Ventura College to Add Beach Volleyball in 2016

Ventura College will be adding women's Sand Volleyball as a sanctioned sport in the spring of 2016. Indoor volleyball head coach Brad Lyans, and assistant Sabine Stork will direct the program in its inaugural season beginning in March, 2016. The Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA) held its first official season last spring, making it the 24th CCCAA sanctioned sport. Irvine Valley College claimed the first state title last May. Sand Volleyball will be the first sport added at Ventura College since Women's Water Polo was introduced in 1998.

Sand volleyball was already being played as a club sport or offered as a class at 17 CCCAA colleges during Spring of 2013, with additional interest in this growing sport in Spring 2014. There were three conferences (four divisions) and 18 teams split between Northern and Southern CA that competed in the 2015 season, with more college programs expected to join this coming spring, including VC.

CCCAA Regional and State championship formats were constructed and approved by the CCCAA membership, ultimately deciding a team and doubles State champions. Eight teams will competed in regionals, with four advancing to the State Championship where a one day round robin was held to determine a champion. Individuals will also participate in a round robin format to decide a State winner.

The addition of sand volleyball will increase opportunities for women student-athletes, while maximizing institutional resources (i.e. personnel, equipment, creating new dual-sport athletes, etc.) that are already in place.