The EC women’s sand volleyball team prepares for their very first season as an official collegiate sport this spring and expectations are high.

The sand volleyball program was recently approved by the Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA) to have sanctioned competitions among junior colleges just like National Collegiate Athletic Association for four-year programs.

Le Valley Pattison, the women’s indoor volleyball coach, will be taking the helm as coach for this debut spring campaign. Pattison gets results and her resume speaks for itself as she was named regional coach of the year in 2004, 2006, and 2008.

Pattison has also brought EC 14 conference championships and has been named Southern Coast Conference coach of the year 13 times. She has been pushing for a sand volleyball team for some time and says it was worth the wait.

“It took a lot of effort from Randy Totorp (EC Director of Athletics) and myself but there was a definite need for it,” Pattison said. “The NCAA just added it as a collegiate sport also, so it felt like a natural fit for a campus that is 15 minutes away from the beach.”

Pattison says she hopes to bring her indoor success out to the sand as she preps her team’s transition from hardwood floors to the sand.

“It is a different game, just because you are good inside doesn’t mean you are good outside,” Pattison said.

The players also know its a different game. Sophomore captains, SuekaLena Tafao, Darlene Lee, Laynie Thompson, and Sadie Fraker said they are excited to start the season off with a bang. They have been putting the hours in on the sand and looked primed and ready for the transition to the sand knowing it won’t be easy.

“The game is way harder in the sand and there are only two people per side, so we have to make sure our conditioning is ready,” Tafao said.

The captains think the Warriors are ready for the task at hand even though it will take a team effort to get the wins. Playing outdoor volleyball unlike indoor has weather factors the players must take into account. From the temperature of the sand to the speed of the wind, all variables affect the way the game can go.

“You have to be well rounded to play outdoor. Our team needs three-out-of-five match wins to get the overall team win,” Thompson said.

The girls enjoy the the change of pace from indoor to outdoor as they have their fun in the sun. All the captains say they enjoy being out in the sun rather then being in the gym so they can work on their tan.

“I like outdoor volleyball better because it’s only two people and it is always nice to get tanner,” Fraker said.