Over the past 5 years since its induction as a NCAA championship sport in 2015, women's beach volleyball has become the fastest growing collegiate sport. Despite the exponential increase in participation, performance characteristics of collegiate beach volleyball athletes have yet to be determined. Purpose: To quantify the performance characteristics of NCAA Division I collegiate beach volleyball players as well to assess differences in characteristics between player positions. Methods: Female collegiate beach volleyball players (N = 20, Mheight = 175.3 ± 5.2 cm, Mweight = 68.3 ± 6.3 kg) underwent body composition and performance testing on the same day prior to the start of the preseason. First, body composition (FFM, BF%) was assessed via ultrasound using a 7-site model. Maximal counter-movement vertical jump heights were then assessed via a contact mat. Athletes performed 3 maximal attempts with both hands-on-hips (CMJHOH) and arm-swing (CMJ) methods. Lastly, players performed a maximal graded-exercise test on a treadmill for the determination of aerobic capacity (Vo2max) and ventilatory threshold (VT). Mean ± SD were calculated for all body composition and performance metrics. Peak Power (PP) was calculated for both vertical jumps using the Sayers equation: (60.7 × jump height [cm]) + (45.3 + weight [kg])-2055. MANOVAs with univariate follow-ups were calculated to assess differences in body composition and performance variables between primary positions (blockers: n = 8; passers: n = 9) with significance set at p < 0.05. Players who held "switch" positions (n = 3) were not included in this sub-analysis. Results: Female collegiate beach volleyball athletes had a Vo2max of 43.6 ± 4.0 ml/kg/min, with VT occurring at 79.3 ± 4% Vo2max. CMJHOH height and PP were 49.1 ± 5.5 cm and 4,020.5 ± 440.1 W, while CMJ height and PP were 54.1 ± 7.6 cm and 4,321.1 ± 558.1 W. Additionally, average BF% and FFM were 21.8 ± 3.3% and 53.4 ± 4.9 kg, respectively. Between positions, blockers were significantly taller (p < 0.001), had significantly lower BF% (p = 0.001) and greater FFM (p = 0.016) than passers, with no significant differences in body weight (p > 0.05). No differences were observed between Vo2max and VT (p > 0.05). Finally, blockers had significantly higher CMJ (p = 0.033), PP for CMJ and CMJHOH (p = 0.011; p = 0.021), and a trend for higher CMJHOH (p = 0.065) than passers. Conclusions: These data provide insight into performance characteristics of athletes in a top 20 ranked collegiate beach volleyball program. The greater PP output and vertical jump height observed in blockers could be attributed to their greater FFM as well as their plyometric-dominated role at the net in this sport. Practical Application: Emphasis should be placed on power development, particularly for blockers, by strength and conditioning coaches during the design and implementation of training programs to optimize performance in this sport. Future research assessing changes in performance variables in response to training demands across a competitive season is warranted.
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