Up Close (You Wish!)

By Carlson

Well, since so many people seem to really dig the ladies ofDead or Alive Xtreme Beach Volleyball™, we thought we’d take a little closer look at who they are. They can’t all be supermodel pro-wrestlers, can they?

Kasumi, Japanese Nija.

Kasumi
This lovely little Japanese Ninja girl is a veteran of multipleDead or Alive tournaments. At only 5’2” tall and a diminutive 106 lbs., she is often thought to be rather small and un-threatening. However, her study of Mugen Tenshin Ninjutsu has resulted in a remarkable level of physical coordination and speed. Though she may not be as strong as many of the other ladies, she is more than capable of playing a mean game of volleyball. All that aside, she is definitely a very feminine young lady, with a love of all things pink.

Leifang
Supple, graceful, and skillful are the hallmarks of this Chinese flower. Years of study in Tai Ji Quan have taught her an appreciation for a more peaceful way of doing things. She’s a bright and bubbly young lady who loves most anything yellow and appreciates the history and culture of her people.

Helena
Coming from an aristocratic and cultured French family, this opera singer turned combatant turned beach bunny is a solid opponent behind the net. With good speed and great patience, she is a defensive player to be reckoned with. She also enjoys all of the natural things found on the beach, as well as the pure soft white of pearls.

Tina, supermodel, pro wrestler, and movie star.

Tina
Tina is the quintessential supermodel, professional wrestler, and movie star. With a father like Bass, you won’t find much grace or tender ministrations here. Instead, you will find the most powerful player on the sands of Zack Island. While she may not have her skill refined to the utmost, she more than makes up for it with enthusiasm and raw physical strength. This free-spirited American girl has a taste for seafood and the blue of the ocean.

Christie
Can it really be—an Assassin gone volleyball player? Well, that certainly seems to be the case in this situation. While her cold and calculatiing professionalism makes her a deadly fighter and a formidable opponent on the beach, it also means that she is generally lacking in some of the social graces. This native of England is very fond of driving, as well as most anything black and somber. Not exactly the life of the party, is she?

Hitomi, young German competitor.

Hitomi
Coming to Zack Island from Germany, this lady is one of the youngest competitors to be found. As a result, her technique leaves something to be desired, but don’t let that confuse you. She is an incredibly powerful competitor with a fiery spirit and youthful exuberance. Aside from the whole combat thing, she is very young at heart, taking joy from simple things like a blue sky, her stuffed animals, and good food (of course!).

Ayane
Similar to her half-sister Hitomi, Ayane is a fiery competitor that makes up for her lack of physical strength with nearly unmatched physical skill. Unlike her more upbeat and optimistic sibling, she resides more on the other side of the coin. No happy, bubbly pinks to be found here. Instead, you will find purples and various knives and other weapons of the Ninja. I wouldn’t suggest forgetting to call her back in the morning.

Lisa, stock broker from the Big Apple.

Lisa
While not a whole lot is known about this surfing stock broker from the Big Apple, we do know that she is a friend of Tina’s and her habit of spending her spare time on the beach has resulted in one of the most well-rounded volleyball players around. She’s a patriotic young fireball with a taste for anything red—and anything read.

All things considered, the young ladies found on the beaches of Zack Island are all quite a handful. One bit of advice for those of you looking for a quick game down on the sand: Try to remember that a lady who isn’t happy isn’t going to put much effort into playing on your team. And, a lady that won’t look you in the eyes is probably not all that happy.