Gulf Shores is used to hosting the NCAA beach volleyball national championship competition. It was the site from the competitions beginning in 2016 until this year. The competition was slated to move to Huntingdon Beach, Calif., this year, but that was before serious fires broke out along California beaches.
For this year, the championship is moving from Huntington Beach back to Gulf Shores. The next champion competitions are set for May 2-4.
Instead of Long Beach State, the host school will be the University of Alabama in Birmingham, which previously served as host school.
The event will then return to California next year as originally scheduled before coming back to Gulf Shores from 2027 through 2031.
The NCAA and Orange County Sports Commission both agreed with the decision to move this year’s championships after they collaborated with Long Beach State, which was set to serve as the host school.
"In light of the ongoing recovery efforts approximately 50 miles up north in Los Angeles County, our focus is currently on ensuring hotel rooms and other resources remain focused on supporting those in need," Orange County Sports Commission executive director Anthony Brenneman said in a Wednesday release.
Gulf Shores has hosted the event since the NCAA first sanctioned the sport in 2016.
"We are fortunate to have an alternative site in Gulf Shores that beach volleyball student-athletes, coaches and fans are familiar with," said Ashley Armstrong, NCAA Women's Beach Volleyball Committee chair and deputy athletics director at Loyola Marymount University.
Ticket information will be announced at a later date.
Details and updates can be found here.
Jim ‘Zig’ Zeigler writes about Alabama’s people, places, events, groups and prominent deaths. He is a former Alabama Public Service Commissioner and State Auditor. You can reach him for comments at ZeiglerElderCare@yahoo.com.
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