Mothers of 5: crossing the Atlantic and balancing Beach Volleyball with motherhood

Violeta Slambakova and Tambre Nobles made an unforgettable impression at the Ios Futures tournament - not just for their game, but for the joy, warmth, and resilience they brought to the beach. The American duo travelled from Florida and North Carolina to Greece, with their five children in tow, to compete on the Beach Pro Tour. Starting from the qualifiers, they fought their way to a top-10 finish and earned the admiration of everyone on the island - not just as athletes, but as moms making it all happen.

What made you decide to come all the way to Greece for this tournament?
Greece is absolutely beautiful - how could we not come? It’s not just a great place to play Beach Volleyball, it’s also an amazing destination for our families. The kids loved it, and we loved playing here. Plus… we are windball players! We actually enjoy playing in the wind, and Ios gave us exactly that.

How was your experience with the tournament itself?
The organisation was excellent, very smooth, and the communication was great. It was a really fun and well-run event. We had a great time here from start to finish.

You finished 9th overall. How do you feel about your performance?
Of course, you always want to go further, but we are really proud of what we accomplished. This was our first tournament playing together this year, and we did well. The whole journey has been incredible - the kids had an amazing time, and we created so many great memories as a team and as families.

Was the travel from the US difficult with families?
Oh yes! (laughs) It wasn’t easy. We had trouble with flights - they were all sold out - so we had to come on different days. But we made it work. You do what you have to do.

What’s it like trying to balance motherhood with competitive Beach Volleyball?
It’s definitely not easy. Honestly, it takes a village. We need all the support we can get - from our husbands, from our extended families, from everyone who helps make this possible. One of the hardest things is finding time to rest. Other teams finish their matches and go to recover. We finish and go chase kids around the beach! (laughs)

Any thoughts on coming back to Ios in the future?
Absolutely - we would love to come back next year. The people here are so warm, kind, and joyful. Everything was so family-friendly, and the conditions were perfect. Ios has really captured our hearts.