NCAA Beach Volleyball Championship taking place for final time (for now) along Alabama’s Beaches

Media Contact:

Ally Dorrough, APR • Gulf Shores | Orange Beach Sports & Events
[email protected] • albeaches.co/sports
1-800-745-SAND • 251-968-9327 (direct) • 334-391-7745 (cell)

GULF SHORES AND ORANGE BEACH, ALA. – From a blank slate to a championship site, Alabama’s Beaches will be transformed for the NCAA Beach Volleyball National Championship May 3-5, 2024. In 2012, the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) took a chance on Gulf Shores | Orange Beach Sports & Events (known as the Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Sports Commission at the time) and the city of Gulf Shores to host its collegiate women’s sand volleyball national championships with the support of the Gulf Coast Region of USA Volleyball. In 2016, beach volleyball became an NCAA-sanctioned sport, and the NCAA again took a chance on Alabama’s Beaches – this time to become the inaugural home of the NCAA Beach Volleyball National Championship.

But the countdown is on as 2024 marks the final year in the current bid for GSOB Sports & Events to host this dynamic, growing, built-from-the-sand-up championship as the event moves to Huntington Beach, CA, for 2025 and 2026. While the sports tourism office has submitted a competitive proposal to host the championship for 2027 and 2028, the organization remains grateful for its part in growing the sport and creating a championship alongside the NCAA.

“It has been a distinct honor to play a major role in growing the sport of beach volleyball by creating a dynamic and downright fun championship alongside the NCAA,” said Michelle Russ, vice president of sales, sports and events for GSOB Sports & Events. “We highly encourage locals to come out and support this championship to experience this energetic event first-hand – all on the beach.”

The top 16 teams from around the country will converge in Gulf Shores to compete in the single-elimination championship weekend with an Opening Round play-in dual featuring a 17th team taking place Friday, May 3. The NCAA echoes its enthusiasm to return to the Alabama Gulf Coast.

“We are so excited for the NCAA National Collegiate Beach Volleyball Championship to be returning to beautiful Gulf Shores for another year,” said Kristin Fasbender, director of championships and alliances for the NCAA. “For so many years, Alabama’s Beaches have provided a perfect home to showcase this amazing championship and have welcomed student-athletes, fans and staff so warmly. It’s going to be an action-packed three days of competition and we look forward to seeing everyone out on the sand.”

Next to the NCAA site, more than 375 junior beach volleyball teams will compete in the 2024 Gulf Coast Region “BeachFest” National Beach Tour Qualifier (USA Volleyball) – one of the largest junior qualifiers in the U.S. This impressive group of rising stars will vie for their shot at the USA Volleyball Beach National Championship.

All championship weekend duals will air live on the ESPN family of networks, with the championship dual airing live on the flagship ESPN at 11 a.m. EDT/10 a.m. CDT Sunday, May 5. Tickets can be purchased at https://albeaches.co/NCAABVBTickets24.

Visit NCAA.com/Sports/Beach-Volleyball for more on NCAA Beach Volleyball. For information on upcoming athletic and major leisure events along Alabama’s Beaches, visit albeaches.co/sports.

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Photos:

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Caption: Alabama’s Beaches will be transformed for the NCAA Beach Volleyball National Championship May 3-5, 2024, for the final time (for now) before the event moves to Huntington Beach, California for 2025 and 2026.
Credit: Gulf Shores | Orange Beach Sports & Events

About Gulf Shores | Orange Beach Sports & Events:

Gulf Shores | Orange Beach Sports & Events is a partnership among Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism (GSOBT), the Coastal Alabama Business Chamber, Gulf State Park and the cities of Gulf Shores and Orange Beach. In 2007, the organization became a department within GSOBT. In this role, the GSOB Sports & Events – along with assistance from both cities – works to bring quality athletic and leisure events to Alabama’s Gulf Coast. To learn more about sports and events along Alabama’s 32 miles of white-sand beaches, please visit albeaches.co/sports.

About NCAA:

The NCAA is a diverse association of more than 1,100 member colleges and universities that prioritize academics, well-being and fairness to create greater opportunities for more than half a million student-athletes each year. The NCAA provides a pathway to higher education and beyond for student-athletes pursuing academic goals and competing in NCAA sports. More than 54,000 student-athletes experience the pinnacle of intercollegiate athletics by competing in NCAA championships each year. Visit ncaa.org and ncaa.com for more details about the Association and the corporate partnerships that support the NCAA and its student-athletes.