Victory had been had, and in no ordinary game. Welcome to the Chair Volleyball tournament of champions, where senior citizens serve a giant beach ball, spiking is prohibited and standing tall will cost a team big.

Sharonville "ME," which won a silver medal by the tournament's end, was one of 16 teams competing in Tuesday's second annual games at Madisonville Recreation Center. The event, put on by the Southwest Ohio Senior Olympics, Cincinnati Recreation Commission and Hamilton County General Health District, is for players 50 and older.

Roy Bleser of the Sharonville Community Center Res makes a save during the chair volleyball tournament at Madisonville Recreation Center. (Meggan Booker photo)

It's like volleyball, but with a big catch: You have to stay seated the entire time.

"It's a good workout," said Bo Boham, 77, a Sharonville captain. "It's a lot of upper-body moving and coordinating."

Six players sit on either side of a 4-foot net, enclosed in a 10-by-20-foot court. Each match consists of one game played to 15 points or a 45-minute time limit. Players can hit the ball as many times as needed to clear the net, but there is one steadfast stipulation. Entry No. 2 in the Rules of Play is the One Cheek Rule: You lift your entire rear off the chair, you lose the serve or, if the other team has possession, it gains a point.

Matches can get intense, said Dina Hanks, CRC's recreation program coordinator.

"Lots of teams will come in with strategies and plans," Hanks said. "Compared to a year ago, it's a lot more competitive, with much longer volleys."

Frank Magrino, 79, said the trick to mastering the game is to "keep passing the ball and looking for other team's weak spots." He and his wife of 53 years, Sophie, played for the silver medalists Aces Wild from Springfield Township. They described the weekly practices as "laugh riots."

"It's competitive, but nobody gets mad," said Sophie, 73.

Two years ago, Catherine A. Curry was an avid spectator cheering for the Shiloh Garden Apartments' Foxy Aces. The 90-year-old was asked to fill in and immediately found her niche. Though the Foxy Aces lost their first two matches of the double-elimination tournament Tuesday, Curry said the thrice-weekly practices are worth it for the fun.

"You still sit there and think, 'I think I just did something right!' " said Curry, who is still the team's loudest motivator.

The festive tournament drew more laughs than ire as beach balls occasionally bounced off players' heads, and the event was capped with a luncheon and awards ceremony. Gold medals went to the Evendale Hot Cats (Red Division), Sharonville "RE" (White Division) and Reading Blue Angels (Blue Division).

Julie Abaray/West Chester

This Lakota East senior won the U.S. Junior Olympics Level 10 national title on beam in Orlando, Fla., May 1-2. A member of Queen City Gymnastics in Sharonville, Abaray won the Junior Olympics state championship with first place in vault, bars, beam and all-around. She also won beam in regional competition, setting up a third appearance at nationals. "I was confident on beam and knew I had a chance," said Abaray, 18. "It was just awesome to finish out my senior year on top." She competed in nationals as a freshman and sophomore but finished no higher than fourth on beam. The 14th-year gymnast has accepted a scholarship to the University of Missouri next fall.

Blue Jays/Cincinnati

Two local teams battled for the Ohio Middle School Lacrosse Association's boys' Division II championship, and the Cincinnati Blue Jays took home the title. The Blue Jays defeated Sycamore 5-4 in the game's last 12 seconds to win in Columbus on May 16. Sixty-four teams from Ohio competed in four divisions. The Blue Jays, coached by Eric Grombala, Chip Glaser, Mike Bodnarik and Fred Craig, draw players from Cardinal Pacelli, St. Mary, St. Ursula Villa, Nagel, Immaculate Heart of Mary, Blessed Sacrament, Madeira and Walnut Hills schools. Players are Christian Furbay, Paul Casey, Blake Stanislaw, John Glaser IV, Tommy Howe, Nick Pesta, Bob Kuhlerberg, Chris McGrath, Tyler Evans, Phil Furbay, Drew Grombala, Pat Burchell, Kyle Nelson, Kevin Jackson, Thomas Bodnarik, Fred Craig, Gerry Reilly, Zack Greiwe, Jay Stewart and Will McClanahan.

Caroline Tobin/Mt. Lookout

The Summit Country Day sixth grader never thought floor or beam were her gymnastic specialties, but personal best scores in both catapulted her into first place in the Level 8 Region 5 Regional Championship Meet in Illinois on April 18. Tobin, 12, was one of eight gymnasts representing Ohio in the regional meet. She scored a 9.275 on beam, 9.3 on vault, 9.35 on bars and 9.4 on floor. "I usually score best on bars, so I was really excited," said Tobin, a student at Hyde Park Gymnastics. "I've always wanted to win a championship." Tobin, who practices 17 hours a week, concluded her season at the championship and will begin training for Level 9. But Caroline isn't the only good sport in the family. When she's not practicing, she's watching her elder sister, Maggie, play for the U-14 Classics soccer team. After winning the State Cup in Anderson last week, the team will represent Ohio in regional action in Chicago on June 25.