Sand Volleyball Tourney an Ace for Gulf Shores

The AVCA Collegiate Sand Volleyball National Championships take place May 2-4 at the Gulf Shores Public Beach.

Locals and beach guests are invited to attend the American Volleyball Coaches Association’s (AVCA) Collegiate Sand Volleyball National Championships from May 2-4 at the Gulf Shores Public Beach at The Hangout for a weekend full of sets, spikes and digs.

“With sand volleyball growing at an unprecedented rate, we are honored to again welcome all-star athletes from across the country to our 32-mile white sand beach destination,” Beth Gendler, vice president of sales for the Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Sports Commission, said. “Along with the City of Gulf Shores, The Hangout, USA Volleyball and many more, we encourage locals and visitors to dig in to all our local communities have to offer for a weekend packed with thrills.”

Gendler added that courts will stretch along the beach “as far as the eye can see” for this free entry event, and an expanded “Volleyball Village,” complete with food, drinks and sports-related vendors, will accompany the tournament. Additionally, CBS Sports is set to capture the action throughout the weekend and will air the AVCA championships at a later date.

“Most organizations can only dream of having partners as vested and capable as our Gulf Shores group,” AVCA Executive Director Kathy DeBoer said. “All the schools sponsoring sand volleyball teams point to this weekend. It is, hands down, the top college event in the country!”

In conjunction with the AVCA event, the Gulf Coast Region of USA Volleyball will host a Junior Club and Open Division Beach Volleyball Tournament that will hit the beach on Saturday and Sunday, and an adult tournament will take place on Saturday. The association is a region of USA Volleyball, the national governing body for beach volleyball in the U.S., and is comprised of club teams from across the northern Gulf Coast region aspiring to reach an elite, Olympic level. Teams from as far as California and Iowa along with others across the United States will travel to the Gulf Coast to participate in this highly profiled event. Beachgoers are encouraged to cheer on these youth and adult athletes as they battle it out to win the series title.

Shawn Weaver, co-director, board member and coach for the Gulf Coast Region of USA Volleyball explained how his organization is impacting the area’s athletic offerings.

“Our motto is ‘grow the game,’” Weaver said. “The Gulf Coast Region has made a huge impact in our area to grow the sport of volleyball, indoor and outdoor. Now with helping host the AVCA championships, we are getting national recognition of our efforts, and it is opening more doors to host more events on the highest levels.”

Visit www.avca.org for more information about the ACVA and www.gulfcoastvolleyball.org for more information about the Gulf Coast Region Volleyball Association.

Adding to the weekend’s athletic action on the Alabama Gulf Coast, the Alabama High School Athletic Association (AHSAA) 4-5-6A Track Championships will be ready to run from May 2-3 at the Gulf Shores Sportsplex. For more information, visit www.ahsaa.com.

For information on upcoming athletic events along Alabama’s Gulf Coast, visit www.gulfshoresorangebeachsports.com, or call 1-800-745-SAND.

About Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Sports Commission: Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Sports Commission is a partnership between Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism, the Coastal Alabama Business Chamber and the Cities of Gulf Shores and Orange Beach. In 2007, this commission became a department within Gulf Shores and Orange Beach Tourism. In this role, the commission - along with assistance from both cities – works to bring quality sporting events to Alabama’s Gulf Coast. Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism is an official corporate sponsor of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). To learn more about a whole different state of play, please visit www.gulfshoresorangebeachsports.com.