Five years ago, a group of Sandy Panthers anxiously huddled around a phone as the selections for the 2015 AVCA National Tournament were announced. Only eight schools would have the chance to compete for the top title, but the members of the young program had notched an impressive 18-1 record to give themselves their best chance.
As they heard Georgia State's name in the fifth slot, the room erupted with emotion. The team was dancing, hugging, and jumping around. The Sandy Panthers had earned the program's first bid to a national tournament, which solidified the school from downtown Atlanta as a force to be reckoned with in the sand.
Eight of the upperclassmen on State's roster that year were members of the inaugural team in 2013. When several of these girls toured Georgia State the current GSU Beach Complex was a group of tennis courts with no locker room and definitely no beach vibes. But each of these players bought into the program.
"I remember when I visited the campus there were no beach courts. Beth told us, 'You just have to imagine. I promise we will have something,'" said Arizona native Milani Pickering.
After going 8-9 in their first year, this group had something to prove. The team decided to out work their opponents in every aspect of playing from the weight room, to scrimmages, and practice. Each pair wanted to give Georgia State their best chance of winning and make their mark on the program.
"We were such a competitive group," said Jansen (Button) John. "There was competition for the one through three spots. We had a chip on our shoulder because we had to beat our own players to play."
It all paid off as GSU defeated 18 opponents, including No. 4 Florida State. The team earned a No. 7 ranking in the national polls during the season, still the highest ranking in State history. All five of GSU's top pairs held winning records led by All-Americans Sara Olivova and Jansen (Button) John with a 23-11 note in the regular season.
When the team arrived at the national tournament it was nothing like they were used to seeing. There was more pomp and circumstance than any other tournament they had played in before. The team was surrounded by amazing volleyball, and they were a part of that amazing volleyball. As the only landlocked school there, they were especially proud of their accomplishments.
"It was mind blowing. There was a big screen with our faces on it and coolers on each court," said Pickering. "I felt like an Olympian."
Georgia State fell to Pepperdine and Stetson during the tournament to end their record-setting season. This would not be the only trip to a national championship for many on the team, as the squad would earn the chance to compete in the first ever NCAA beach volleyball tournament the following year. Earning bids to these national tournaments helped put GSU on the map and laid the foundation for Georgia State beach volleyball today.
"This tournament appearance validated what the team already knew – that they belonged there," said head coach Beth Van Fleet. "They did the work, they fought the battles, they grinded every day in practice. This appearance set the foundation for GSU beach volleyball for the years to come. It honored the grittiness that got us there"
Today several members of the 2015 team still stay connected to the Panther Family and Atlanta community. Sarah Agnew is working towards her doctorate in physical therapy at GSU, while working at the Shepherds Center in town. John is now a volunteer coach for the Panthers. Pickering joined a startup and has moved back to Georgia. This past fall she played a vital role in preparing this year's team for the season.
A few women had the opportunity to play with this year's senior class. As GSU's program and beach volleyball as a whole continue to grow, the 2015 team is proud of the legacy of hard work and grit they have left behind.
"It is incredible to see how this year's senior class has grown," said Agnew. "They were all hard workers freshman year. I am over the moon with how they have taken that and made it into something pretty great."
