Above photo: Courtney Wienckowski (number 4), who serves as the beach volleyball club president, wants to see more growth from players and in participation as her final semester at USF St. Petersburg winds down. Also pictured: Daniel Ciccia (number 17). Courtesy of Courtney Wienckowski
By Jeffrey Waitkevich
The sailing team is tucked away on the waterfront. The golf club practices off campus.
But the beach volleyball club? You can’t miss them.
Located just outside of the University Success Center, a pair of sand volleyball courts is home to nearly 40 athletes who love to bump, set and spike.
Among them is club president Courtney Wienckowski.
Wienckowski, a senior biology major, founded USF St. Petersburg’s beach volleyball club two years ago after playing volleyball for two years at Oglethorpe University, a Division III school in Atlanta.
She had to translate her game from the 6-on-6 style of indoor volleyball to the 2-on-2 format in the sand.
During her freshman year of high school in San Diego, Wienckowski stood 6-foot tall.
Her mom urged her to move on from just softball and cheerleading to a new sport where her height would give her an advantage.
It took some convincing, but Wienckowski took her mom’s advice. She fell in love and never looked back – playing high school and club volleyball for four years.
By graduation, she had been recruited by eight colleges.
Now, she coaches in downtown St. Petersburg at the YMCA and brings her knowledge to the rest of the beach volleyball club.
Over 50 students came to the team’s inaugural tryout in fall of 2016. Because of the high turnout, the team had to create an “A-Team” that went to tournaments and a “B-Team” that was essentially a practice squad and an opportunity to improve.
Among those 50 participants were Alexius McZee, a sophomore biology and nursing major, and Daniel Ciccia, a sophomore geography major.
McZee felt she had unfinished business after her high school career ended but found solace in a chance to get back to the sport she loves.
“I’ve always used volleyball as an outlet and it has allowed me to channel all of my skill, emotion and energy to compete at such a high level,” McZee said. “My deepest gratitude goes to Courtney for creating the environment that she has allowing us to hold on to something so dear to us all.”
For Ciccia, the team allowed him to learn about himself and what he values in people.
“I have learned what team characteristics come naturally to me … I really started to enjoy motivating others and encouraging my teammates to perform to the fullest,” he said.
Along with the two practices each week, the team participates in National Club Sand Volleyball Association tournaments all over Florida – facing Florida State University, the University of Miami and USF Tampa regularly.
Last year, they played in almost 20 tournaments with 20 players – 10 men, 10 women – representing the school in men’s, women’s and co-ed matches.
The results took time. Despite a rocky start, the team now usually finishes in the top three or four in tournaments.
However, Wienckowski still isn’t satisfied. She wants to see continued growth – in participation and in the players’ skills. She wants her team to finish first in a tournament by the end of the semester when she graduates, and she wants more recognition for the club.
The team hosts tryouts every semester, and Wienckowski encourages anyone with interest to give it a go.
Michelle Vagle, a local volleyball player, volunteers as coach, and geology professor Ryan Moyer serves as adviser.
