The perfect setting for the volleyball set.

Byline: BEST OF ... by The Register-Guard

How can you tell when a sand volleyball court has lived past its prime?

When 4-year-olds start building sand castles near the service line, it's not a good sign.

When the neighborhood cats turn the double court in the park near you into the Northwest's largest litter box, it may be time for the city to consider going back to grass.

Team Best of ... has learned that many of the area's outdoor V-ball courts are not being utilized the way they once were. Which is sad, because we still get goose bumps (pun intended) when we hear that song by lyrical poet Kenny Loggins that set the scene in "Top Gun" when Maverick and Slider went head to head at the net.

"Playing, playing with the boys."

You can still hear the music at the volleyball courts behind South Eugene High School, which is why this is our hands-down winner for the best outdoor volleyball court.

If you visit this place on a Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday night, you'll find it packed with players from the city's recreational league. Throughout the spring and summer, the courts attract some fiercely competitive pickup games, and the North Pacific Beach Volleyball Association even hosts amateur tournaments here.

There are several reasons this place has become a hub for wannabe Mike Lamberts and Misty May.

For one, the courts are almost brand new. The city installed them last summer after determining the old courts to the east were being encroached upon by tree roots. The old courts (and the cool, rusty elevated referee chairs) remain, but unless you like pine needles with your bump-set-spike, you probably won't want to play here.

The new courts have lights that stay on until 11 p.m. And they're much closer to the Amazon bike path, so you can show off your jump serve to the hippie chick riding by on the recycled one-speed.

There's lots of summer sports action happening down here. On some nights, the crush of Ems fans from nearby Civic Stadium, combined with the mix of dog walkers, softball players, Little Leaguers, lacrosse players and track runners, can make that small pickup match feel like an AVP Pro event that draws hundreds of spectators.

The one complaint that everybody seems to have about these courts is the "dirty sand." Perhaps the idea of dirty sand explains the mysterious existence of a volleyball product we read about called "sand socks," which we think makes about as much sense as, say, "river jeans."

We're still not sure what kind of sand isn't dirty, and figure anyone who doesn't want to get sand between their toes should stick to wallyball. City officials say this particular sand comes from the Oregon Coast, but the regulars we met swear it's some kind of low-down, dirty river sand.

Whatever the source, we say sand is sand, and as long as the cats and kittens stay out of it, this is still our favorite summer sand box.

Timing and sealing the net are key to blocking. To work on your technique and your vertical, go to the Best of ... archive at www.registerguard..com/bestof.

BEST OUTDOOR VOLLEYBALL COURTS

South Eugene High School

Where: Near 24th Avenue and Amazon Parkway

When: Lighted until 11 p.m.

CAPTION(S):

The city installed new volleyball courts at South Eugene High School after the existing ones were compromised by tree roots.