The Keno Royale Fundraiser 🎰

Keno Royale – Coed Blind Draw 4’s Tournament

🎰 No need to bring a team — fate picks for you.

This California-style coed 4’s event honors our friend Keno, a staple in the Genesee County volleyball community for years. Keno has played a huge role in growing the game locally — and was there when Jeff Samuels, founder of Empact Volleyball, first got his start in the sport. Let’s all come together to show our appreciation for a man who’s done so much for volleyball.

Teams are built by a committee-selected blind draw so every squad is balanced with one player from each skill tier: A, B, C, and D.

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Location

Sharky’s, Burton, MI

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Date & Time

Sunday, August 24th, 2025

Full-day event | Pool play + playoffs

Entry Fee

$35 per player

Format

• Coed 4’s (1 A-level, 1 B-level, 1 C-level, 1 D-level per team)

• Committee-selected blind draw

• Pool play followed by playoffs

• All levels welcome

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Skill Level & Position Guidelines

Our format uses both skill tier and on-court role to balance teams:

A Level Player – Pro/Open/AAA – Primary Hitter

Elite-level player, often playing the primary attacking role. Regularly competes at Pro Tour, Open, or top AAA level. Current/former pro or top-level college athlete.

B Level Player – AA/A – Setter

Strong competitive player with advanced skills and consistency, often running the offense. Successful in AA/A tournaments, but not at pro/Open pace.

C Level Player – BB – Primary Passer / Secondary Hitter

Solid mid-level player. Consistent passer/defender with the ability to attack when needed. Can also be an alternative hitter on the left side.

D Level Player – B/Beginner – Support Passer/Defender

Newer to competitive volleyball or still developing consistency. Recreational player or athlete from another sport learning the beach game.

Note: The committee reserves the right to move players to the position/tier where they fit best for team balance.

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Extras & Fundraising

• Raffles: Volleyball merch, volleyballs, and other prizes

• Possible Cornhole Tournament (TBD) alongside the volleyball event

• A percentage of bar sales from Sharky’s will be donated to the Tucker Family

• Special thanks to Sharky’s for partnering with Empact Volleyball to host this event — please help us honor their support by following venue rules (no outside food or drinks)

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Play & Atmosphere

This is first and foremost a fun fundraiser. Let’s keep overly competitive attitudes to a minimum — if there’s a questionable call, just redo the point and keep playing.

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Registration

Spots are limited to 12 players per skill tier — first come, first served.

Sign up now and let the balls decide your fate!