2018 spring semester was another huge leap for Saint Leo University as they added a new sport, beach volleyball. The sport was in popular demand mainly because of the atmosphere it brings, and because volleyball is an already popular sport on campus. Last season had some growing pains for the new team as they had a 5-10 record and they didn’t record any wins at home. The teams they played just seemed to be more experienced rather than more talented because of how different it is to play on the sand. This was a surprise to most since the beach team roster mirrors that of the very talented women’s volleyball team.
The 2017 and 2018 women’s volleyball team posted an incredible 40-22 record going 14-6 at home. This team took its talents to the sand; however, the field of play was just too different. The sand makes it harder to move and jump, and it took its toll on the team as they struggled through the regular season. The new 2019 season has nothing but positive vibes for the Lions as they look to make their second season a very successful one.
The Saint Leo beach volleyball team will be away in Deland, Florida to participate in the Stetson Spring Fling tournament. This tournament will be their first regular-season competition of the year where will face four different schools in the tournament spanning both Friday, Feb. 22 and Saturday, Feb. 23. The competition for the Lions on these first two days of competition will be Florida International University and Stetson University on Friday, with Eckerd College and Georgia State University on Saturday. The Lions’ first home game will take place March 6 against UT-Martin at 2 p.m. at the still new sand courts across from the tennis facilities on University Campus.
Hopefully, with the inaugural season behind them and with more experience entering year two, this team can come out and have a major turnaround in 2019.
