New league forms in Northwest Houston

Willowbrook Sports Complex will soon serve up a league for adults to play volleyball competitively.

Beginning April 29, and held every Sunday at 6:30 p.m. over the following six weeks, the adult coed league is geared toward players of all skill levels.

"There's some people that just do it for fun and recreation while there are others that are really good and know what they are doing," said Susan Paisance, Willowbrook Sports Complex director. "It is a broad spectrum of people."

The complex hosted the league in the past, but had trouble staffing it. It was Paisance's idea to start it again, partially because she wanted to get back into the sport herself.

The complex has a steady stream of adults playing volleyball during its open gym time so a number of participants for the league are already in place.

"Everyone that comes to the open gym keeps asking us when the league is starting," Paisance said. "We have been overwhelmed with the interest."

Willowbrook Sports Complex hopes to have enough people to field 10 teams, at a cost of $280 per squad. Ideally teams will consist of six people, but they can compete with as few as five players if someone cannot make it.

"It's hard to say how many people we will have because it is coed so it may be hard for women to find guys to play with or vice-versa," Paisance said. "You can have all men, but there must be at least two women on the court at all times. It is more fun and more competitive that way."

Two games will be played per match.Each team will get two matches per night.All games will count toward a team's win-loss record and help with seeding for the tournament at the end of the season.

All of the players will compete against each other during the first season. If needed, the organizers plan to break up the competition into different skill levels in future seasons.

"There's a lot of people that have come to our open gym that have never played volleyball, and we have some guys and girls that are really good," Paisance said. "Then, there are some people like me that played in high school and want to get back into playing again."

The league is looking for a bar or restaurant to sponsor it, which will help with the social aspect that the Willowbook Sports Complex is aiming for.

"Afterwards, people can go out for drinks or food somewhere," Paisance said. "This should give adults a chance to get to know each other in the Northwest Houston area. It will be a fun time to hang out with friends."

Willowbrook Sports Complex, 12539 Perry Road, Houston 281-807-0055, www.willowbrooksports.com