USF Bulls Launch Inaugural Beach Volleyball Season with High Hopes

The University of South Florida (USF) is set to make waves in the world of collegiate beach volleyball as it embarks on its inaugural season in 2026. Led by head coach Pri Piantadosi-Lima, the Bulls are eager to establish a strong foundation and build a lasting legacy on the sands of Clearwater Beach.

A Dream Realized for Coach Piantadosi-Lima

For Pri Piantadosi-Lima, taking the helm of USF’s beach volleyball program feels like a long-held dream come true. Having previously launched the beach volleyball program at Eckerd College in 2015, Piantadosi-Lima envisioned a similar opportunity at USF while living in the Tampa Bay area. “I used to say… ‘Wouldn’t it be awesome if USF would start a beach program and I would get hired?’” she said, according to The USF Oracle.

The deciding factor in accepting the position was the strong support from the university and athletic administration. “The alignment the school has with athletics really helps support us inside and out,” Piantadosi-Lima explained. “To start a first-year program with so many resources… that was really a hit.”

Building a Competitive Roster

Piantadosi-Lima wasted no time assembling a talented roster, recruiting national champions, transfers from Power Four programs, and international athletes within a year of her appointment. The team began competing with fall exhibition matches last fall. According to USF Athletics, the program’s first recruiting class arrived on campus in the 2024-25 academic year.

Student-Athlete Perspectives

Sophomore Sasha Pasloski cited Piantadosi-Lima as a key reason for her decision to join the Bulls. Pasloski was drawn to the coach’s caring and involved approach, recalling a detail from their first recruiting call where Piantadosi-Lima referred to herself as “Mama Pri” to past players. “I was like, ‘yeah, this is my girl.’ It just felt right,” Pasloski said.

Graduate student Josephine Sek expressed excitement about joining a new program and creating its own identity. “We have expectations of ourselves,” Sek said. “We’re excited to put everything we’ve been learning into our gameplay and really show up.”

Emphasis on Holistic Development

Piantadosi-Lima emphasizes a holistic approach to student-athlete development, prioritizing academics, nutrition, sleep, community involvement, and personal growth alongside athletic performance.

Home Matches and Schedule

The Bulls will host their first home competitions on March 27-28 and again on April 17-18 at Clearwater Beach. The April event will feature several top 25-ranked teams, including Florida State University, Louisiana State University, and Florida Gulf Coast University. USF kicks off its season at Tulane University on February 20-21. A full schedule is available on USF Athletics’ website.

A Unique Opportunity

With no established program history to follow, the USF beach volleyball team has the freedom to define its own standards and goals. “It’s 100% in our hands how accountable we’re going to hold ourselves and what we’re going to make of this program,” Pasloski stated. “Hopefully it’s something little girls can seem up to and something that establishes a real legacy.”

Admission to all home matches is free, and fans are encouraged to come out and support the Bulls as they begin this exciting new chapter. As Sek noted, “You’re at the beach, you get to watch beach volleyball and you’ll probably get a nice tan. You really can’t lose.”