New Braunfels, Texas – The American Southwest Conference announced Thursday that Huntingdon College will join the conference as an affiliate member in beach volleyball for the inaugural 2026-27 season. The addition of Huntingdon brings ASC beach volleyball membership to six institutions and qualifies the conference for an automatic qualifier (AQ) to the NCAA Tournament beginning in 2029.
"We are thrilled to welcome Huntingdon College beach volleyball to our league," said Commissioner Leslie Schuemann. "Their commitment to excellence and competitive spirit will be a valuable addition to our conference. We look forward to seeing the student-athletes thrive both on and off the sand. This marks an exciting new chapter, and we are confident that Huntingdon College will bring energy and passion to our beach volleyball family."
Concordia University, East Texas Baptist University, Howard Payne University, University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, and Schreiner University will also sponsor the sport and compete for the ASC Beach Volleyball Conference Championship. The addition of Huntingdon College elevates the American Southwest Conference to a national stage, allowing student-athletes to compete at both the conference championship and national level.
"I want to thank Commissioner Schuemann and the ASC for the opportunity to be a part of the first Division III conference to sponsor beach volleyball," said Huntingdon College Director of Athletics Eric Levanda. "There are some highly competitive beach programs within the ASC, and the overall benefits of this affiliation will be extensive for our program. We have had previous relationships with both indoor and beach volleyball programs within the ASC, and I look forward to strengthening those relationships through this affiliation."
The ASC beach volleyball season will take place in the spring of 2027. The sport is played in pairs on sand courts. Each spring, the NCAA operates a National Collegiate Championship that may include teams from all three divisions via at-large bids. Small colleges may also compete in the annual AVCA Small College Beach Championships held during the spring semester.
For more information about ASC beach volleyball visit ASC First NCAA Division III Conference to Sponsor Beach Volleyball Conference Championship.