Earlier this month, Bukovec and her teammate Strange helped top-ranked USC become the first-ever NCAA beach volleyball champions with a 3-0 win over No. Last month, the Vancouver Province cited the American Volleyball Coaches Association in reporting that 61 NCAA schools fielded women's beach volleyball teams last season, with another 51 considering adding the sport in the future. "I don't know how I've been so lucky that everything's panned out," said Bukovec, who started indoor volleyball at age 11 and was introduced to beach volleyball at 15. "It would be a nice opportunity for a lot of people who don't think they can go to the States and play beach volleyball." Bukovec then signed a national letter of intent after being told she could play indoor and beach at Long Beach.

Source: CBC News May 19, 2016 13:03 UTC