Beach volleyball with more players, the most widely played version of the game, and the only one contested at an elite level, has only two players per team. Beach volleyball grew in popularity in the United States during the Great Depression in the 1930s as it was an inexpensive activity. The sport also began to appear in Europe during this time. By the 1940s, doubles tournaments were being played on the beaches of Santa Monica for trophies. In 1948 the first tournament to offer a prize was held in Los Angeles, California. It awarded the best teams with a case of Pepsi.
2018 Georgia State Panthers beach volleyball team 2018 Georgia State Panthers beach volleyball team The 2018 Georgia State Panthers beach volleyball represented Georgia State University during the college beach volleyball season of 2018. The team's head coach was Beth Van Fleet in her fifth season at GSU. The Panthers played their home games at the GSU Beach Volleyball Complex and compete in the Division I Coastal Collegiate Sports Association. The 2017 season was the third as an official NCAA sport, and the second that the Panthers played in the CCSA. The Panthers finished with a 24-12 record, ranked 11th in the official NCAA sanctioned AVCA coaches poll.