Steve French, Keith Jones, Eric Holstman, Bryan Gibson & Scott George
Aylin Seyalioglu, Jim Schoen & Mei Brownfi eld
Meaghan Allen & Seana Hoepfl
Katie Feldner & Jackie Blue
Katherine McGoldrick & Katie Horenkamp
V
olleyball teams from California to South Florida gathered to compete in the Emerald
Coast Volleyball Week Fudpucker 4-player tournament held April 18-22. The fi ve-
day volleyball tourney descends upon The Boardwalk on Okaloosa Island each spring
and fall.
Wednesday co-ed doubles marked the fi rst day of the week-long tournament along Okaloosa
Island beaches, followed by single-gender doubles the next day. Friday crowned the “Best of the
Beach” doubles for Men, Women, and Kids categories. Saturday and Sunday marked the main
event, a four-player tournament that drew over 1,500 players and spectators to The Boardwalk.
“Players come for both the competition and the camaraderie. Each year the tournament brings
some new faces, but typically seasoned players come from across the miles to reunite for the fun,”
says Mike Minich, who has directed the tournament for 25 years.
The fi rst tournament started in 1989 and was sponsored by Fudpucker’s, who eventually took
over the event, dubbing it the Fudpucker 4-player, now known by players and locals as “Fuds.”
This year, over 300 teams participated in the tournament, with 1,200 volleyball fanatics fl ooding
The Boardwalk.
It’s not all sports – game time carries through the evening with late-night shenanigans from
the Early Bird Party at the new Lobster Tail restaurant at The Boardwalk to the customary
Players Reception at Fudpucker’s in Destin. The granddaddy of all volleyball parties featured DJ
Roueche, music director for the L.A. Lakers at Al’s Beach Club & Burger Bar on Saturday night.
Emerald Coast
Volleyball Week
photos by
Steve Barber
| story by
Misty Rae Ruthrauff
George Golematis, Connie Connelly & Eric Harris
VIP Destin at The Boardwalk on Okaloosa Island
44 | VIPDestinMagazine.com
44 Event Emerald Coast Volleyball Week.indd 1
5/25/18 3:34 PM