Sunshine State Conference Adds Beach Volleyball and Outdoor Track

MELBOURNE, Fla. – The Sunshine State Conference proudly announces the addition of beach volleyball, men’s outdoor track, and women’s outdoor track starting in the 2024-25 academic year. With these additions, the conference will sponsor 21 sports, including 12 women’s sports.

“Participation in beach volleyball and outdoor track have experienced noteworthy growth in the Sunshine State Conference,” said Barry University President Mike Allen, who serves as chair of the SSC Presidents Council. “We are delighted to add these sports, allowing student-athletes to strive for championships at the conference and national levels, providing meaningful athletic challenges to enhance their experiences on our campuses.” 

Currently, six league schools sponsor beach volleyball, and eight members compete in outdoor track.

“I am excited for our conference to expand our sports sponsorship with the addition of beach volleyball along with men’s and women’s outdoor track,” commented Courtney Lovely Evans, Director of Athletics at Palm Beach Atlantic University and SSC Athletic Directors Chair. “I am looking forward to this new chapter for our beach volleyball and track programs as we strive to compete for conference championships under the SSC umbrella. I believe this will help all our institutions attract some of the best student-athletes across the country to the Sunshine State moving forward.”

Founded in 1975, the Sunshine State Conference has risen from a single sports organization to the NCAA Division II “Conference of National Champions.” Since its inception, the conference has shown steady growth in sports played, membership, and national prominence. Member institutions have won 122 NCAA team national championships across 14 sports, including 38 this past decade in 12 sports. Academically, SSC members lead NCAA Division II with a record-tying 89% Academic Success Rate in 2022-23.

Additional details surrounding beach volleyball and track will come at a later date.

Coach Quotes

This is such an exciting time for beach volleyball, not only in the SSC but in Division II. I am proud that we are one of the first to add beach volleyball as a conference sport. I know that by adding beach volleyball, we will set the bar very high, and this will start the momentum for more growth of the sport in DII. It started with our Eckerd beach volleyball student-athletes and administration back in 2014, which helped us get the sport going at Eckerd, and it was our belief that we would be here where we are now in 2023, announcing it as a conference sport. This will create more opportunities for the fastest-growing sport in the country. I am proud to be a part of this from the grassroots, as Eckerd was the first DII institution to add beach, and I am excited to see where we, as a conference, will take it. It is a perfect sport for the Sunshine State Conference and all of our institutions!” – Michelle Piantadosi-Lima, Head Volleyball and Beach Volleyball Coach at Eckerd College

“This announcement should excite all current and future Track student-athletes in the Sunshine State Conference. Now, these runners have an outstanding opportunity to compete for individual and team conference titles. The addition of outdoor track helps elevate the SSC and will contribute to the growth and prominence of the sport league-wide.” – Dror Vaknin, Head Men’s Cross Country and Track Coach at the University of Tampa

Sunshine State Conference Membership

The SSC consists of 11 member institutions, all within the state of Florida: Barry University (Miami Shores), Eckerd College (St. Petersburg), Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (Daytona Beach), Florida Institute of Technology (Melbourne), Florida Southern College (Lakeland), Lynn University (Boca Raton), Nova Southeastern University (Ft. Lauderdale), Palm Beach Atlantic University (West Palm Beach), Rollins College (Winter Park), Saint Leo University (St. Leo), and the University of Tampa.

Sunshine State Conference Sport Offerings

The SSC sponsors 21 championship sports (9 men and 12 women). Men’s Sports: Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Golf, Lacrosse, Outdoor Track, Soccer, Swimming, Tennis; Women’s Sports: Basketball, Beach Volleyball, Cross Country, Golf, Lacrosse, Outdoor Track, Rowing, Soccer, Softball, Swimming, Tennis, Volleyball