Samantha had only been playing volleyball for a bit over a month when Ed Hachwa kept insisting that she should join a six-person team for the annual "Battle at the Bay 2022" grass volleyball tournament way up in the middle of Lake Erie. Sam only knew Ed from a league she'd just started, and committing to this tournament meant being as stuck as one could be on an island for a weekend with a bunch of strangers.

Rex had been playing volleyball for a few years, and he'd known Ed for some time, but he was hesitant to join this team since they would be entered into a beginner-level recreational division ...and he was also feeling like quite a cheapskate at the time.

But kind Ed was persistent and messaged both of our reluctant soon-to-be lovers many times in the weeks leading up to the mid-August tournament, and the team was finally formed.

Sam and Rex met as the team was prepping to carpool, and they quietly noticed how attracted each one was to the other. Soon, on the rowdy car ride, the team members were learning plenty more than they wanted to about everyone's lives and opinions, and it turned out that Sam and Rex were both Catholic. The switch flipped in Rex's head from "potentially interested" to "I have to talk to her."

Although the story could've easily gone south, given everyone on the team was staying in the same small cabin, Rex took his chances, and the two not only played volleyball together, but explored Put-in Bay together, danced together, and even went to the humble "Mother of Sorrows" Church on the island together for mass that Sunday.

From then on, it seemed like they spent every weekend with one another. To the surprise but loving support of their family and friends, Samantha and Rex got engaged on New Year's Eve, and they now look forward to seeing, loving, and annoying each other for the rest of their days.

S&R

Wedding Day

2:00 PM–3:00 PM

Ceremony

3:00 PM–4:00 PM

Cocktail Hour

4:00 PM

Reception