Do you like sports? Do you like spending time at the beach? If so, then West’s new beach volleyball team is for you!

   Beach Volleyball offers a fun and exciting experience to both novice and veteran volleyball players alike.

   Malia Mercieca (11), who has played indoor volleyball since she was 11 years old, joined Beach Volleyball this year because “It’s something new to try, and cause I’ve never played it competitively.” The excitement of a different sport wasn’t all that attracted Mercieca. She explained that “[she] wanted to get tan before summer, so this is a perfect way to get vitamin D every day.”

   Emerson Turner (11) joined Beach Volleyball to hone her skills on the indoor court. Turner also saw it as an opportunity to “keep [herself] active during the [indoor volleyball] offseason” because she “likes being active and involved in team sports.”

    Though Beach Volleyball is popular with indoor players, they are by no means the same game. One primary difference is the effect the wind has on the game. Unlike indoor volleyball, the wind on the beach “is manipulating all the plays,” Turner explained. She further stated that the wind was “the hardest thing” to get used to when transitioning to the beach from playing indoors.

   Despite this obstacle, Mercieca feels that Beach Volleyball is far less stressful than the indoor game. Mercieca described the program as “very chill, like chillax, and [the team] just [has]a good time.” 

   This, combined with the program being less demanding than indoor volleyball, makes it more accessible to students new to the sport. Turner explained, “I don’t think you need any experience.” Mercieca agreed, stating that the only real skills a student needs is to “know the basics of volleyball” and everything else will be taught in the program.

   All this has made Beach Volleyball a fun and exciting new program which offers a unique opportunity for  new and experienced players alike.