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COLUMBIA, SC (WACH) - The University of South Carolina will add sand volleyball as its 21st intercollegiate sport in the 2013-14 academic year.

The announcement to add sand volleyball was made Thursday.

The addition of sand volleyball gives us the ability to add more opportunities for women to participate in intercollegiate athletics, said Tanner.

With the addition of sand volleyball, the South Carolina Board of Trustees also approved the construction of a playing facility located in the USC Athletic Village near the new Carolina tennis facility, Carolina softball stadium at Beckham Field and the soccer practice fields. The facility would be expected to be complete by the start of competition in spring 2014.

Moritz Moritz will serve as the first head coach of the Gamecocks sand volleyball program, after spending the past two years as an assistant coach on the Gamecocks indoor volleyball team.

"Im very grateful for the chance to begin this new chapter in Gamecock athletics," said Moritz. "While its tough to leave behind Scott (Swanson) and the indoor team, Im excited to get this new sand volleyball team off the ground. Im thankful for Scott bringing me here two years ago and his help to get sand volleyball started, which wouldnt have happened without his support. Thanks also go to Ray Tanner, Judy Van Horn and the rest of the administration for this opportunity."

Before his two-year stint with the Gamecocks indoor team, where the Gamecocks led the Southeastern Conference in digs during his first season, Moritz coached five years at Idaho, coordinating the Vandals defense and community service efforts while also serving as the teams liaison with academics.

Sand volleyball is the 12th female sport to be added by South Carolina in addition to nine mens teams sponsored by the school. The Gamecocks are the first Southeastern Conference school to add sand volleyball and the 31st to do so nationally.