The annual Cherry Bowl volleyball tournament took place, as is traditional, on the first Wednesday in August, August 5 this year, and the Cherry Grove Grovettes, led by Captain Sue Panzer, once again beat the Suffolk County Police team, the Copettes, captained by Rick Schneider for his final year, winning two games, the first and the tie-breaking third, to the Copettes’ one. Among the Grovettes was Mark Atten, veteran of the tournament since the first games in 1984.
The scores were Grovettes’ 25 to Copettes’ 18 in the initial game; Copettes’ 25 to Grovettes’ 16 in the second, and Grovettes’ 25 to Copettes’ 19 in the third.
The Cherry Bowl began with an entrance parade, with the men and the one woman bagpiper, Amy, of the Suffolk County Police Emerald Society Pipe Band playing “The Caisson Song (The Caissons Go Rolling Along).” With DJ Chuck McTague, who also called the games, Porsche then led us in singing the “Star Spangled Banner.” Doreen Rallo served as referee and Jen was score keeper.
Sonny Shores as the Sheriff and Robbie Ranger as an escaped prisoner entertained with a comic chase between the first and second games. Between the second and third games, Lavinia Draper sang “Let’s Hear It for the Boys” as her sister Cherry Tarts cheerleaders danced with the shirtless Copettes and, finally, formed a pyramid. The kilted Emerald Society Pipe Band played “God Bless America,” “Over There,” “When the Saints Go Marching In,” and “Amazing Grace.” A victory party at the Ice Palace pool, with Ariel Sinclair presiding, followed the Cherry Bowl.