Santa Rosa Junior College has added beach volleyball to its spring athletic lineup, extending its volleyball program to a year-round model. The new team will take the sand for its first home match Feb. 23 at Spring Hills Church.
“Beach volleyball was added at SRJC in response to the rapid growth of the sport at the collegiate level,” head coach Ally Sather said. “As a volleyball program, it was important for us to evolve with the sport to continue competing at the highest level and provide expanded opportunities for our student-athletes.”
SRJC opened its inaugural season with a 5-0 record in pre-conference play, building early momentum ahead of Big 8 Conference competition.
Unlike indoor volleyball, beach volleyball matches are played in pairs rather than in six-player lineups, and sets are played to 21 points rather than 25. Each dual match features five pairs from each school competing simultaneously, with the overall winner determined by the best-of-five format.
“We became the seventh program in our conference to launch a team, joining the 3C2A landscape where beach volleyball has been competing since 2015,” Sather said.
Despite entering the sport after other opponents, Sather is confident the Bear Cubs will remain competitive.
“The Big 8 Conference is one of the most competitive in the state, and our goal is to challenge ourselves against top-level programs consistently,” she said.
To support that goal, the team is not just building on fundamental skills but advancing its offensive systems and refining defensive strategies.
“Our preseason schedule has been valuable in preparing us for conference play by testing us against well-established programs,” Sather added.
Several athletes from the indoor volleyball roster have transitioned to the sand this spring, including Lily Comma, Sage Tropf, Issa McIninch Rosko, Eve Mendoza, Adrienne McBride, Nyejzniya Krohn and Amber Smart.
Home matches will not be played on campus. Instead, the Bear Cubs will compete at Spring Hills Church, located approximately 11 minutes north of campus.
“Ultimately, our goals this season are about building a strong foundation for the future,” Sather said. “With a committed and talented group of athletes, we aim to compete with intensity every match, continue growing as a team, and establish a program that will be successful for years to come.”
With an undefeated start and a roster blending indoor experience with the unique demands of the sand, the Bear Cubs are positioning themselves to make an immediate impact in their first year of competition.
