A set. A spike. A daring dive stops the opposition from gaining an advantage — even though the cost is a face full of wet sand. This is just one scene taken from Ottawa’s Helping Other People Everywhere (HOPE) Volleyball SummerFest on July 11 — a single round of a 12-minute game on one of 86 courts mapped out in the event guide. But it was a scene in a story that ould reach no climax; by 11:45 a.m., a downpour of rain and sightings of lightning forced officials to cancel play for the first time in the tournament’s 27-year history.

HOPE is primarily a fundraising event that to-date has raised more than $3.5 million for community-based charities, according to its website. Gayle McClelland, the tournament’s executive director, said 1,084 teams were scheduled to play this year. “We’re flagged as the world’s largest volleyball tournament,” said McClelland. “Team applications came in very fast. We actually sold out of spots before the end of the registration period.” McClelland said the annual day-long event expected to draw 10, 000 players, who, though the day dawned overcast, descended upon Mooney’s Beach adorned with T-shirts bearing their team names — some corporate like Costco Wholesale, some clever like I’d Hit That, some confusing like I Pho3.

The rain started early but went virtually unacknowledged by the players Off the court, fi ngers were taped and teammates were reminded of the game plan. On the court, the ball was served and the teams got into formation. They played on. “It’s not bad yet,” said Doug Orendorff, the referee at court 17 and player on the team that won the fi rst HOPE title 26 years ago. "This is my 15th year as a ref and this is nothing. Just a little light rain.” The weather certainly did not stop City Chase, the team that has won the tournament the last three years in a row, from defending their title. They swept through their first two games undefeated, reaching 21 points long before game time was up. But according to two-year City Chase veteran Amber Joyce, the team didn’t really feel any pressure to begin with although they were featured prominently on the centre court and heralded as tournament favourite.

“We’re all pretty fairly competitive throughout the year,” she said. “This was just another game.” Meanwhile, over on court 32, Katie Spack and her team, Sets on the Beach, weren’t fazed by the weather either. “We’re newcomers to the tournament,”

Spack said. “We came to have fun.” But Spack set a more competitive tone by starting off her fi rst service of the day with three aces. Her team won the fi rst game 21-4. “This is our fi rst year but, sure, we still hope to win,” she said. But this time around, neither rookie nor veteran could claim the title of HOPE Volleyball Summerfest champion. Still, there’s always next year when McClelland said she hopes the turnout — and the weather — will be even better. “When you look at the list of charities, it’s hard to find a friend or family member who hasn’t been touched in some way by them and the work they do,” she said.