The AVCA Small College Beach Volleyball Championships, the largest collegiate beach volleyball event in the country, is scheduled to hit Alabama's beaches April 17-19, 2025, and April 17-19, 2026, with a third-year option for April 16-18, 2027.

This agreement between the City of Gulf Shores, Gulf Shores | Orange Beach Sports and Events and the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) brings a tournament to the island showcasing 29 different teams in 425 total matches throughout the weekend. The field will feature top beach teams from NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III and the NAIA, with a championship up for grabs in each division alongside other All-America/All-Tournament honors.

"Welcoming the AVCA back to Alabama's beaches is a full-circle honor," said Michelle Russ, vice president of sales, sports and events at Gulf Shores | Orange Beach Sports and Events. "Before beach volleyball became an NCAA-sanctioned sport and championship, the larger schools with programs played under AVCA's purview, and AVCA gave us our start in hosting collegiate beach volleyball. Hosting the AVCA Small College Beach Championships is bringing us back to our roots, and we look forward to rolling out the white-sand 'carpet' alongside the city of Gulf Shores."

The AVCA has held the event at Hickory Point Beach in Tavares, Florida, since its inception in 2018. Tampa (DII) went home with titles in four of the last five tournaments, while a different DIII champion has been crowned every year since 2021. Webber International (4) and Ottawa - AZ (2) have accounted for all six NAIA championships.

Gulf Shores states that each three-day championship weekend will be free and open to the public, without any beaches or roadways closed during the event.