POTTSTOWN >> Volleyball has been a veritable family affair for Eric Lucas.
It also gave him a goal to shoot for in the wake of a serious medical issue two years ago.
Lucas returned to Pottstown this weekend to help defend his team championship in the Pottstown Rumble. The Ellicott City, Md. native and teammate Andrei Belov were in the field for the four-day tournament — it’s observing the 30th anniversary of its founding in 1991, two years after its interruption by the COVID-19 pandemic.
It’s also been two years since the 32-year-old Lucas saw his life, and his involvement in volleyball, impacted by a brain tumor. He went on to achieve recovery, and came out of the experience with one indelible goal to achieve.
“After the surgery,” Lucas recalled, “I told my father ‘I want to win Pottstown.”
“It was a great comeback win,” he added. “I was super weak after the surgery. After my recovery, I worked at it real hard with Andrei.”
Eric’s affinity for volleyball was fostered by father “Ric,” who he followed playing the sport at George Mason University; and mother Linda, a setter on the women’s team at C.W. Post College. His brother, David, also played volleyball at George Mason.
Growing up spending weekends at grass and beach volleyball tournaments, Eric was a Rumble runner-up four times. He described winning the 2021 Rumble as “a dream come true.”
Belov will be going for a third Rumble championship, having won back in 2012 with Dana Camacho as a partner. The formerly acclaimed “world’s top scorer” in 2013 was a runner-up at Pottstown in 2014 and 2018.
“It’s a matter of good technique,” he said of his serving prowess. “Serving away from people, and having a hard, direct serve.”
The 38-year-old Belov, who currently resides in the same area of Westchester, N.Y. as Lucas, is in his third Rumble with Eric. He described the tournament as being “very tough.”
“The organization of the tournament … the vibe is great,” he said. “You’ve got to prepare for this tournament. We’ll be taking a few weeks to recover from it.”
Lucas and Belov breezed through pool play Saturday to qualify for Sunday’s playoffs, going 6-0 in the first of 23 pools.
“He’s a great partner,” Lucas said of Belov. “He’s steady and consistent, and he has a hard serve.”
“Our chemistry is great,” Andrei added. “Eric is a great defender and passes well.”
One thing Lucas finds enjoyable about the Rumble is having a large group of supporters in attendance. At the head of that contingent is his wife, Morgan Lucas.
“We have the whole extended family come to the tournament. They’re so supportive, family and friends,” Eric said. “Afterward, we’ll go out for dinner … about 20 people. We’ll analyze the games after the fact.”
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Better with age.
That’s been the story of the Pottstown Rumble, acclaimed as “the largest grass doubles volleyball tournament in the world.” The 30th installment of the Rumble — there was no tournament during the 2020 pandemic — took place this weekend at Pottstown’s Memorial Park and four other fields of play in the area, showing the extent to which it’s grown since 1991.
The first Pottstown Rumble was a one-day event with less than 200 players, organized by three local individuals. Ken Kaas, the father of The Rumble called it, “A volleyball tournament run by the players, for the players.”
Today, the Rumble has grown into a four-day event with more than 4,000 players, 200 nets, a Beer Garden, music, food and so much more. The work force consists of over 50 volunteers and executive board of 12 volunteers.
The Pros battle for a $10,000 first place payout for both men and women, from a Pro payout in excess of $60,000. The Amateur divisions have the chance to win prize packages that include Net Systems, Volleyballs, Rumble Gear and Back Packs. The Master’s Divisions get a 100% of registrations cash payout, and the Junior Division receive awards like trophies and medals.
“We’re not hurting,” tournament director Ken Kaas said in response to questions about any impact the 2020 COVID shutdown had on the tournament. “Our crowds are record breaking.”
Scoring at the Rumble is classified as “Old School Rules. Games are played by “Side-out” scoring, with no Let-serves, and blocks don’t count as hits.
“We’re proud of the event,” Seth Kaas, another organizer, said.
One attraction this year was the presence of Phil Dalhausser at the Rumble. A gold medalist at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and 2007 Association of Volleyball Professionals (AVP) champion — with Todd Rogers as teammate — conducted a Youth Clinic Thursday and Adult Clinic Friday.
Dalhausser and Rogers also competed in the 2012 London Olympics with Rogers, and the 2016 Rio Olympics with Lucena.
Dalhausser is a Rumble champion, teaming with Nick Lucena in 2004. He’s one of seven players in the Rumble’s Hall of Fame.
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In pool play Saturday, a number of area players finished high in their brackets.
Men’s Open: Jared Ray (Phoenixville) was second Pool 1 with Mason Nissley (Manheim).
Men’s AA Doubles: Thomas Kehs (Boyertown) and Logan Weisbach (Norristown) were first in Pool 3. Danny and Ryan Dry (Douglassville) were third in Pool 3. Sean Butkus (Douglassville) was third in Pool 9 with John Bokosky (Reading), and Ed Metzker (Perkiomenville) and Steve Urban (Phoenixville) were second in Pool 15.
Men’s B Doubles: Alexander Kutz and Dan Tu (Douglassville) were third in Pool 5.
Women’s AA: Ava Goryl (Phoenixville) and Sydney Schwanbeck (Sanatoga) were second in Pool 1. Corinne Cook/Sara Wesley (Birdsboro) were first Pool 8. Nicole Poissant (Royersford) was second in Pool 5 with Toni Woodward (Broomall). Sarah Straub (Collegeville) was third in Pool 11 with Emma Englinton (Norristown), and Kathryn Elechko (Collegeville) first Pool 6 with Lauren Hall (Malvern).
