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SAN DIEGO — University of San Diego Athletics will add women’s beach volleyball to its roster of NCAA Division I varsity sports, Associate Vice President and Executive Director of Athletics Kimya Massey announced Wednesday. Set to begin competition in the spring of 2027, the addition will mark USD’s 18th varsity program and 10th women’s sport.
The Jansen family provided the lead gift to launch USD Athletics’ new NCAA Division I beach volleyball program, the first of its kind in San Diego.
“This is an exciting and monumental moment for the Toreros,” Massey said. “We’re incredibly grateful to the Jansen family who stepped forward with a significant gift to help us bring beach volleyball to USD — a natural fit for our institution and the San Diego community. Their investment in our women student-athletes and the future of our department was the catalyst that made this possible.”
“As a family, we believe in creating opportunities that empower young women to excel both on and off the court,” the Jansen family shared. “Supporting USD as they bring San Diego its first NCAA Division I beach volleyball program is an exciting milestone for the sport and the community. This program will open doors for women athletes to compete at the highest level while earning an exceptional education from one of the nation’s top 50 universities.”
A national search for the program’s inaugural head coach will begin immediately. The team would welcome its inaugural team of players in the fall of 2026 and would begin competition in spring 2027. The program is expected to carry a roster of up to 19 student-athletes.
Beach volleyball has experienced rapid growth in recent years and is recognized by the NCAA as one of its fastest-growing women’s sports. Between 2012 and 2015, participation nearly tripled and, by 2023, more than 90 institutions and 1,600 student-athletes competed at the collegiate level. The sport became an NCAA championship offering in 2016, with more than 100 institutions across Divisions I, II, and III now sponsoring it.
“This is about more than adding a sport — it’s about meeting a moment,” Massey added. “We’re the first Division I institution in San Diego to sponsor beach volleyball, and that speaks to both the momentum we’re building and our commitment to growing competitive opportunities for women. There’s real potential here to build something special and become a hub for the sport’s continued growth in Southern California. The club scene in San Diego is the best in the country, and we look forward to making the most of our homegrown talent, as well as building a competitive roster that can immediately compete for championships.”
The team is expected to compete on an on-campus facility with the ability to host tournaments, camps, and NCAA matches on a regular basis.
“With 17 miles of coastline and an average of 266 days of sunshine each year, San Diego is a mecca for beach volleyball,” said USD President James T. Harris III, DEd. “And we have a long legacy of volleyball on this campus. Given the fact that our women’s volleyball team recently advanced to the Final Four for the first time ever, there’s absolutely no better place to play volleyball — either on the court or on the beach — than at USD.”
San Diego women’s volleyball head coach Jennifer Petrie added, “I’m excited about the addition of beach volleyball. Adding the program to USD will generate national attention for the university — where the sun, the sand, and the potential for a national championship all coincide.”
The Toreros’ new beach volleyball team will compete in the West Coast Conference, with USD becoming the eighth school within the league to sponsor beach volleyball.
“San Diego’s addition of beach volleyball further grows the sport and the conference,” said West Coast Conference Commissioner Stu Jackson. “The West Coast Conference is one of the elite leagues in the sport with multiple nationally ranked teams each year, along with a NCAA finalist this past season. President Harris and Kimya Massey continue to invest in athletics and support opportunities for student-athletes to compete for national championships.”
While the program’s launch is made possible by a lead gift, continued philanthropic support will be vital to sustaining and elevating the program in the years ahead.
About USD Athletics
Strengthened by the Catholic intellectual tradition, USD Athletics is dedicated to the holistic development of student-athletes, fostering excellence both in competition and in the classroom. With a commitment to leadership, integrity, and service, USD Athletics provides opportunities for student-athletes to thrive on and off the field, while contributing to the university’s mission of confronting humanity’s challenges through peace and justice. The University of San Diego sponsors 17 NCAA Division I athletic programs, competing in the West Coast Conference, the Pioneer Football League, and the Big West Conference, and is known for cultivating both athletic success and academic achievement. USD has been recognized by The Princeton Review as the No. 1 Most Beautiful Campus in America and ranks No. 3 in the nation for Best Quality of Life on Campus.