SAN MARCOS \u2013 Palomar College recently announced plans to initiate women\u2019s 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\u2019s and women\u2019s programs at 11 each.<\/p>\n
\u201cAlready 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,\u201d said Scott Cathcart, Director of Athletics. \u201cIn addition to its indigenous nature to Southern California, it will provide a major enhancement to our established indoor program while expanding the institution\u2019s specific athletic offerings for women.<\/p>\n
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\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m excited to get back to the sand-court game,\u201d said Seiler. \u201cThat\u2019s 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Among the largest and most comprehensive athletic programs in the state community college system, Palomar College fields intercollegiate teams in baseball, men\u2019s\/women\u2019s basketball, men\u2019s\/women\u2019s cross country, football, men\u2019s\/women\u2019s golf, women\u2019s sand volleyball, men\u2019s\/women\u2019s soccer, softball, men\u2019s\/women\u2019s swimming, men\u2019s\/women\u2019s tennis, women\u2019s track and field, men\u2019s\/women\u2019s volleyball, men\u2019s\/women\u2019s water polo and wrestling.<\/p>\n
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