Spike & Dig set for Silver Anniversary

One of the biggest outdoor volleyball tournaments in the Northwest will kick off Saturday for its 25th anniversary as Spokane Spike & Dig invades the Dwight Merkel Sports Complex.

Founded by Jerry Schmidt, who also co-founded the 26-year-old Hoopfest, the 6-on-6 coed volleyball tournament will include about 330 teams and 2,300 players over two days.

“It’s been a great event,” said Brandon Schmidt, who now helps organize the event his father started. “We are just excited to see the community come out and enjoy the day and enjoy volleyball.”

Kim Crosby, 61, of Spokane, will be coaching in the tournament that he has participated in for all 25 years.

“I’ve always loved volleyball since I was 17,” he said. “My wife no longer plays. But my son, my daughter and my brother, Chris, are all playing” on the team.

Also on the team is Danny Higgins, an assistant baseball coach at Ferris, who had to quit for a time as he recovered from cancer. But he’s now back on the volleyball court, Crosby said.

“It’s fun when your kids get involved and your friends,” he said.

Unlike some squads, Crosby has kept his team name as the “Aardvarks” for the last decade.

“This team has been around probably 20 of the years. It changes and evolves every year,” he said. “A lot of teams change their names every year, so you really can’t tell who you are playing.”

Schmidt said the tournament will have 17 divisions, including teams ranging from junior high to the open competition.

“Each division will have a champion, a finalist and a consolation winner,” he said.

Each team that enters is guaranteed three matches on Saturday and two on Sunday.

“We have a range of players who haven’t played and are just having fun to ex-college players and everything in between,” he said. “A lot of other (volleyball) events are 2-on-2, so this gets a lot more people out there.”