The University of Florida volleyball team will host the inaugural Southeastern Conference Coaches Beach Volleyball Championships on the UF campus on April 12, marking the first-ever beach volleyball tournament held by a Division I conference. The action will kick off at 8:30 a.m. ET at the Southwest Recreation Center, located on Hull Road between SW 34th St. and Museum Rd.

Each of the 11 volleyball teams in the SEC have signed on to compete at the event, which will be free and open to the public. Schools will send three teams of two to the tournament, each of whom will engage in pool play for a chance to move on to the medal round. The competition will use rules derived from the AVP Tour, with modifications made as needed for collegiate competitors.

“We see this as an opportunity to promote the SEC and women’s volleyball in general,” Florida head coach Mary Wise said. “With the successes of American beach teams at the Olympics and the pro beach tour, many casual sports fans are familiar with the game.”

The festivities will begin on the afternoon of Friday, April 11, when the courts at the Southwest Recreation Center will be available for team practice sessions. All practices will be open to the public.

The itinerary will continue on Friday evening with the SEC Coaches Beach Volleyball Championships banquet, set for 7 p.m. ET at the Best Western Gateway Grand. Beach volleyball legend and three-time Olympic gold medalist Karch Kiraly will be the featured speaker for the event.

A limited number of tickets will be made available to the public at a cost of $40.00 each.

Competition will begin on Saturday morning with pool play, during which each team will play a minimum of four matches. The top two teams in each pool will play in the pool championship phase of the tournament for a spot in the medal round. The bronze medal match is scheduled for 4 p.m. ET, and the gold medal match is slated to commence at 6 p.m. ET.

“This event is all about more opportunity for women to compete in athletics,” Wise said. “Although the beach game is totally different from the indoor game, the players’ overall skill sets will benefit from the time on the sand.”

Tom Collett and David Carstenson will serve as co-directors for the inaugural SEC Coaches Beach Volleyball Championships.

SEC Coaches Beach Volleyball Championships schedule of events (all times Eastern)

Friday, April 11

Afternoon practices at Southwest Recreation Center

7 p.m. – SEC Coaches Beach Volleyball Championships banquet (featured speaker: Karch Kiraly)

Saturday, April 12

8:30 a.m. – Pool play begins

4 p.m. – Bronze medal match

6 p.m. – Gold medal match

- UF -