Despite being in its third year of existence, the 2018 season will be a season of firsts for the Sierra College beach volleyball team.

In addition to being the first year, beach volleyball will be featured in the Big 8 Conference, this season will also be the first year the Wolverines will play home games on campus.

This Friday, March 9, Sierra and Feather River will co-host Cabrillo and Foothill. Matches begin at 11 am rain or shine.

"It's huge for us and for the sport in this area," said Sierra head coach Alanna Whitnack. "Our first year we had no home matches, we were on the road all season. Adding these four courts is a great way to grow the sport in our area."

Sierra sophomores Brittany Boerstra and Kalala Strickland echo their coach's sentiment.

"I love that I get to be a part of this because I've been here so long," said Boerstra, who was a member of Sierra's indoor team for two years and is now playing her second season of beach volleyball. "I've seen the program grow to what it is today and it's very exciting and has been such an honor. I've been a part of other programs, but nothing compares to what I've had at Sierra."

Strickland has similar feelings.

"We're all so pumped up to be able to actually play at home and not somewhere else," said Strickland. "In the past, we played our home games over in Folsom, but these courts will allow more fans and students to come and really give us a home court advantage. It's such a fun sport to watch, so this is perfect."

Sierra joins Delta, Feather River, Marin and the College of the Redwoods in the Big 8 Conference and will now play all of its home games on four brand new sand courts located between the softball and football fields.

"What we're trying to do here is grow the sport and be ambassadors, but at the same time win championships," said Whitnack. "The last couple of years the program was getting off the ground, this year we're in it to win a conference title."

The Wolverines opened the season at Bakersfield on March 2, falling 3-2 in a best-of-five non-conference match.

Story by Scott Johnston, photo by Dave Lawicka