Sand volleyball is the fastest growing NCAA sport, according to the Association of Volleyball Professionals (AVP). Unlike indoor volleyball where six players from each team are on the court, sand volleyball is played in teams of two.

At Sage Hill, girls’ varsity volleyball head coach Dan Thomassen began the sand volleyball program last spring, and it has grown each year since then. The team has attended four tournaments so far this season as part of the Interscholastic Beach Volleyball League (IBVL), which includes over 60 high schools from Orange County to Los Angeles.

The team is improving each time they step on the court, and currently practices three days a week.

“Playing on the sand has made me a much better all-around player. It has also helped so much for indoor volleyball,” junior Natalie Moshayedi said.

While it is evident that players rapidly improve through competing on the sand, another element that draws players into giving the sport a try is how much fun it can be.

“Sand volleyball at Sage is very positive because everyone there wants to get better. Everyone is very encouraging and we always have a great time,” sophomore Sabrina Alterman said.

For this reason, it is not uncommon to even see other Sage Hill teachers such as Joe DiOrio and Kerry Langdale practicing alongside the team.

“The best part about sand volleyball is that it’s fun. Whether a brand new or a pretty good indoor player, everyone starts out bad and gets better quickly. Compared to most sports, sand volleyball is less structured. You can be yourself, and you get to run around on a sand court or at the beach in great weather. As a coach, it’s great to see the improvement and the enthusiasm of the players,” Thomassen said.

Come support the team in their next tournament on April 25 at PCH and Beach Blvd in Huntington Beach.