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Parents and students press TUSD to add girls beach volleyball for spring 2026
Summary
A coalition of students, parents and coaches presented petitions and testimony to the Tustin Unified School District board urging the creation of a girls beach-volleyball program for spring 2026, citing strong student interest, college recruiting opportunities and low startup costs.
A steady stream of students, parents and coaches urged the Tustin Unified School District Board to add girls beach volleyball for spring 2026, presenting petitions, participation data and arguments that the program would expand athletic opportunities and scholarship pathways.
Parent Jennifer Davis said she brought 236 signed petitions supporting beach volleyball, told the board Foothill completed a competitive season and argued there is a low barrier to entry and only nominal cost to run the sport. Several students described intense demand: Maddie, a Foothill freshman, said 70 freshmen tried out for teams that had only 16 roster spots, and Petra Ekstrom reported that over 200 students and families from across the district and neighboring schools signed petitions.
Student speakers emphasized personal and developmental benefits. Raquel Esman highlighted lower joint impact playing on sand and suggested Veterans Park as a local venue; Sofia Keefe pointed out that girls beach volleyball became a CIF sport in 2022 and noted rapid growth among collegiate programs, which Charlotte Brooks quantified as an increase from roughly 15 collegiate programs in 2012 to more than 100 in 2025.
Courtney Hitt, a Foothill JV coach, framed beach volleyball as a college-recruitment asset that can increase scholarship opportunities, arguing a single athlete could be recruited for both indoor and beach programs. Carrie Kranz, a Canyon head coach who attended from outside the district, cautioned that removing beach opportunities can prompt CIF-related transfers and urged the district not to move backward on offering the sport.
Board members did not take immediate action to add the program during the meeting. Supporters asked the board to place the item on a future agenda for consideration of logistics including facilities, funding and CIF compliance.
If the board advances the request, administrators will need to address venue availability, transportation to offsite courts when necessary, coaching assignments, and CIF registration and eligibility rules before a spring 2026 start.
