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Arizona Beach Volleyball, Catching up with Head Coach Steve Walker

By Shereen Rayan

Oct 10, 2015; Tucson, AZ, USA; Arizona Wildcats mascot Wilma high fives fans during the wildcat walk before the game against the Oregon State Beavers at Arizona Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Casey Sapio-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 10, 2015; Tucson, AZ, USA; Arizona Wildcats mascot Wilma high fives fans during the wildcat walk before the game against the Oregon State Beavers at Arizona Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Casey Sapio-USA TODAY Sports /
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Arizona Beach Volleyball Head Coach Steve Walker is in his third season, and his team’s sport is getting more and more popular.

The Arizona Beach Volleyball team, led by Head Coach Steve Walker, is 13-8 on the season so far, 2-3 in the Pac-12 and 6-4 at home. The cats have beaten Washington and Utah but lost to USC and UCLA who are very strong teams.

If you haven’t made it out to Bear Down Beach (located across from the McKale Center), you are missing out on a fun afternoon.

The Sand Cats play in the sand, well of course they do, but our point is that you need to bring your beach chairs and umbrellas! We have followed Coach Walker since his first season, and we are so impressed with what he has accomplished in just three seasons.

Last season, the Sand Cats went to the National Championship and ended their season in 5th place in the tournament. That’s saying something for this young and now sanctioned NCAA Division 1 sport. Coach Walker can recruit specifically for beach volleyball players, and that includes recruiting globally.

Last weekend the Wildcats traveled down to Santa Monica, California to take on Long Beach State and UCLA where Ocean Blvd. ends and we were there, couldn’t miss cheering on our Cats!

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It was a windy day, and I mean windy, so even though the Cats lost, it wasn’t easy to even get the ball over the net. You don’t get those ocean breezes in Tucson so that Arizona may have an advantage at home.

This was an excellent opportunity to catch some action and get coach Walkers insights on this season so far and how the program has strengthened over his last three years.

Walker feels the Witt sisters pair, McKenna and Madison, have the skills to play in the Olympics, but they will have to work hard to hone their abilities because they are capable of doing so much more. He is appreciative that the Athletics Department at Arizona has given his team tremendous support.

Here is the interview with highlights from the UCLA tournament in Santa Monica on March 8, 2017, starring athletes Mia Mason, Kendra Dahlke, and McKenna and Madison Witt.

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We look towards following the Sand Cats in their run for the championship! The teams take on Stanford on April 21 (Friday) 6:00 PM MST and Cal on April 22 (Saturday) 12:00 PM MST. GO OUT TO BEAR DOWN BEACH! You will not be disappointed. Tell coach Walker that Zona Zealots sent you!

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