Catawba College will add a women's beach volleyball program to its sports program, following a funding gift by an anonymous donor. This will be the 23rd varsity sport that Catawba offers its students. Currently, more than 500 students participate in athletics at Catawba.
The funds will provide for the construction of three competitive beach volleyball courts near the middle of campus, according to Larry Leckonby, Catawba Athletic Director. Beach volleyball is an emerging NCAA sport and a new initiative in college athletics, Leckonby said. The Catawba courts are expected to be completed in time for competition to begin in the spring of 2020.
The program will add 12 to 15 new students at Catawba, with partial scholarships available for the sport, Leckonby said. The courts will also benefit Catawba's intramural sports program, and other students will use the courts for outdoor recreation. The courts will also be available for rent to club sports teams or for community use.
The $250,000 beach volleyball complex is part the Catawba Office of Development's three-year MIND BODY SOUL Campaign for Growth at Catawba.
Leckonby
"We are very grateful for this generous gift," said Leckonby. "Beach volleyball will enhance our overall volleyball program."
Catawba has hired a Director of Women's Volleyball to oversee both the indoor volleyball and the beach volleyball programs and will hire an assistant indoor volleyball coach who will also serve as the head beach volleyball coach.
Catawba is the fourth school in the South Atlantic Conference to sponsor beach volleyball, including Carson-Newman University, Jefferson City, Tenn.; Lincoln Memorial University, Harrogate, Tenn.; and Tusculum University, Greeneville, Tenn.
In the Carolinas, currently there are beach volleyball programs at UNC Wilmington and the University of South Carolina, Coastal Carolina and the College of Charleston. Beach volleyball is popular on the club sports level with programs in Greensboro, Charlotte, Wilmington and other areas of North Carolina.
Nicholas
Beach volleyball features two players on a side who play on courts that are slightly smaller than those that hold six players in court volleyball. The sport takes center stage every four years at the Summer Olympics and is increasingly popular on the college level with more than 60 colleges invested in programs.
Patrick Nicholas, Director of Volleyball, will serve as head coach for the indoor squad and oversee the development of the new beach volleyball program.
Interested in Playing Beach Volleyball at Catawba?
For more information about Beach Volleyball at Catawba College, please contact Patrick Nicholas at (704) 637-4480 or pnichola19@catawba.edu.
Prospective student-athletes are encouraged to submit the inquiry form below:
Catawba College Beach Volleyball by the Numbers
- $250,000 gift to Catawba’s Mind Body Soul campaign for growth = construction of a 3-court beach volleyball complex
- 900 tons of sand or 42 truckloads of sand from Aberdeen and Greensboro, N.C., was used on courts
- 3 companies combined efforts for court construction: Beach South, Sand Court Experts, and Site Solutions
- Catawba becomes 4th school in South Atlantic Conference to add Beach Volleyball
- Beach Volleyball will become Catawba’s 23rd varsity sport
- 12-15 female students will be recruited for fall 2019 to play Beach Volleyball
