The sand volleyball program at Reagan is young but successful, with the women’s team returning for their fourth season and the men’s team making their debut this year.

Sand volleyball is played in pairs.

“Developing our team is a matter of finding who works best together,” women’s coach Marissa Hatchett said. “Initially we try and work on lots of individual skills, and once matches get started, we shift to a more partner focus.”

At matches, three junior varsity and three varsity teams compete. The school wins if two out of three varsity matches are won.

Matches are played best two out of three. The first two sets are played until a team scores 21 points, and the third set is played until 15 points.

The women’s teams have succeeded in becoming conference champions every year since their inception and continued to win this season, finishing undefeated in all 11 matches.

Two pairs qualified for the individual pairs state competition on April 28, Bailey Hatchett and Hunter Beem, and Taylor Hartis and Grace DeLong. The entire women’s and men’s team competed in the state team competition on April 29. Bailey Hatchett and Hunter Beem finished second in the state last year and finished third this year.

This year, Reagan has a men’s sand volleyball team for the first time. The team was faced with a challenge from the start: court space. Reagan only has two sand volleyball courts, so the men’s team practices and plays at Brookberry Farm.

Both teams recognize the need for new court space.

“With the growing popularity of the sport, more courts are essential,” Hatchett said.

While the men’s team was able to find court space, it still needed some work before

they could play on it.

“It is a great court but needed a little work to get in condition for high school play,” men’s coach Neal Harm said. “The boys came out on weekends to get it ready, and we built our own referee stand with donated materials. Getting a third court on campus would really benefit the program.”

The men’s team hopes to gain support for another home court by being recognized as a top team in North Carolina.

Men’s sand volleyball had a great first year. Not only did they have great participation to begin with, with 12 players ranging in all grades, but they had great performance in matches.

“Our top two teams did not lose a match all season,” Harm said.

They also won against all the top teams in the region, including East, West and Reynolds. Two teams qualified for the individual pairs state competition. Bryan Sosa and Parker Beem competed in the first seed, and Andrew Harm and Logan Brence were an alternate for the region. Sosa and Beem finished second in the competition.

Sand volleyball is a growing sport seeking more recognition by having winning seasons. Both teams are only just beginning – the men’s even more than the women’s – but continue to work hard.

“The future of Reagan sand volleyball is very exciting,” Hatchett said.