Originating on the shores of Santa Monica and Hawaii in the early 20th century, beach volleyball has evolved from a casual pastime into a global athletic sport. Unlike indoor volleyball, which relies on rotations and six players per side, beach volleyball has two person teams. This means that every player has to be versatile enough to play each role . Moreover, the properties of sand add even more difficulty. The shifting terrain of sand means players need lots of lower body strength, quick movement, and endurance.

The sport skyrocketed globally after its Olympic debut at the 1996 Atlanta Games. Since then, the growth of NCAA collegiate programs has transformed beach volleyball into a big opportunity for athletes. Tournaments now have grown huge in size, drawing in big crowds captivated by the skill of the sport

This is shown even on a lower level, such as high school beach volleyball.

“It’s completely different playing in the sand compared to playing indoors,” said senior Sofia Rosales.

“

This is shown in the feature image when Sofia Rosales prepares to receive a ball.

“I go watch every single beach volleyball game because I find it so impressive how they can do so many things at once,” said senior Camila Echeverri.

As the sport continues to grow from beaches to arenas, athletes like Sofia Rosales prove that the future of the game rests in good hands.

“I am glad to see beach volleyball becoming more popular because I’ve always liked it,” expressed senior Ashley Gomez “ It is truly one of the best sports to watch because it is so intense and clearly takes a lot of effort from the players.”