Beach volleyball: Messisco sisters win gold

submitted photos Emily Messisco, left, and sister Anna wear their gold medals after winning the Carolina Region beach volleyball tournament. Submitted photo

Anna Messisco attack the net during a recent tournament. Submitted photo

Emily Messisco dives for the ball during a recent tournament. Submitted photo

Staff report

Emily and Anna Messisco, a home schooled sophomore and junior, took gold at a Carolina Region beach doubles tournament on June 18 after taking silver in a North Carolina Sand Series tournament on June 4.

In addition to beach volleyball, they have played indoor for recreation programs, Junior Olympics and school teams.

At this level in North Carolina, beach volleyball is an honor game with officials close by to help:

• After playing 12 sets on the 18th, during the championship game with the score at 15-16, the official called a side out and gave Emily and Anna the point. But Anna told him it was line.

• Again, at 22-22, the Messisco girls were awarded the point after an attack when Anna confessed to being in the net. One of their opponents gave a relieved “thank you” as her partner pulled her up out of the sand.

Emily and Anna went on to victory with a final score of 25-23.

“With a new set of rules, touches, and strategy, it’s a whole different game from indoor, but my girls love it,” says their mom and coach, Leslie Messisco, who played in high school at North Hills.

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Beach volleyball is becoming increasingly popular. The VH1 Volleyball League in the Raleigh area started Jr. Beach in 2006, and has had about 200 teams participate in 3 tournaments this 2011 season. After being petitioned by Kerri Walsh, a 2 time Olympic gold medalist and 3 time world champ with her partner Misty May-Treanor, Beach will be an official sport at many Division 1 & 2 schools across the NCAA for the upcoming 2011-2012 collegiate year.

This past weekend the sisters won gold again in a tournament in Stokesdale.