Despite the cold weather, CMU’s Beach Volleyball team started practice. They debut the 2026 season on Feb. 20 at the Canyon Classic tournament. With 7 freshmen and a graduate transfer who joined the roster last fall, the Mavericks look promising this season.
Beach volleyball and indoor volleyball have some significant differences. Obviously, the game location is vastly different, but there are some technical distinctions as well. Here are some rules and terms that may make cheering on our women a little easier.
Playing Style:
NCAA beach volleyball is played in duals; schools battle in a 2 vs. 2 matchup. Unlike indoor volleyball, there are no substitutions and players must compete for the entire match. There are beach volleyball leagues that play with three, four, and even six players on each side. However when cheering for the Mavericks, they will be competing in pairs.
In a tournament there can be five pairs per school. That means many athletes may even play without a coach on their sideline, similar to how tennis tournaments run.
Matches are played by best-of-three sets. Each set is played to 21 points, compared to 25 for indoor, and teams must win by two points.
Touches:
The amount of touches in beach volleyball is the same as indoor. Each side must get the ball across the net in no more than 3 touches. No player can hit the ball twice in a row. Additionally, blocks do not count towards the 3 touch rule and athletes can even pass the ball after blocking it.
Setting:
One of the major differences between the two games is the setting style. Many onlookers who are used to watching indoor volleyball may consider beach setting as a “lift” or a “carry.”
In contrast, hand setting in beach volleyball has stricter rules on ball rotation and contact. When setting, athletes must have minimal spin and absolutely no double contact on the ball. They must also square their shoulders to their target before making contact. This results in players being able to “hold” the ball for a second longer than indoor volleyball.
Attire:
Beach volleyball requires a unique uniform to combat the soft sand and blazing sun. Players may wear sunglasses and do not wear shoes, socks or knee pads. Some schools have short sleeve or sleeveless jerseys, like indoor volleyball; however, athletes can wear spandex or athletic shorts. They can even wear sport bikini bottoms, depending on their school’s discretion.
Although there are many key differences between the courts, the fundamentals that make up volleyball are consistent. Teams can score whether or not they are serving, players have up to 3 touches to get the ball across the net and passing, setting, attacking and blocking are utilized to each team’s strategy.
