TAMPA, Fla. –In only its second year of existence, the University of Tampa beach volleyball program is set to play seven of the top 20 programs in the nation according to the AVCA top 20 coaches poll, released by the association office, Monday. 

In the Spartans opening weekend, the squad will play arguably the toughest opponents they will face all season. UT opens its 2019 campaign with a doubleheader on Saturday, February 23, against the No. 18 Tulane Green Waves and the No. 9 South Carolina Gamecocks. Then on Sunday, February 24, the Spartans will battle the No. 6 Cal Poly Mustangs, and the No. 3 Florida State Seminoles.

The Spartans schedule doesn’t get any easier, as Tampa is also scheduled to play No. 10 Florida International, No. 20 Florida Atlantic, and No. 13 Georgia State later in the season. Additionally, the Spartans will face four teams who are all receiving top 20 votes. These opponents include Coastal Carolina (3/1), Florida Gulf Coast (3/9 and 4/6), Alabama-Birmingham (3/29), and the College of Charleston (3/29).  

Head coach Jeff Lamm said when scheduling such a tough schedule that he, “wanted to give his current athletes a chance to compete against the best, as well as send a message to recruits that he is trying to build a nationally competitive program here at UT”.

Click here for complete AVCA coaches poll

In its inaugural 2018 season, the Spartans finished with an overall record of 14-10. This year, the program has brought in 15 fresh faces (seven freshmen and eight transfers), in addition to returning eight athletes from last year’s roster. 

The Spartans will welcome Tennessee-Martin and Coastal Carolina on Friday, March 1 for their home opener. Duals will begin at 10:00 a.m. at the UT Beach Volleyball Complex.