W. SAND VOLLEYBALL: A SPORT IS BORN

Sacramento, CA . . . The California Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA) is pleased to announce that Spring 2015 marks the first season women's sand volleyball is being recognized as a sanctioned CCCAA championship sport.

After years of discussion and great perseverance from many individuals and organizations, women's sand volleyball has officially become the 24th CCCAA sanctioned sport. This is the first new sport sponsored by the CCCAA since women's badminton was added in 2000 and women's golf in 1995.

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 are now three conferences (four divisions) and 18 teams split between Northern and Southern CA that will compete in the 2015 season, with more college programs expected to join in future years. A complete conference structure can be seen here http://www.cccaasports.org/sports/sandvball/2014-15/standings.

CCCAA Regional and State championship formats have been constructed and approved by the CCCAA membership, ultimately deciding a team and doubles State champions. Eight teams will compete in regionals, with four advancing to the State Championship where a one day round robin will be held to determine a champion. Individuals will also participate in a round robin format to decide a State winner. The women's sand volleyball championship handbook lays out complete formats and schedules. http://www.cccaasports.org/working/pdf/Handbooks/Sand_Volleyball_Championship_Handbook.pdf.

The inaugural season will begin on March 1, 2015 using NCAA adopted rules. Team and individual State championships will take place at Irvine Valley College on May 1 & 2 respectively.

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

Story by Jason Boogs, CCCAA