SAN MARCOS (May 30, 2014) – Palomar College recently announced plans to initiate women’s intercollegiate sand volleyball effective spring 2015. With this addition, the Palomar College Athletics department will offer a total of 22 intercollegiate sports, leveling the number of men’s and women’s programs at 11 each.
“Already an unqualified success at the four-year level due to interest sparked by the Olympic Games, sand volleyball is a natural fit for our program,” said Scott Cathcart, Director of Athletics. “In addition to its indigenous nature to Southern California, it will provide a major enhancement to our established indoor program while expanding the institution’s specific athletic offerings for women.
Intercollegiate sand volleyball will be played during the spring season of sport, opposite to the fall indoor season, allowing for qualified prospects to participate in both programs, much like water polo-swimming and cross country-track and field. Head Coach Karl Seiler, who concluded his 18th season at the Comet women’s volleyball helm this past fall, has been appointed to supervise both programs. A six-time Pacific Coast Athletic Conference Coach of the Year, Seiler has guided his Comet indoor teams to conference titles in 1996, 1999, 2002, 2003, 2008 and 2009.
“I’m excited to get back to the sand-court game,” said Seiler. “That’s where I started as a player. The new program will provide more opportunity for our student athletes to earn scholarships and transfer on to four-year institutions. We are actively seeking regional prospects to play at the intercollegiate level and begin their academic and athletic careers right here at Palomar College.”
Through a near-unanimous vote of the state-wide membership at its March convention, the California Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA) has adopted the sport for sanctioned championship play next spring. As of this writing, 17 Southern California schools have indicated a commitment to field intercollegiate teams in the first season, including Palomar and five additional members of the San Diego County-based Pacific Coast Athletic Conference: Grossmont College, MiraCosta College, San Diego City College, San Diego Mesa College and Southwestern College.
Among the largest and most comprehensive athletic programs in the state community college system, Palomar College fields intercollegiate teams in baseball, men’s/women’s basketball, men’s/women’s cross country, football, men’s/women’s golf, women’s sand volleyball, men’s/women’s soccer, softball, men’s/women’s swimming, men’s/women’s tennis, women’s track and field, men’s/women’s volleyball, men’s/women’s water polo and wrestling.
# # #
CONTACTS:
Melinda Finn, Public Affairs Office, 760-744-1150, ext. 2365, mfinn@palomar.edu
Laura Gropen, Director, Public Affairs Office, 760_744-1150, ext. 2152, lgropen@palomar.edu
Tom Saxe, Sports Information Director, 760-744-1150, ext. 3640, tsaxejr@palomar.edu