Southampton - For more than three hours, 26 teams went back and forth, spike for spike, in the second annual Have A Heart Beach Volleyball Bash on Tuesday night at Coopers Beach. It was a perfect night between the setting sun, soothing beach music, wall-to-wall action over the seven courts, and above all the night's charity fundraising.

East Hampton senior Tyler Brenneman skies to block a Theo Pinto spike while Bonac teammate Hayden Ward looks on.

Once again, the evening raised thousands of dollars for the Have A Heart Community Trust's Back To School program, which helps provide needy students with clothes and school supplies such as backpacks and notebooks. Wright said that, after expenses, this year's fundraising more or less matched the $10,000 raised last year.

In the end, it was Hamptons Mortgage Corp. who prevailed in the championship match, defeating a team from East Hampton that had to upend a second Bonac squad in the semifinals. Several high school teams came out to fine-tune their skills for the upcoming fall seasons; the East Hampton girls squad tried their hand as well.

Because of the event's wild popularity, Wright said he had to turn away approximately 14 teams, but did indicate that next year's event will almost certainly allow for additional squads, possibly moving to a 32- or 35-team format. The 26-team tournament was a bump up from last year's 18-team draw.

Inner Roots, which played at Have A Heart's "Pennies From Heaven" fundraiser in May, again treated players and onlookers to summery reggae tunes. The New York Islanders pitched in as a co-sponsor of the event and will host an East End Have A Heart night during the upcoming season in which half-price tickets will be made available and all proceeds will go to the foundation.


Formed by Rose and John Dios, the Have A Heart Community Trust come to the aid of East End individuals or families since its inception in 1991. Wright, a Southampton High grad, and Bret Pawhul, formerly of Pierson, are trustees for the Trust along with Timothy Davis, Mary Slattery and Heather Fyfe. Wright said that the idea of hosting a volleyball tournament came about because fundraising could come from a target group other than the runners and triathletes who stay busy all summer with 5Ks and journeys of longer distances. He was especially pleased to see such a widespread group of participants.

Luis Reis sends the ball to the sand to score a point for Team Radu.

"We have people from Westhampton, Hampton Bays, Southampton, Sag Harbor, Center Moriches, East Hampton – it brings the whole East End together," Wright said.