Lake County and the Florida Region of USA Volleyball will host the nation’s largest collegiate beach volleyball tournament at the Hickory Point Beach sand volleyball complex this weekend, beginning today and running through April 18. Matches begin at 8 a.m. each day and admission is free. The complex is located at 27345 U.S. Highway 19 in Tavares.
The American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Small College Beach Championships are presented by the United State Marine Corps. The event will feature 24 colleges and an additional 24 pairs of student-athletes competing over three days. Winners will be crowned the national champions of NCAA Division II and the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA).
“The AVCA is thrilled to return to Hickory Point Beach for the 3rd AVCA Small College Beach Championships,” said AVCA Assistant Executive Director Jason Jones. “The 21-court venue and athletic complex create a unique experience for the student-athletes and coaches. As we return from COVID and get back to playing the sport we love there is no better place to celebrate than Hickory Point Beach in Lake County.”
“Partnering with the AVCA to host the 2021 Small College Beach Championships at Hickory Point Beach in Lake County for the 3rd annual event is an honor. This 21-court championship-caliber venue was designed and built this for events like this one,” remarked Steve Bishop, President of the Florida Region of USA Volleyball. “As the largest colleagiate beach volleyball event in the U.S., we’ll have 24 colleges in attendance and will produce 340 matches over the three days. It is exciting to see the college beach game continue to grow, and my hope is that an event such as this one will serve as a catalyst for continued growth in colleges and high schools across the country. We look forward to hosting the colleges and we invite beach volleyball fans of all ages to come and enjoy the weekend.”
“We are excited to welcome the AVCA, all competing colleges and student-athletes back to Lake County for the championship event,” said Lake County Commissioner and Tourist Development Council Chairman Doug Shields. “We hope that all visiting families and fans enjoy their visit to ‘Real Florida. Real Close.’ Sports events create a significant positive impact in our community, and we are honored to host prestigious events such as this.”
To help ensure the safety of all involved, all spectators will be required to clear a temperature check each day upon entry, and fans are encouraged to wear face coverings, maintain proper social distancing and avoid congregating in large groups. All matches from the championships will also be live-streamed on BallerTV for those who not able to attend in person.
For more information about the AVCA Small College Beach Championships, please visit https://www.avca.org/events/small-college-beach-champ.html. Visit the official tourism site for Lake County, Florida, at www.visitlakefl.com to find information on area restaurants, activities, places to stay and more.
