THE CITY HAS NOT MADE A DECISION ... ON THE EXPANSION./// RIGHT NOW ... DAY TWO OF THE SAVANNAH CHALLENGER IS WRAPPING UP. WJCL 22 NEWS' AJ - SISSON ... JOINS US LIVE FROM THE LANDINGS ... AJ ... THE PLAYERS ARE NOT THE ONLY PEOPLE ... THAT PREPARE FOR THE TOURNAMENT. ASIDE FROM THE PLAYERS ... THEY'RE THE MOST IMPORTANT PEOPLE ON THE COURT ... THE VOLUNTEERS ARE WHAT KEEP PLAY MOVING ... AND THE PLAYERS HAPPY ... SOME OF THESE VOLUNTEERS ... HAVE BEEN HERE SINCE THE FIRST EVER CHALLENGERS IN SAVANNAH ... BACK IN 2009. SOT <> "THIS IS WHERE I LIVE, THIS IS MY HOME. AND SO, I JUST HAD FRIENDS THAT WERE INVOLVED AND SO I CAME UP HERE AND IT'S BEEN ALMOST 13 YEARS." VO COURTNEY ... WHO VOLUNTEERS AT THE HOSPITALITY DESK ... IS RESPONSIBLE FOR PROVIDING PLAYERS WHAT THEY NEED. SOT <> "IT'S JUST BEEN A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO SEE, HEAR THEM, YOU KNOW, AND TRY TO PRONOUNCE SOME OF THE NAMES, IT IS A LITTLE CHALLENGING." VO MOVING HERE AROUND 2009 ... SHE WAS ABLE TO SEE THE FIRST CHALLENGER ... AND WANTED TO BE APART OF THE NEXT. SOT <> "IT'S BEEN A GREAT, YOU KNOW, JUST SPRINGTIME EVENT FOR US EVER SINCE." VO VOLUNTEERING ON THE COURT ... IS DINAH ZAPATKA ... WHO'S BEEN A BALL GIRL SINCE SHE WAS 16. SOT <> "BEING A TENNIS FAN, WATCHING TOURNAMENTS ON TV AND BEING AT TOURNAMENTS, YOU WATCH THE BALL KIDS ALSO. SO BEING A MOM, A GROWN WOMAN, TO BE ON THE COURT IS EVEN MORE THRILLING." VO VOLUNTEERING IS SOMETHING EVERYONE ... NOT JUST CLUB MEMBERS ... CAN DO ... AND DINAH SAYS ... BEING THAT CLOSE TO THE PLAYERS ... IS ONE OF HER FAVORITE PARTS. SOT <> "WE KNOW SOME OF THE PLAYERS WHO HAVE GONE ON TO BE REALLY IN THE TOP 20. THAT'S EX CITING. AND YOU'RE ON THE COURT WITH THEM." <> "JUST FEELING APART OF THE TOURNAMENT, YOU'RE NOT JUST WATCHING. YOU'RE A APRT OF MAKING IT HAPPEN. AND, AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE MAKE IT HAPPEN. IT GROWS AND IT JUST EVERY YEAR IT'S BETTER." TICKETS AND LIVESTREAM INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE ON OUR WEBSITE ... AT WJCL DOT COM... I AM TOLD ... THAT THIS WEEKEND'S MATCHES ARE SOLD OUT ... SO USE THAT LIVESTREAM. AND DON'T FORGET ... STARTING TOMORROW ... HERE AT NINE- THIRTY A-M ... IS LADIES DAY ... WHERE LADIES GET DISCOUNTED TICKETS ALONG WITH FUN FOR THE FAMILY. FROM THE LANDINGS ... AJS ... W22N AJ... THANKS FOR THAT REPOR
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'We make it happen': Savannah Challenger volunteers talk why they return annually
On-court volunteering requires focus, according to long-time volunteer Dinah Zapatka, who's been a ball girl since she was 16
The second day of the Savannah Challenger wrapped up Tuesday night with the Round of 16 set for Wednesday afternoon. However, some people on the court are equally as important as the players, if not more.Read the original story here.Read the recap of Day 1 here."This is where I live, this is my home. I just had friends that were involved and so I came up here and it's been almost 13 years," said Courtney Neely, a 14-year resident of The Landings. "It's been a great, you know, just springtime event for us ever since."Neely volunteers at the hospitality stand, and is responsible for providing court times, tennis balls, waters and more to players as they arrive at the club. She first started volunteering after the first ever Savannah Challenger in 2009."It's just been a great opportunity to see and hear (the players), you know?" said Neely. "And trying to pronounce some of the names is a little challenging!"Volunteering off the court is where helpers make first impressions on the players, and make good ones. Tournament official Rhegan White-Clemm says the players vote the Challenger in the Hostess City their favorite.On-court volunteering requires focus, according to longtime volunteer Dinah