Highlighted by a seven-day excursion to Nicaragua, the College of Charleston sand volleyball team has released its 2015 schedule, as announced by head coach Jason Kepner.
“I am really excited about this year’s sand schedule,” said Kepner. “We will play a lot of very tough competition this season and I think it will be a great challenge for this group. “
Charleston opens the season with a week- long excursion to the Central American Isthmus’ largest country, Nicaragua, where the Cougars will visit three very different cities, including: Managua, the Capital city; Granada, the oldest colonial city in the Americas; and San Juan del Sur, the country’s most popular beach town. Along with playing against some of the best talent the region has to offer, the squad will also participate in team building activities as well as local community service projects.
“The trip to Nicaragua will be a great way to start the sand season,” said Kepner. “We have wanted to do an international trip for a few years now and this will be a really good experience for all involved. Bring It Promotions has been doing international tours for almost 20 years, so I know it will be a first-class trip.”
After returning from Central America, the Cougars again head south, this time to Jacksonville, Fla, for a two-day tournament hosted by the University of North Florida, March 14-15. Along with the Osprey, the Cougars are set to face Florida International, LSU and in-state rivals, South Carolina.
An exciting field consisting of Tulane, Jacksonville, Stetson, Georgia State and Carson-Newman then head to the low country for the fourth annual CofC Sand Classic, to be held, March 27-29, in Mount Pleasant at the fan-friendly Creekside Tennis and Swim Center sand facility. In last year’s Classic, the Cougars downed South Carolina, 3-2, before falling to eventual AVCA national runners-up Florida State in the tournament finale.
A trip to Atlanta, April 3-4, for the Georgia State tournament awaits the Cougars before the team makes their way back to Florida for the seventh iteration of the famed Fiesta on Siesta Key – a three-day tournament set to feature over 30 teams, April 10-12.
The AVCA National Championships will be held in Gulf Shores Alabama, May 1-3.
