“Tatiana was the original selection to be the volleyball coach at UOG when I arrived back in 2016," said UOG Athletics Director Doug Palmer. "She won the first College Volleyball League we set up in the fall of 2016, and we have confidence that she will bring the program back to the winning ways we became use to under her leadership.”The indoor volleyball program was suspended when it became difficult to find competition in Spring 2019, and the University started women’s basketball to replace it. This time the women’s volleyball program will have an emphasis on the beach version of the sport while still playing one or two seasons of standard volleyball per year as well.

'Beach volleyball can spread the word of UOG'

“One of the great parts of beach volleyball is that the teams are small, and travel is much cheaper than sending a group of 20 players and coaches to play at an international site," Palmer said. "Beach volleyball can spread the word of UOG far and wide with minimum cost."

UOG hopes to be able to raise funds and send one or two teams of beach volleyball players to compete internationally at some point in the near future.

Palmer said the department hopes to build a campus beach volleyball court in the next year.

Tryouts in August

The Tritons plan to have beach tryouts by August and begin play after Labor Day at one of the beach volleyball courts on the island. And Coach Sablan is ready to get started.

“It’s exciting to welcome Triton Volleyball back to Guam," she said. "Being a part of creating a legacy of excellence in beach volleyball culture on Guam is extremely motivating. I’m looking forward to all the opportunities and adventures future Triton athletes will compete in as student-athletes on team Triton. Go Tritons!”

The volleyball program brings the number of sports for UOG to seven for 2022-23. In addition to volleyball, the program includes men’s and women’s soccer, men’s and women’s basketball, women’s rugby, baseball.