Play volleyball for a good cause

The fifth annual Danielle Miller Memorial Tournament will take place June 21. Registration is at 8 a.m.; the tourney begins at 9 a.m. at Sideout's Bar and Grill in Island Lake, rain or shine.

Last year nearly 30 teams and more than 200 players attended the event.

The event is open to anyone who would like to have a great time by just having fun, or by playing competitive/recreational volleyball. There will be music, raffles, T-shirts, serving contests with free prizes. Food and beverages will be available.

There are numerous divisions to play in depending on age and skill level. The cost for each team is $150. The goal is to raise more money than last year ($6,000).

For more information visit the Danielle Miller Memorial Tournament Web site at: http://www.daniellemiller vbtourney.com, or call Debbie DeGraw at (815) 719-0749.

The event started in July 2004 to celebrate the life of Danielle Miller.

Danielle was a 2002 Woodstock High School graduate who played on her school team and the Crystal Lake-based Sky High Volleyball Club before moving on to play at University of North Carolina-Charlotte. Danielle played two years at UNC-Charlotte and then was killed in an auto accident March 12, 2004.

Three scholarships have been established in her name. One benefits a McHenry County player who would like to play the libero position (a fairly new volleyball position) in college; another is committed to a Charlotte player. The third will go to a Woodstock High School athlete.

Over the past several years scholarships have been given to a libero at UNC-Charlotte, Carly Romberg; Matt Lehl, a golfer from Woodstock High School who went to Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville; Jen Nichols, also of Woodstock High, who went on to the University of Dubuque to play basketball; Schaumburg's Kari Hauswirth, who played for Sky High, and went to play volleyball at Eastern Illinois University; Colleen Nolan, who played at Stevenson High School and went to Notre Dame to play volleyball; Katie Jacobson of Woodstock High, who went to Carthage College to play volleyball; and Taylor Szatkowski, a defensive specialist from Skyhigh Volleyball Club who went to the University of Illinois at Chicago.

This year's Woodstock High School recipient was Sarah Drennen.

In addition to the established scholarships this year, a donation of $1,000 will be given in memory of a very special friend of the Miller family, Chris Foat, who was hit and killed by a snow plow while walking home from the Woodstock Square in late 2007. Chris was also a 2002 Woodstock High graduate who will always be remembered as a great friend, and a wonderful human being.

The event has been successful because of the support received from the community, friends and from those who love to play volleyball. For registration information visit the Web site www.daniellemiller vbtourney.com, or call (815) 719-0749.