Bringing the Beach to Campus - UNF Continues Push for Beach Volleyball Complex

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - For the North Florida Beach Volleyball program, home matches take place nine miles from campus at Jacksonville Beach. Soon, having those home matches and practices on campus could be a reality.

So far, $350,000 of the $500,000 required to construct the five-court on-campus facility has been gathered. Collegiate beach volleyball matches consist of five pairs competing in a best-of-five format, making a five-court complex ideal.

"We were at the forefront of helping to establish beach volleyball as a prominent NCAA sport when our program originated in 2012, and an on-campus facility would be a major step towards helping us further that growth," UNF Director of Athletics Lee Moon said. "I believe this complex will be a great addition to our university and be a significant recruiting tool as we continue to contend as a nationally-relevant program."

Acquisition of another $150,000 will not only support the construction of five courts but also a digital scoreboard, bleachers and the ability to host major conference, regional and national tournaments and events.

"Building a complex on campus is on the front burner for our athletics department," director of volleyball and beach volleyball head coach Kristen Wright said. "We believe there are people who want to get behind our program, and we believe strongly about the interest in beach volleyball in the Jacksonville community."

The five-court complex would reside just north of the UNF Softball Complex in the open fields south of UNF Parking Lot 18. The digital scoreboard will face the north end of the complex with five-row bleacher seating and a sidewalk concourse just east of the of the courts.

An on-campus complex would not only contribute to recruiting efforts, program visibility and attendance at home matches, but make practice logistics more conducive to student-athletes' and coaches' schedules.

"There is unlimited potential regarding what we can accomplish as a program having a facility visible and within walking distance from the center of our campus," Wright said.

In eight years of competition UNF beach volleyball has already proven itself at the conference and national level. All-told the Ospreys have posted:

A 131-74 overall record
Six winning seasons and two with at least 20 wins
Three ASUN tournament team titles (2012, 2013, 2016)
Two AVCA Sand Nationals appearances
Five wins against Power Five programs (LSU, South Carolina (three), TCU)

When the Ospreys launched the program prior to the 2012 season, UNF was one of the first 15 schools to join the fold in the sport. There were 55 Division I programs at the start of the 2018 season, and over 100 programs across Division I, II, III, NAIA and junior college levels, noting the burgeoning popularity of the sport.

Naming rights and court-purchasing opportunities for the beach facility remain open. Gifts of all sizes are welcomed and accepted by calling the Osprey Club at 904-620-5036, or by following this link to the corresponding donation page.

"What is exciting about the construction of a beach volleyball complex is that once you have the details in place it can take less than two months to put together," Wright said. "We are excited about finding the remaining resources to help us break ground very soon!"

"Last but not least, it [the beach volleyball courts] would mean the world to about 20 young women who are trying to make their dreams come true," graduate student and beach volleyball player Madilyn McCarty said. "No matter what, we love this school and we are proud to play for the University of North Florida."

Bringing the Beach to Campus - UNF Continues Push for Beach Volleyball Complex

Players Mentioned

Madilyn McCarty

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