APSU Sports Information
Macon, GA – Austin Peay State University beach volleyball team is set to join the Atlantic Sun Conference beginning in the 2019 season, the ASUN announced Wednesday.
Austin Peay introduced beach volleyball on May 5th, 2016, with head coach, Taylor Mott, at the helm of the Governors’ 16th intercollegiate sport.
The Govs are in the middle of their sophomore campaign, boasting a five-match win streak behind dominate 5-0 sweeps of their last four opponents.
Mott recognizes the important role that conference schedules and opponents play in the development and growth teams at this level of athletic competition.
“We are excited to have a conference home for our beach volleyball team. It is tough to try and compete at the highest level when you do not have an end of season conference tournament to participate in. We are grateful the Atlantic Sun Conference has allowed us to become a part of their outstanding and reputable organization. We look forward to competing and representing the conference to the best of our ability.”
The Governors are not the only familiar face joining the ASUN, as Jacksonville State and Morehead State will also be new affiliate members for the 2019 season. In joining the conference, the Govs will be able to compete for athletic and academic awards, as well as conference championships.
“Our beach volleyball program has grown tremendously over the last two seasons,” said athletics director Ryan Ivey. “We are excited about the opportunities that joining the ASUN will afford our program and our student-athletes in their relentless pursuit of excellence on and off the court.”
Last October, Austin Peay completed construction on a three-court beach volleyball facility through the cooperation of the athletic department and the University Recreation Office. The Govs Beach Volleyball Complex is scheduled to host the Ohio Valley Challenge, a five-team tournament, April 20th-21st.
The ASUN was the first NCAA Division I conference to sponsor beach volleyball in 2012, and has continued to play a large role in its growth and development at the collegiate level. While the NCAA does not yet offer automatic qualification into the beach volleyball championship for conference winners, the ASUN will be in position for NCAA postseason play should it be offered in the future.
