CRESTVIEW — A patch of grass just west of Crestview High School's tennis courts could soon field another kind of court.
If all goes well, sand (beach) volleyball could be coming to Crestview as early as spring.
The National Collegiate Athletic Association approved sand volleyball as a Division I sport last October. NCAA Divisions II and III approved the sport last month. Sand volleyball is the NCAA’s 90th sanctioned championship sport.
Plans are in the works for Crestview High School to follow suit, but building three sand volleyball courts could cost an estimated $38,000.
PRINCIPAL'S SUPPORT
Crestview High School Principal Dexter Day supports the efforts of those trying to put the project together.
“It’s just offering our kids another opportunity to be successful at something else,” he said. “Beach volleyball is coming around. You see it in the Olympics.
“You are offering something that a lot of kids don’t have an opportunity to do. You can extend the volleyball season for our kids, and that’s a good thing. It would be unique for our kids here at Crestview.”
Money for the project is not available through the school district, so funding for the courts must come through donations, Day said.
“The funding’s got to be there so we can get it started,” he said. “And we just want to do everything right. There are a lot of things that have to be done before we can get it started, but I think the interest is there.
“I think the groundwork is done, as far as setting the stage for this. I think they have the passion for it. We will have to see if they can step up and get it done for us.”
DRIVING FORCE
Matt Potts — whose daughter, Kierra, is a sophomore volleyball player at CHS — is the head coach spearheading efforts.
The project shouldn't be too challenging, he said.
“A sand volleyball court is really not that difficult to build,” he said. “The main cost is sand … It’s going to cost around $500 per 20 yards. It’s something that we need to find and to get the help with and to build it fast.”
Potts said they hope to use some sand that the football team trained in under former coach Kevin Pettis. He hopes they can get at least a quarter — or, perhaps, half — of 40 truckloads of sand needed from the old football pit.
But time is ticking, Potts said.
“The importance of having it now (is that) colleges are allowed to look at beach volleyball players in June,” he said. “Whereas (for) indoor players, it’s September that colleges can talk to them. Sophomores that will be juniors next year can be talked to June of this year.”
MORE OPPORTUNITIES
Kathy Combest — who has coached Crestview’s volleyball team for four years and will serve as an assistant to Potts — said it’s important to offer another sport for Crestview High's girls.
“It (sand volleyball) just gives that many more opportunities for our kids and our girls that play (volleyball) because they love it,” she said. "They travel all over in the summer to play this game. If we give them the tools, it is going to be much better for them to make it to the NCAA schools that just opened it up for their sport.
“Girls are always put at the backburner — not necessarily by their parents, but by the community, because boys sports have always been pushed forward. I want the community to see that these girls probably put in more time and work harder than most boys do.”
Combest said it’s important to get the number of girls participating in sports up, and sand volleyball is one way to do that.
“If we can get these kids scholarships, we owe it to them to get it in place for the high schools in this area," Combest said.
PLAYERS' PERSPECTIVE
Time is quickly running out for senior Nichole LeFevre to play sand volleyball; she would have just this season to play the sport at a high school level.
“I think it would be a good benefit because a lot of colleges are starting to give scholarships for sand,” she said. “I just feel like it would be a huge benefit to start it with all high schools playing it rather than just a beach season down in the summer. Playing it during school would help a lot of people’s skills.”
Kierra Potts agreed.
“It would mean we are playing with teammates all year instead of just one season,” she said.
Meghan Dietz said the courts would help fan players' already ignited passion.
“It would mean a lot to every athlete that plays volleyball … We do this every day, whether we have the courts or not," she said.
Everyone will win with sand courts, Marissa Rogers said.
“It would definitely improve the game in Crestview,” she said. “Having them here would be a great benefit for us.”
COURTS FOR ALL
Crestview's volleyball players mostly would benefit from the sand courts, but the courts would be open to local middle schools and even Baker School and Laurel Hill School high school players.
Day said he also sees the courts being used in the same way the community uses the school's track or tennis courts.
“It would be open, just like the track, and people could come over and play beach volleyball on the weekend,” he said. “It would be a nice opportunity for our city and our community too.”
Matt Potts has contacted many Crestview area businesses, seeking donations of materials or money. He said a couple of national sand volleyball organizations have contributed to the efforts.
But a lot of things are still needed before the dream becomes a reality.
“We need money and we need the help,” LeFevre said. “It will be fun to watch, so we need the money.”
Email News Bulletin Sports Editor Randy Dickson, follow him on Twitter or call 850-682-6524.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Bulldogs eye plans for sand volleyball courts