Canyon Hills spring athletics opens a new sport: girls beach volleyball! How much reputation can our beach volleyball players build on their first year?

First off, how does beach volleyball differ from indoor volleyball? Well, as the name suggests, beach volleyball is played on sand rather than its usual solid court. However, many other key differences make beach volleyball unique from indoor volleyball. 

Game structure and gameplay

In indoor volleyball, the winner is determined by who is first to win three sets. Beach volleyball does not require a third set but can be played if necessary. Indoor volleyball needs 25 points to win a set, while beach volleyball is played to 21 points. 

Instead of the usual 6v6, beach volleyball is played in pairs going for two players on each side. There are no substitutes allowed.  This makes more court area to cover, so players must be versatile and proficient with key skills.

Overhand serves are more common indoors, but both underhand and overhand serves are commonly used outdoors. When it comes to blocking, outdoor volleyball counts that as one touch, while indoor volleyball does not. Tipping, which is a soft open-hand hint, is primarily banned in beach volleyball. 

Beach volleyball at Canyon Hills

Due to rain, the girls’ beach volleyball games are constantly being rescheduled or cancelled, so not many games have been played. Freshman Nicollete Roberts, an indoor and beach volleyball player, speaks on how the season has been overall. 

“This season has been going pretty well, especially for it being the first year of Canyon Hills beach volleyball.”

The sports reputation and image for Canyon Hills will be shaped by its underclassmen, and there’s a lot of potential. 

“I think that by the time I’m a senior, we’ll have a lot more people and a variety of people with volleyball skills, and I think the team will only get better,” Roberts says.