UAB, Florida State To Make Sand Volleyball History
Blazers host Seminoles Saturday at 1 p.m. in inaugural match
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- The inaugural season of collegiate sand volleyball gets underway Saturday when UAB hosts Florida State in a 1 p.m. match at the UAB sand volleyball courts.
It will be the first match ever played under the umbrella of the NCAA, which designated sand volleyball as an emerging sport in 2011. This is the first year of sanctioned intercollegiate competition.
UAB's new sand volleyball facility is located next to West Campus Field -- the home of the UAB soccer teams -- on 11th Street South. Tickets to Saturday's match are $5 for adults and $3 for children. UAB students with their ID will be admitted for free.
The sand facility has bleacher seating, but fans are also welcome to bring their own lawn chairs. There will be music and a fun, fan-friendly atmosphere.
"Since it's an outdoor game, I think that we'll try to create more of a 'party'-type atmosphere," UAB head coach Hal Messersmith said. "The biggest thing is that it's relaxed and fun."
Sand volleyball dual contests feature five two-on-two matches with each team needing to win at least three to claim the team victory. Each match is best two-of-three sets utilizing rally scoring. The first two sets are played to 21 points, while the third, if necessary, is played to 15.
The No. 4 and No. 5 pairs will be the first ones on the court Saturday. Once those matches are complete, there will be a 20-minutes intermission followed by the No. 1, No. 2 and No. 3 matches.
After those five matches to determine a team winner are complete, the teams will play three additional exhibition matches with the remaining three pairs from each team getting on the court.
The UAB team is under the direction of Messersmith, who serves as the director of operations for the Blazers' indoor team. UAB's roster is also composed of the same players who make up the indoor squad.
Florida State features a mix of sand-only players and players from its indoor team, which advanced to last fall's NCAA national semifinals.
Saturday's match is one of three home events on the spring schedule for UAB. The Blazers will also host Tulane on April 6 and Mercer on April 15.
