Women's beach volleyball is gaining momentum on the collegiate sport landscape with six events scheduled this spring.
During its last several meetings, the Committee on Women's Athletics has explored potential sports that can be added to the emerging sports list. CWA received updates on the status of synchronized swimming, squash, indoor field hockey and rugby in January.
The first is the Sunshine State Collegiate Beach Volleyball Tournament in Tampa, Florida, March 29.
Teams from Rollins, Tampa, Lynn, Florida Southern, Florida Tech, Nova Southeastern, Eckerd and St. Leo will compete.
Other events are:
April 12: Southeastern Conference Coaches Beach Volleyball Tournament, Gainesville, Florida.
Competing teams: Florida, Arkansas, LSU, Kentucky, Georgia, Alabama, Auburn, South Carolina, Tennessee, Mississippi, Mississippi State.
April 19: Big West Conference Beach Tournament, Huntington Beach, California.
Competing teams: Long Beach State, UC Irvine, UC Santa Barbara, Cal State Northridge, Pacific, Fresno State, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.
April 19: Division I Invitational Beach Tournament, Siesta Key, Florida.
Competing teams: North Florida, South Florida, Florida Atlantic, Miami (Florida), Florida Gulf Coast.
April 20: CBS College Sports Network Collegiate Beach Nationals, San Diego, (CBS College Sports Network will broadcast).
Competing teams: Wisconsin, Texas, Nebraska, Clemson, Southern California and a Big West Conference qualifier.
April 26: Rochester Indoor Beach Open, Rochester, New York.
Competing teams: Maine, Delaware, New Hampshire, Albany (New York), Binghamton, Stony Brook, Hartford, Maryland-Baltimore County
Most of these beach tournaments are inaugural events, including the Southeastern Conference Coaches Beach Volleyball Tournament.
"We see this as an opportunity to promote the SEC and women’s volleyball in general," said Florida coach Mary Wise. "With the successes of American beach teams at the Olympics and the pro beach tour, many casual sports fans are familiar with the game."
