The grass at Fort Nugent Park was there Wednesday evening and so was the volleyball net. But the turnout of players was a bit on the sparse side for the first night of adult summer co-ed volleyball.

Only five players were present for the first game of the season, but a rousing and fun-filled game it was featuring Hank Nydam, league organizer, and his twin sons, Alex and Steven, pitted against the Muzzall sisters, Jessica and Jennifer.

All from Oak Harbor, Alex and Steven Nydam along with Jessica Muzzall are 2009 graduates of Oak Harbor High School, while Jennifer, also an OHHS graduate, will be a senior in the fall at the University of Great Falls in Great Falls, Mont., where she plays volleyball for the Argos in the NAIA Frontier League.

Jessica will be joining her sister at the university this fall and will also be playing volleyball.

Grass volleyball is a little different than the traditional indoor game.

Yellow cords are positioned on both sides of the net marking the out-of-bounds lines, the ball is lighter and, of course, players have to contend with the occasional bumps and divots in the grass as opposed to a smooth hardwood floor.

“Playing with a lighter ball is good for hand-eye coordination,” Jessica Muzzall said. “You have to watch it more because the wind will catch it.”

Competing with fewer players is also great for conditioning and it wasn’t long before the sweatshirts and jackets began coming off, even though the weather was cool.

Games are played every Monday and Wednesday nights throughout the summer beginning at 6:30 p.m. at Fort Nugent Park.

Drop ins are welcome and there is no charge to play.

For information, call Hank Nydam at 914-7258, or 675-0250.