According to the NCAA’s sports sponsorship database, five new schools will join the ever-expanding list of varsity sand volleyball programs and compete in their first seasons this spring.
Texas Christian University, University of New Mexico, University of New Orleans, and University of Portland will bolster the ranks of the Division I schools offering sand opportunities, while DII program Eckerd College will also field a team for the first time. Pro beach volleyball player Priscilla Piantadosi-Lima joins the staff at Eckerd, and the University of Portland will benefit from the knowledge of first-year indoor head coach Brent Crouch who earned his AAA CBVA rating in 2005 and served as head coach of the St. Mary’s sand volleyball team for two seasons.
In TCU’s press release announcing the addition of the emerging sport, head indoor coach Prentice Lewis remarked that she is excited to finally be able tell recruits that yes, they are adding sand volleyball, articulating the motivation for many athletic departments to champion the sport.
To see the full list of schools with a sand volleyball program, click here.
(Photo cred: Eric Bouscher)