Sandsharks Volleyball Club shines in Ocean City
The sun-soaked sands of Ocean City, Md., provided the perfect backdrop for a thrilling display of athleticism and teamwork June 8-9. Players from Sussex County’s Sandsharks Club made a strong showing, bringing home three gold medals, two silver medals and two third-place finishes in the two-day Beach Bum Bash '24.
Harper Mamele, a rising sophomore at Cape Henlopen, and Paige Nicholson, an incoming freshman at Sussex Central, decided to compete in the 16U division in addition to the 14U division. Just a few days before the event, the tournament organizers merged the 16U and 18U divisions, creating a 17U division with a total of 18 teams. Mamele and Nicholson battled through tough competition to reach the championship match, where they faced off against fellow Sandsharks members Layni Dukes, a rising senior at Delmarva Christian, and Brielle Ross, a rising senior at Cape Henlopen. All four girls played hard while maintaining a light-hearted atmosphere. In the end, Mamele and Nicholson narrowly secured the victory to take home the gold medal. Sandsharks players Gracie Hoban and Violet Humphries rounded out the podium with the bronze.
On the second day, 12 teams competed in the 14U division. As the tournament progressed, three Sandsharks teams advanced to the semifinals. The second-seeded team of Julianne Bounds, a rising Sussex Central freshman, and Quinn Nicholson, a rising eighth-grader at Georgetown Middle, faced a tough match. If victorious, the championship would have featured a Nicholson sisters showdown. Bounds and Nicholson narrowly lost the first set 21-18 but rallied to win the second and third sets 21-12 and 15-12. The championship game was filled with laughter and encouragement from all players. Bronze winners Nadia Ahmed and Morgan Stevenson, both incoming Sussex Academy freshmen, stayed to cheer on their friends and Sandsharks teammates.
Sandsharks Young Guns players Piper Paul and Gaby Arce brought home gold for the 12U division. Regionally, Elaina Millaway, a rising senior at Delmarva Christian, won 18U gold at the BRVA College Showcase Tournament in Winchester, Va. Millaway has committed to play beach volleyball at Florida Gulf Coast University.
The Dewey Beach Sandsharks Volleyball Club, founded by Jon Skolnik, Ernie Siegrist and Irv Rodrigues more than five years ago, boasts an impressive record of success and achievement. The club is still run by Skolnik, and Ernie’s daughter, Savannah Seigrist, serves as the featured coach. Last winter, Seigrist also served as men’s head beach volleyball coach at Weber International University and as assistant beach VB coach at Jacksonville University. Over the years, the club’s players have consistently excelled on national and international stages. One Sandsharks athlete represented Team USA at the FIVB U21 World Championships in Thailand in both 2021 and 2023, and clinched both the USA Volleyball and AVP Beach Boys 18U national championships.
Over the last few years, Sandsharks athletes have earned numerous medals at the AVP Championships and have been a dominant force in various competitions. The club’s commitment to excellence extends to development programs, with multiple players selected for national teams or national team development programs. Every year, Sandsharks players bring home about 30 medals from tournaments across the East Coast, demonstrating the consistent high level of talent within the club.
Sandsharks Young Guns program is designed for children aged 8-12, introducing them to beach volleyball through fun drills and exercises to develop hand-eye coordination, footwork and basic skills. The program runs from mid-April to mid-September, with sessions held two to three times a week. The club beach volleyball program targets intermediate and advanced players ages 13-18, encouraging regular practice and competition in local and travel tournaments. Coaches provide support at select events and help players identify tournaments and partners. Both programs offer two free drop-in sessions, with the requirement of a USAV membership and medical form for participation.
Skolnik emphasized the tight-knit nature of the club and the positive impact for the kids. “We're more than just teammates; we're a family,” he said. “The camaraderie and spirit here are what drive us to push our limits and perform our best. We instill the concept of pay it forward. We often have Sandsharks alumni come back each summer to help coach these young athletes and prepare them for their future volleyball journeys."
For more information about Sandsharks, go to sandsharks.net.
