Beach Volleyball Season Preview

They had to wait a week longer than expected but the Mustangs' beach volleyball team will become the final spring sport to start their season on Wednesday afternoon as they head up to West Valley to take on the Vikings and Fresno City College.

"I'm excited to finally get going," said head coach Molly Mordaunt-Hummel after preseason practice. "It's fun to be out here," she said as she talked about how much more of a relaxed atmosphere beach season is compared to the indoor season in the fall which saw the Mustangs once again make the postseason.

"I love the beach season because of how much it helps the girls for indoor," said Mordaunt-Hummel. "We want to compete at a high level on the beach but most of these girls are here for indoor."

With not everyone staying from the indoor season the team will have a variety of beach experiences including some that have played together as partners during club all the way to one, Raven Sula, who had never even been to the beach before.

Just one player, Kiana Day, remains from the team that last played 719 days ago when they defeated San Mateo 5-0 before the season came to an early end. 

"It's fun for them," said Mordaunt-Hummel about the players who primarily focus on playing indoors getting the chance to play a beach volleyball season. "It's different. The movement on the sand is so much more different than it is inside and the game is different as well."

After opening the season on the road the Mustangs will play their first home matches of the season on March 3rd at the University of the Pacific beach volleyball courts.