Grashland Volleyball Tournament Makes Big Debut At Ashland BalloonFest
ASHLAND, OHIO — Rain, mist and slick grass were no match for a good volleyball tournament.
For the first time at the 2026 Ashland BalloonFest, Ashland Volleyball Club sponsored the GRASHLAND adult grass volleyball tournament at Freer Field, bringing 16 teams together for a day of competition, laughs, sliding saves and plenty of community spirit.
The tournament was held Saturday, June 27, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. as part of BalloonFest weekend. While the weather may not have been perfect, the energy on the courts made up for it.
Natalie Hauenstein, founder of Ashland Volleyball Club, said the idea for GRASHLAND came from a desire to bring more adult volleyball opportunities to Ashland.
Hauenstein, who was born and raised in Ashland, grew up loving BalloonFest and playing volleyball at Ashland High School before continuing her playing career at Baldwin Wallace University. After living in Berea, teaching and coaching at Brunswick High School, she said she noticed there were plenty of adult volleyball leagues and opportunities available in other communities.
When she and her family moved back home to Ashland, she realized those same opportunities did not really exist locally.
“The desire for an adult league has grown,” Hauenstein said. “Volleyball is just a special sport. I think it really brings people together.”
That desire eventually turned into Ashland Volleyball Club, which has given young athletes a chance to play volleyball outside of their regular school seasons and compete in tournaments around Ohio. The club is now heading into its fifth season.
But Hauenstein still had adult volleyball on her mind.
She said the idea really started taking shape while walking through Freer Field.
“I’m like, wow, there’s just a lot of flat grass,” Hauenstein said.
After speaking with the park office and later talking with Zach Burgess about using the BalloonFest setup, the pieces began to fall into place. With vendors, crowds and the festival atmosphere already there, GRASHLAND found the perfect home.
The first-year tournament featured four courts, 16 teams, pool play and bracket play. Teams included Toros, Warriors, One Hit Wonders, Grasshoppers, Diamond Dogs, No Soft Serves, Barbies Ballers, Ball Blazers, Mombshells, Hits & Giggles, Deez Nets, This Isn’t CrossFit, Chewblocka, How I Set Your Mother, Cloud9 and Grass Stains.
Teams came from Ashland and beyond, including players from Wooster, Columbus and even Michigan. Hauenstein said the event brought together local alumni, competitive players and recreational teams, giving everyone a chance to enjoy the sport at their own level.
Once bracket play began, the tournament was split into an upper and lower division.
Congratulations went to Team Toros, winners of the upper bracket, and Team Cloud9, winners of the lower bracket.
Even with mist falling throughout the day, the tournament kept rolling. Hauenstein said the wet weather actually created a fun atmosphere, with players sliding across the grass and making the most of the conditions.
“Although it was raining the entire time, more like a mist, I think it created a vibe that everyone really liked,” Hauenstein said. “People were sliding all over the grass.”
She said some players even joked they would rather play in the mist than in blazing heat. With music playing and teams competing across the field, the first GRASHLAND tournament quickly became one of the unique highlights of BalloonFest weekend.
The goal now is to make GRASHLAND an annual event at Ashland BalloonFest, with hopes of growing it even bigger next year. Hauenstein said possible future additions could include upper and lower divisions, age divisions, 30-and-over divisions or even a family tournament.
“The possibilities are endless,” Hauenstein said. “Now that it’s out there, I’m so glad that I just did it.”
She said the event is a reminder that sometimes ordinary people can create something meaningful simply by stepping out and making it happen.
Anyone interested in future adult volleyball leagues or tournaments is encouraged to follow Ashland Volleyball Club on Facebook for updates.
From hot air balloons in the sky to volleyballs flying across the grass, GRASHLAND added something new, exciting and competitive to Ashland BalloonFest 2026, and if this first tournament was any indication, it may only be the beginning.
Editors Note: Sorry so late in getting this story done and published
