB tournaments. The demand for more tournament dates and sites led EEVB to expand throughout the East Coast, running tournaments from Newport, RI to the Florida Keys, attracting players from throughout the US and neighboring countries.

Many top players competed in EEVB tournaments including 7 who advanced to the Olympics:

• Phil Dalhausser, Nick Lucena, and Brooke Sweat for the US
• Steve Grotowski for Great Britain
• Adrian Caranbula for Italy
• Marie Andree-Lessard for Canada
• Olaya Pazo for Venezuela

Numerous pro players competed in EEVB tournaments on their way to the AVP Pro Beach Tour, and to prepare for the upcoming season.

Players loved the competition and organization found at EEVB tournaments. As beach volleyball's popularity grew around the country due to the AVP Pro Beach Volleyball Tour and the Olympic coverage, EEVB helped smaller groups organize local tournaments. This led to the formation of a national grass roots organization, Volley America, formed in partnership with the Jersey Shore's Great American Volleyball program. Volley America grew to 50,000 players and over 50 volleyball organizations before being acquired by the AVP. It is now called AVP America.

The biggest development in EEVB's history was the formation of weeknight beach volleyball leagues. While weekend tournaments focused on higher level doubles competition, weeknight leagues offered play for recreational level players. Leagues were set up to allow teams to find their own level of play, mostly competing against teams of a similar level. Top teams finished the season competing for EEVB merchandise prizes. Weaker teams played for the camaraderie and social atmosphere developed through the leagues. The happiest day of the summer for many Long Islanders is the first night of league play and the saddest day is the final league night at the end of August.

Current EEVB League Sites:

• Long Beach
• Jones Beach
• North Hempstead Beach Park
• Robert Moses State Park
• Centereach Park
• Hampton Bays (Tiana Beach)

In addition to adult tournaments and leagues, EEVB developed the Vertical Beach Club Program for junior players. EEVB Vertical programs offer training for novice level juniors with zero beach volleyball experience up to weeknight training for players looking to join NCAA beach volleyball programs. Currently 4 LI players have advanced to NCAA programs and that number will grow in future years.

Further information about EEVB Vertical junior programs is available online at https://www.eastendvertical.com/long-beach. Tournament and league info is available at  www.eevb.net.

See additional EEVB history online at https://eevb.net/eevb-history/.