As I previewed yesterday, Thrashers broadcaster Darren Eliot and Hawks scout Harold Ellis took on an AVP beach volleyball team today at Woodruff Park. As compensation for getting thumped by the pro team of Casey Jennings and Mark Williams, Eliot and Ellis (Team E) were presented with $2,500 checks from Crocs for the Thrashers and Hawks Foundations.

Ellis and Eliot actually did better than you probably expected, even if Jennings and Williams weren't breaking much of a sweat on the 90 degree court. At one point Team E was even beating the AVP pros, though it didn't last too long. Team E did have unpredictability on their side, as novices often do. You never know what to expect from people that don't necessarily know what they're doing. Rather than take the standard three hits to get the ball back over he net Team E mixed it up and returned serves with their first, second or third hits. Thanks to Ellis' height they even got in a few blocks and forced some errors.

When it was all said and done Jennings and Williams walked away with a 21-10 victory over Eliot and Ellis, but it was a small sacrifice for the former NHL and NBA pros to pay to raise some money for the team foundations.

Rumor has it that the AVP guys were invited to put on some skates or step onto the hardwood to see how they do matching up against our guys on their own turf...

 
Darren Eliot with the serve...

 
An error by Team AVP leads to a point for Team E.

Pre-game strategy and tips.

The battle begins.

Here comes the serve...

Darren with the diving set.

Darren waves the white flag.