After a brief hiatus, the Beach Volleyball Club has made its return to the Saint Louis University-Madrid campus, offering students an opportunity to enjoy the sunny weather. The club, led by Britton Francis, aims to offer students an opportunity to engage in active outdoor activities collectively.
“I love playing beach volleyball and it is the easiest sport for anyone to play,” Francis said. “It’s a great source of community and exercise, and honestly, I just wanted more ways to enjoy the beautiful sunny weather Madrid gets.”
The club’s budget of €125 is allocated towards court rentals, refreshments, volleyballs, and prizes for the tournament winners. Thanks to sports advisor Cesar Rioja, finding courts to play on has been a straightforward process. The club used courts near SLU-Madrid at the Universidad Complutense campus near Moncloa.
The club held its first tournament on October 20th of 2024, with six teams of four students each. The matches were intense, each lasting around half an hour, as teams competed for the top spot. Prizes were awarded to the top three teams, who earned sweets at the end of the tournament to celebrate their efforts and sportsmanship. Participants have expressed their enthusiasm about the tournament.
“It was a very fun experience, it got me out in nature,” player Lily Rowe said. “I got to be with my friends in the sun and get some exercise.”
Francis emphasized the inclusive nature of the sport.
“The beauty of beach volleyball is what it is about, and for us, it’s about getting our Vitamin D, turning on some music and experiencing great volleyball,” she said.
The beach volleyball club welcomes students of all skill levels to join and participate in upcoming events.
“The ball was hard to hit because I’m not used to volleyball, I’m used to a soccer ball,” Rowe, who is a soccer player, said. “But I still felt included.”
The environment of the beach volleyball club greatly differs from that of an indoor volleyball court. Beach volleyball offers players less restrictions to move, the smaller court ensures the ball will be kept alive for longer. The club bent the rules from the norm, having four to six players at a time on the court.
The courts are not the only thing that makes beach volleyball unique. Students came to the courts with outfits ready for the heat and the sun.
“Beach uniform is usually a bikini, but when it’s not too hot we wear athletic shorts and sports bras,” Francis said. “It’s important to be comfortable in the sand and that is always in the least amount of actual clothes. It’s like swimmers in the water or gymnasts in the air, you want the least amount of resistance when you’re moving in the sand. Also it gives you the best tan.”
Another player, Nick Passaro, shared a similar sentiment.
“I really enjoyed being a part of beach volleyball and playing in the tournament. It was a fun day getting to know new people and playing volleyball with my friends!” he said.
