Sweet home, Alabama. Gulf Shores is back in the volleyball spotlight, hosting the 2025 NCAA beach volleyball championships. It's a venue that's become iconic since its first serve in 2016.
But here's the twist: this year was supposed to be all about Huntington Beach, California. Wildfires had other plans. So, we're back to the East Coast, where the Alabama shores are ready to rumble.
Who Can Break the Streak?
Since 2016, it's been the USC Trojans and UCLA Bruins show. Between them, they've held the championship trophy tight, with USC snagging the last four titles. But this year? It's anyone's game.
Stanford is hungry for its first championship. And let's not forget TCU, aiming to be the first non-California school to grab the gold. Then there's Florida State—they came so close in 2022. You can feel the tension building.
Ticket to the Show
Want in on the action? Head over to StubHub. Tickets are up for grabs—general admission starts at $30. If you want to feel the sand between your toes up close, courtside seats are calling your name.
Schedule and Format
Mark your calendars: the games roll out from May 2-4. Sixteen teams will hit the sand, eight through automatic qualifiers, the rest as at-large bids. The early rounds and quarterfinals are single-elimination, but the semis? Double-elimination. And the final? One shot, one winner.
Each matchup features five intense duals. First team to three points takes the day. It's high stakes and high drama—just how we like it.
And just like that, Gulf Shores is where you'll want to be come May. Can anyone dethrone the California giants? You could feel it coming.
Source: sportingnews.com
