ORANGE BEACH, Ala. - The American Volleyball Coaches Association is pleased to announce an agreement with the Gulf Shores and Orange Beach Sports Commission (GSOBSC), located on the Alabama Gulf Coast, to host the AVCA Collegiate Sand Volleyball National Championships for the next three years.

The event, featuring both a Pairs and Team Championship, will take place on the first weekend in May of 2013, 2014 and 2015.

The sports commission hosted the inaugural AVCA Collegiate Sand Volleyball National Championships in April 2012. The event was a tremendous success for both participants and spectators, and the portions that were televised received very favorable reviews. The operations partner for the event will continue to be the Gulf Shores Region of USA Volleyball. 

"We are thrilled to welcome this outstanding group of female athletes and their families to our 32-mile sugar-white sand beach destination," said Beth Gendler, vice-president of sales at GSOBSC. “Our area received significant positive national television exposure, which speaks to the phenomenal value of this continued partnership with the AVCA and CBS Sports Network." 

The 2012 AVCA Collegiate Sand Volleyball National Championships weekend featured a team championship victory by Pepperdine, who prevailed from a field also featuring Long Beach State University, Florida State University and the College of Charleston. The pair’s championship was won by the Pepperdine duo of Caitlin Racich and Summer Ross, as they emerged from a field comprised of 16 of the top doubles teams in the country.

The AVCA is also excited to announce that long-time sand volleyball television partner, CBS Sports Network, will again be televising portions of the Championships. CBS Sports Network has been working with the AVCA since 2007 to promote collegiate beach volleyball, and has been part of every national championship telecast. 

“I couldn’t be more pleased with this development,” said Nina Matthies, the chair of the AVCA Sand Volleyball Coaches Committee, “Besides a beautiful beach, Gulf Shores provided a championship atmosphere that was amazing. One thing is for sure, we’ll train like crazy to get back there, and so will every other team in the country!” 

The sport, called sand volleyball by the NCAA, was approved as an Emerging Sport for women in 2009. Fifteen schools sponsored varsity teams in the spring of 2012, the first season of competition for Division I schools. That number is expected to double in 2013 and surpass 40, the threshold for championship status, by the spring of 2014. Should funds be approved for a championship in the next budget cycle, the NCAA would host their first national championship in the spring of 2016.

The 2013 AVCA Collegiate Sand Volleyball National Championships will take place in Gulf Shores on May 3-5, 2013.

About Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Sports Commission

Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Sports Commission is a partnership between Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism, the Alabama Gulf Coast Area Chamber of Commerce 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). For information, please visitwww.gulfshoresorangebeachsports.com.

About AVCA

The AVCA, with its headquarters in Lexington, Ky., is managed by Associations International. The mission of the AVCA is to develop the sport of volleyball and its coaches. With a membership of over 6,300 and counting, the AVCA provides a professional network for those individuals and companies dedicated to enhancing and promoting the sport. Members include collegiate, high school, club, youth and Olympic coaches, as well as volleyball club directors. The AVCA provides education to volleyball coaches, recognition of elite players and coaches, promotion of volleyball competitions throughout the world, and networking opportunities for volleyball products and services providers. Further information is available atwww.avca.org.