Bethel’s first Mud Volleyball Tournament results

Shane Iverson of the Set Netters team gets ready to hit the ball back over the net during the first Mud Volleyball tournament in Bethel last Saturday. The event was a fundraiser for BVESA. photo by Kelly Lincoln

A total of seven teams played in the first ever Bethel Mud Volleyball Tournament last Saturday at the Sand Pit, which was a fundraiser for the Bethel Volunteer Emergency Services Association (BVESA). A playing field was excavated and filled with water and a net was set up for the tournament.
Approximately 50 players braved the cold mud water to play. To keep everyone warm a burn barrel was lit. There was also food available for purchase courtesy of the Bethel Fire Department. Folks also brought food to snack on, including tortillas for tacos which they warmed up on the burn barrel.
Winning the round robin tournament was Kiss My Ace. Just Tipped placed 2nd, and Same Same But Different, placed 3rd.
“We’d like to thank the following for helping make this event possible,” said event organizer Joey Valadez. He also serves as the Secretary for BVESA. “Between donations, entry fees, and food sales we were able to fundraise over $4500!! We are still planning to make and sell t-shirts.”
Bethel Mud Volleyball Thank Yous: Faulkner Walsh Constructors, Subway, VFW, Snack Shack, Casey’s Carpets, Fili’s Pizza, Bethel Alaska PC, Video World, Connie’s Restaurant, Power & Power Law, Lumber Yard, AC Company, Alaska Bush Lawyers, Baba’s Pizza, City of Bethel Public Works, KYUK Radio, and The Delta Discovery.
BVESA provides monetary aid to fire victims, donates money to local charities, and assists with fire prevention education. BVESA is currently raising funds for the Bethel Fire and EMS departments to purchase a new power stretcher and extrication tools.