Missouri State Dropping Women’s Field Hockey For Women’s Beach Volleyball

Missouri State University issued a press release today (it is not dated April 1) announcing they will be dropping the sport of field hockey and will add women’s beach volleyball. The changes take effect July 1.

The move, along with others in Athletics, is expected to save the university more than $1 million per year.

While all current student-athletes on scholarship for field hockey will see their scholarships honored, those involved in the program are understandably upset.

 

Hurt, betrayed, disgusted. @MissouriState @MissouriStBears https://t.co/swxaqq1QIl

— Sydney Richelieu (@sydnaaaayy) April 3, 2017

Beach volleyball is the fastest-growing NCAA Division 1 sports, according to the American Volleyball Coaches Association. The AVCA says 54 schools across NCAA Division I, II and III field teams. The first programs were formed in 2012 when 15 schools added the sport. The first National Collegiate Beach Championship was held last year in Gulf Shores, Alabama and 2017 Championship will be held May 5-7 this year as well.

According to ScholarshipStats.com, 47 NCAA Division 1 schools sponsored beach volleyball teams in 2015. Beach volleyball is considered an equivalency sport by the NCAA, which means that scholarships are split amongst the team. The average roster size is 16 with the average scholarship amount being $17,236.

The average cost to attend Missouri State is $16,448 for a Missouri resident and $23,498 for a out-of-state resident.

No other Missouri universities offer beach volleyball. Principia College in Elsah, Illinois, a Division III school, offers the sport. The University of Nebraska is the closest Division I school to offer the sport.

Southern California is the defending NCAA Division I national champion and leads the most recent AVCA Coaches pool.

You may remember that women’s beach volleyball became an Olympic sport for the first time in 2016. There are some notable differences between the collegiate and Olympic games, however.  While the Olympics feature a team of two competing against other teams of two, the collegiate version is much like doubles tennis. A team consists of five pairs.

The iconic bikini from Olympic beach volleyball is absent from the college game. Athletes can wear shorts or briefs and tank tops must cover the torso. 

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