Who would think that needing a new, bigger septic system would turn out to be a good thing? Maybe a family into volleyball, whose engineer happened to suggest the system could have a sand court on it?

Make that an Olympic-sized sand court. Chad and Julie Jones did, in their yard on Wiscasset's Suki Lane.

The court means ready access to training time for sisters and Wiscasset Christian Academy students Aleeya Jones, 11, and Madison Jones, 9.

Beach volleyball makes fitter, higher-jumping players than play on indoor courts alone, said their mother Julie Jones. She coaches high school volleyball at Wiscasset Christian and is coach of Brunswick High School's volleyball club.

Her daycare business of 10 years proved too much for the home’s prior septic system; the family was then surprised to hear that the new one could have a volleyball court on it. The engineer mentioned it without even knowing the Jones’ involvement in the sport. “We were all for it, and everybody put their heads in the books, and we designed an Olympic-sized volleyball court.”

Friendships, word-of-mouth and a Facebook page for the sand court have attracted other players, from beginners to a Bowdoin College volleyball team player. Thursday nights feature free pickup games.

The games, like the court's surface, are a training boost; but they are also fun, a chance to play close to home and spend time with people who share an enthusiasm for the sport.

“It’s great. Something to look forward to,” Blake Nichols of Waldoboro said between pickup games on June 19.

Christy Jewett hails from northern California but had no prior beach volleyball experience, only indoor. She’ll be a junior at Bowdoin in the fall.  Her time on the court in Wiscasset is benefiting her overall development as a player, Jewett said. “I’m really pleased that (Aleeya and Madison) have this opportunity,” she added about the court.

Madison has begun entering beach volleyball tournaments and earned two medals to date.

Aleeya heads to Las Vegas on July 28, for four days of training in the 2014 Girls' Future Select National Skills Program. It's a step higher than her training last year in Florida, her mother said. The programs are part of the same pipeline toward possible international competition. Aleeya has her sights set on being an Olympian, a goal she already had when readers first met her in April 2013.

Asked how she felt about getting invited again after this year’s tryouts, she said, ”I felt really excited about that.”

“She didn’t expect it, that’s for sure,” her mother said. “Obviously they see something in her, because they’re keeping an eye on her.”

To help the family with travel costs for the Las Vegas trip, go to www.gofundme.com/Aleeyas-Olympic-Journey; for more on the sand court, including rentals, the pickup games and upcoming clinics, look up Jones Sand Volleyball Court on Facebook or call Julie Jones at 207 522-8240.