De Anza College Hosts Beach Volleyball Facility Ceremony
The De Anza College athletic department hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony to officially open its state-of-the-art beach volleyball facility on April 29.
While the Mountain Lions recently completed the 2026 spring season at the six-court complex, the ceremony coincided with the college hosting the 3C2A Northern California Pairs Championships on April 30 and May 1 – welcoming 64 student-athletes from across the region.
De Anza College has been identified as a potential host for next year's 3C2A Beach Volleyball State Championships – announced by 3C2A Executive Director Jennifer Cardone, who spoke at the ceremony.
"This remarkable addition marks the eighth beach volleyball facility in Northern California and the 20th on a 3C2A campus – a milestone that reflects the continued growth and momentum of this sport across our colleges," Cardone said.
"These courts represent De Anza's commitment to excellence and to providing student-athletes with the resources they deserve to learn, compete, and thrive. Facilities like this elevate the student-athlete experience, support competitive success, and create a sense of pride and belonging that is central to what community college athletics is all about."
The facility project started with meetings during the summer of 2022, when college, district, and construction/design partners discussed "must have" and "wish list" items to create the best student-athlete experience.
In the end, the $7M facility features:
- six championship courts
- modern drainage system
- WiFi for stadium lights
- streaming and a six-court scoreboard
- custom sound system
- 8-foot perimeter gates
- outdoor shower area
- storage units
- logo branding
- 5,000 square foot synthetic turf training area
- and plenty of space for team canopies and spectator seating
De Anza's beach volleyball facility footprint is one of the largest in the state.
"Facilities like these don't build themselves – and they certainly don't fund themselves" said Vice Chancellor of Business Services for the Foothill-De Anza Community College District, Dr. Christopher Dela Rosa,
"So, the first thing I want to do is look out at this community and say, 'thank you.' When the voters of the Measure G Bond went to the polls, they made a choice to invest in our students, in athletic excellence, and in the future of Foothill-De Anza Community College District. Today, we get to see exactly what that trust looks like – and it looks great."
Administration leaders from De Anza College's Physical Education & Athletics Division credited the district and project team members, along with longtime Head Coach Dawnis Guevara, who has led the volleyball program to eight conference championships and nearly 300 victories.
"Coach Guevara was instrumental in having a vision for a first-class facility that will be a destination for the best volleyball student-athletes in the Bay Area," Division Dean Dr. Eric Mendoza said.
Mendoza added that Guevara and Director of Athletics & Student-Athlete Success Ron Hannon were the perfect tandem to work through every facility detail.
"It was really exciting to be part of the process," Hannon said.
"Because of the college's commitment, we knew this was going to be a special facility for our student-athletes. This facility will help develop generations of students at De Anza College."
Guevara recalled her conversations eight years ago with former acting dean Sam Bliss (now the Associate Vice President of Instruction) about the possibility in adding beach volleyball to complement the college's successful indoor team.
"It is the joy that I have every day in coaching our teams," said Guevara, who led the 2026 beach program to the most season victories (10) in its short history.
"To our student-athletes, this is for you. I'm super proud. The facility is amazing."
Bliss said that the beach facility is the first new project to be completed from FHDA's $989 million Measure G Bond approved by voters in 2020.
"We have the only exclusive athletic facility for women's sports in the district," he said.
"Today is a representation of progress. Both for women's sports and for the district."
Two sophomore captains from the beach volleyball team, Ayla Cakisic and Catalina Barajas, shared how the new facility has elevated the program.
"The memories and bonding that we created here have been incredibly different," Cakisic said.
"I am so, so grateful and I know all of my teammates are."
"The courts are amazing and the best in California," Barajas added.
"I'm proud to be part of this program. I know that (future) student-athletes who come here will be proud to play on these courts. These courts are really amazing."
Photos By: Joel Huey & Pierre Whitsey