DALLAS – Conference USA has added three new affiliate members in beach volleyball ahead of the 2024 season – Texas Christian University, Tarleton State University and Missouri State University. The league’s Board of Directors unanimously affirmed the additions.
“Adding programs of this pedigree puts us in a position to make a larger imprint nationally in beach volleyball,” Conference USA Deputy Commissioner Keisha Dunlap said. “We are very much looking forward to working with each of these three universities, their leadership groups and are very excited about our future for this growing sport within our portfolio.”
The addition of TCU, Tarleton State and Missouri State increases current league membership to nine schools for the 2023-24 season, as the Horned Frogs, Texans and Bears join FIU, Florida Atlantic, Jacksonville State, Tulane, UAB and UTEP as members of Conference USA beach volleyball.
The Horned Frogs recently fell in the NCAA Championship semifinals to eventual national champion USC and finished the campaign at 37-3 under head coach Hector Gutierrez.
“I want to thank the CCSA for letting TCU join five years ago,” Gutierrez said. “Moving to Conference USA will allow us to continue to play against the best teams in the country. We’ll be able to further enhance the sport on campus and in our community with the chance to host conference championships. I’m really excited about the opportunity to grow our fanbase even more than it already is.
Missouri State finished its season 9-13 under head coach Ashley Emery, who just concluded her first season at the helm for the Bears.
"Missouri State is excited to be joining Conference USA,” Emery said. “We believe we will better suited competitively with Conference USA, and want to help put our student athletes in a position and environment where they can be pushed to improve. We are looking forward to the 2024 season!"
Tarleton State is set to begin their first beach volleyball season next year.
"This has been a topic of conversation for our university for a long time and we're excited to finally make it happen," said Lonn Reisman, Tarleton State Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics. "Our indoor volleyball program has been a tremendous program with a rich history and now we're thrilled to take it outside in the spring.
"We're so blessed to have the support of President Dr. James Hurley, the Texas A&M University System, C-USA Commissioner Judy MacLeod, and our community," Reisman continued. "This is another incredible opportunity to provide competitive athletics and opportunities for our female student-athletes to earn their education while competing for the purple and white."
About Conference USA
Conference USA is an NCAA Division I athletic conference based in Dallas, Texas, now in its third decade, Conference USA has adapted to the ever-changing landscape of collegiate athletics with an unwavering commitment to excellence, integrity and leadership in competition, academics and community.