MOBILE, Ala. – The Spring Hill College (SHC) beach volleyball "Sandy Badgers" have accepted an invitation to participate in the inaugural America Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Small College Beach Championships to be held at Hickory Point Beach in Tavares, Fla., on April 7-8.
 
The tournament will feature pool play on Saturday and bracket play on Sunday with teams from seven NCAA Division II schools. The teams will be divided into one three- and one four-team pool. Pool groupings will be determined by the results of February and March competitions and specific pools and match times will be announced on Monday, April 2.
 
"As one of the original small schools to add beach volleyball we couldn't be more thrilled with the opportunity to compete in the inaugural AVCA Small College Championship," said SHC head coach Shawn Taylor. The AVCA was not only instrumental in establishing the first beach volleyball championship, but crucial to the NCAA recognizing beach volleyball as a collegiate sport. Without their support, research and behind-the-scenes work, it's fair to say that beach volleyball would probably not exist as an NCAA sport."
 
"As the field begins to grow in the college ranks, there has developed a large disparity among universities in terms of how they choose to support a program with various resources," Taylor continued. "As beach volleyball continues to be the fastest growing of all NCAA sports, the AVCA has recognized that it is a good time to implement a season culminating event for smaller programs. Our hope is that history repeats itself and we are able to take it from the AVCA Small College Championships to the NCAA Division II and Division III Championships."
 
"When we received the invitation from the AVCA, I was excited," Taylor said. "The most difficult part was keeping it from the team as the details were worked out. What better way to show case what we have been working on? What better way to celebrate our first class of beach players who have competed for four years? It also means that we will be the first program from SHC to compete in a post-season event since the school started the process of NCAA Division II membership."
 
"Our goal since we started has been to show up every day ready to compete and work hard," Taylor added. "Having this event helps provide a purpose. If we continue to improve, I expect us to be highly competitive at the championship."
 
SHC Director of Volleyball Operations Peggy Martin believes this event is an important chapter in the development of the Badger program as well as the overall growth of collegiate beach volleyball. "This step the AVCA has taken to support the small college championship is a replica of their earlier dedication eight years ago to putting beach volleyball on the table for the NCAA eventually to sanction it as a collegiate sport for women. Hopefully, the NCAA will do the same for this championship in the future."
 
"We are proud to be a part of this initial endeavor and also very excited to be competitive enough in just our fourth year to be able to compete at this level," Martin said. "Because we were one of the first small colleges to add a program, we feel we have the additional years of experience to help us compete well in this championship. What a thrill for our student-athletes to compete for a National Championship!"
 
The AVCA Small College Beach Championships were created in response to the explosive growth of college beach volleyball across the country. Just 15 institutions sponsored teams in 2012, but today 120 colleges field varsity teams with 65 at NCAA the Division I level, 11 at Division II, three at Division III, six compete in the NAIA, and 35 are in the California Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA). Another 12 institutions have announced their intention to add a squad next season.
 
"AVCA's pledge to our members is to be with you where you need us," said AVCA executive director Kathy DeBoer. "The college beach sector needed championship events for those outside of DI."