Zapatka, who has been a ball girl since she was 16. She's been with the Savannah Challenger for over eight years."Being a tennis fan, watching tournaments on TV and being at tournaments, you watch the ball kids also," said Zapatka. "So, being a mom, a grown woman, to be on the court is even more thrilling."Volunteers do not only have to be members at The Landings Tennis Club, as the tournament brings in students from around Chatham County to help with the event. Current helpers say that being so close to the players is their favorite part."We know some of the players who have gone on to be in the top 20 (worldwide)," said Zapatka. "That's exciting. And, you're on the court with them.""Feeling a part of the tournament, you're not just watching. You're a part of making it happen," said Neely on her favorite part of volunteering. "At the end of the day, we make it happen. It grows and it — just every year it gets better."Tickets for Saturday's and Sunday's matches are already sold out, but you can still see matches through Friday by clicking this link. There is also a livestream available.Starting Wednesday at 9:30 a.m. is Ladies' Day, where women can receive discounted tickets. There will be food trucks, games, and an opportunity to meet the players in the event.
SAVANNAH, Ga. —
The second day of the Savannah Challenger wrapped up Tuesday night with the Round of 16 set for Wednesday afternoon. However, some people on the court are equally as important as the players, if not more.
Read the original story here.
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Read the recap of Day 1 here.
"This is where I live, this is my home. I just had friends that were involved and so I came up here and it's been almost 13 years," said Courtney Neely, a 14-year resident of The Landings. "It's been a great, you know, just springtime event for us ever since."
Neely volunteers at the hospitality stand, and is responsible for providing court times, tennis balls, waters and more to players as they arrive at the club. She first started volunteering after the first ever Savannah Challenger in 2009.
"It's just been a great opportunity to see and hear (the players), you know?" said Neely. "And trying to pronounce some of the names is a little challenging!"
Volunteering off the court is where helpers make first impressions on the players, and make good ones. Tournament official Rhegan White-Clemm says the players vote the Challenger in the Hostess City their favorite.
On-court volunteering requires focus, according to longtime volunteer Dinah Zapatka, who has been a ball girl since she was 16. She's been with the Savannah Challenger for over eight years.
"Being a tennis fan, watching tournaments on TV and being at tournaments, you watch the ball kids also," said Zapatka. "So, being a mom, a grown woman, to be on the court is even more thrilling."
Volunteers do not only have to be members at The Landings Tennis Club, as the tournament brings in students from around Chatham County to help with the event. Current helpers say that being so close to the players is their favorite part.
"We know some of the players who have gone on to be in the top 20 (worldwide)," said Zapatka. "That's exciting. And, you're on the court with them."
"Feeling a part of the tournament, you're not just watching. You're a part of making it happen," said Neely on her favorite part of volunteering. "At the end of the day, we make it happen. It grows and it — just every year it gets better."
Tickets for Saturday's and Sunday's matches are already sold out, but you can still see matches through Friday by clicking this link. There is also a livestream available.
Starting Wednesday at 9:30 a.m. is Ladies' Day, where women can receive discounted tickets. There will be food trucks, games, and an opportunity to meet the players in the event.
