January 18, 2022
On this first day of Spring semester, Lauren met for lunch with Sarah, Cameryn, Sophia, and Annie in the East Dining Hall as she had some news that needed their input prior to the team's afternoon meeting in the JMU volleyball lounge in Godwin.
Lauren: I have some big news to spill. The two Jeffs want to start beach volleyball here, to begin play in either the 2023 or 2024 season. Since all of you have experience in warm and sandy environs, I'm asking that you consider being part of that first team should we be able to field one next Spring.
Sophia: That is going to be a major undertaking on top of the huge plans we probably have for the Fall.
Cameryn: I think I want to say yes to this, as it will probably give me a chance to play close to home at least ONCE in my college career.
Annie: Are we able to do both, or are you asking us to switch from indoor to beach?
Lauren: If you're on scholarship for indoor, you can play beach as well, but you can't do the reverse, be a beach scholarship player and compete in indoor. Sarah and I got the run-down from Alden's coach, who started the beach program at Jacksonville U., on how they got it off the ground and the rules regarding dual eligibility.
Sarah: I'm in. For me, it has everything to do with playing TCU at some point and rubbing a win in my sister's face.
Sophia: Would be fun to see if any of our former teammates are playing beach somewhere, like Brook Bauer is at Florida State.
Annie: Don't know of any off the top of my head, but I'm sure Sarah could sic the man on looking up some rosters for us.
Lauren: They've asked me to do some research and beating-of-the-bushes in order to provide them a plan to present to the Board of Trustees sometime this semester, as the addition would need to be placed in the athletic department budget for the 2023 Fiscal Year, which starts on July 1st.
Sarah: Need help with this?
Lauren: Probably some, since I've not been around the beach game much in the past 20 years or so. Interested in being involved?
Sarah: Would we be able to take in a tournament or two as part of our plan-building?
Lauren: If the guys are serious, they'll need to send me on the road to actually SEE how training goes, how a tournament is designed, and to build relationships within the beach volleyball community.
Sophia: I'll talk to Brook in the next three or four days and find out when they'll be hosting an event as well as their season's schedule. With that info, you can research the costs of attending one of them and present that to Geoff P. as part of your fact-gathering for him and the AD.
Lauren: I have a bit of a teaser for something I'll mention during the team meeting. We might be moving out of Godwin.
Cameryn: So the tourney proved we needed a bigger facility?
Lauren: Guess so, as one of the options for the renovation of the Convocation Center would make it our new home. Don't know how much of the seating might be removed to create office space for us and the programs which would be housed there, but I'm hoping we'll be able to keep the 100s and 200s.
Sarah: Are we for sure getting it?
Lauren: It's not a guarantee, but from what Jeff and Geoff told me, it's their preferred option as the move up for football requires equitable spending and opportunities on the women's side of the department, which the move to the Convo and the addition of beach volleyball would demonstrate. Last thing before we break up. We'll be voting during our 3:00 meeting on a number of team awards to hand out at Saturday's banquet, so think about who you'd consider the top teammate, support staff member, and unsung hero within JMU volleyball.
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