LAKE CHARLES – One of the fastest growing NCAA intercollegiate sports, beach volleyball, will be coming to McNeese Athletics in the spring of 2024, Director of Athletics Heath Schroyer announced on Friday.
The addition of the program will give McNeese 15 NCAA sponsored sports programs.
“I’m really excited to add beach volleyball as a Division I varsity sport,” said Schroyer. “It’s a sport that has been growing in popularity both regionally and nationally.
“When I took over as full-time AD a few years ago, I took on the responsibility of evaluating where we were holistically as a department and where the NCAA stood in regards to their expectations and an emphasis of moving forward. Adding beach volleyball was something I wanted and needed to do.”
The Southland Conference began sponsoring the program in 2020 and currently has seven schools that are affiliates – A&M-Corpus Christi, Boise State, HCU, New Orleans, Nicholls, San Jose State and Southeastern.
“Division I beach volleyball will provide more opportunities to compete and participate for our underrepresented population,” stated Schroyer. “This is not a good thing, this is a GREAT thing!”
Said Cowgirl volleyball head coach Sasha Karelov: “I am pleased and excited to be adding beach volleyball at McNeese. As the fastest growing collegiate sport, particularly within the Southland Conference, it is a no-brainer for our university to invest in this program. Beach volleyball is one of the most entertaining and impressive sports to watch and the Lake Charles community will fall in love with it.
“As a former collegiate beach volleyball player myself, I have so much passion for it and I am aware of the positive impact it has made on me. I can’t wait to see what our current indoor players do on the sand, as well as recruit some high-caliber beach players to blaze the trail for the future of McNeese Beach Volleyball.”
South Beach Volleyball McNeese will serve as the home practice and competition facility for the Cowgirls.
“I truly believe the most impressive thing we have in place to make this move is our facility,” said Schroyer. “The South Beach Volleyball McNeese facility is one of the best facilities around. Our future student-athletes will be blown away. It’s truly incredible.
“Our facility and the popularity of the sport will give our department the ability to grow and enhance our brand. We have an opportunity to add to our corporate sponsorship inventory and at the same time create a fun and exciting spectator sport each spring. I really believe in the next few years as we build our program, McNeese Beach Volleyball at South Beach will be a must-see experience.”
