Senior center competes in water volleyball tournament

Members of the East Central DeKalb Community water volleyball team hit the road on July 31 to compete against fellow senior athletes at the Water Volleyball Jamboree Tournament at the Helene S. Mills Senior Multipurpose Facility, located in Atlanta.

More than 30 seniors participated in the water volleyball jamboree, which brought together members from both facilities for a day of competition and fellowship.

Designed to promote active lifestyles while encouraging social connections, the tournament highlighted the growing popularity of water volleyball as a low-impact sport that helps improve strength, balance and cardiovascular health for active seniors across metro Atlanta, according to event organizers.

The event featured four teams in total: two women’s teams and two co-ed teams, with each senior center fielding one team in each division. Throughout the day, players demonstrated teamwork, determination, and sportsmanship as supporters cheered them on from the pool deck.

The East Central DeKalb women’s team earned bragging rights by claiming the women’s division title after a strong performance in the pool. In the co-ed division, Helene S. Mills captured the championship, capping a day of closely contested matches between the two senior centers.

Opened in 2023, the East Central DeKalb Community and Senior Center serves as a hub for recreation, wellness and lifelong learning for older adults in eastern DeKalb County, according to a news release. The facility offers a variety of programs and amenities, including fitness classes, arts and crafts, educational workshops, and an indoor saltwater pool that supports aquatic exercise and sports such as water volleyball. Programs such as the jamboree reflect the center’s stated mission: helping older adults remain active, healthy, and socially connected.

Following the tournament, participants from both senior centers gathered to enjoy food and refreshments.