Notebook: UF to host first SEC beach volleyball tourney

The Southeastern Conference is taking its volleyball programs to the beach. Well, not literally. But it's the next best thing.

Florida will host the inaugural SEC beach volleyball championships April 12 at the sand volleyball courts outside the Southwest Recreation Center on campus.

It will mark the first beach volleyball tournament held by a Division I conference and could be a springboard for women's beach volleyball becoming a sanctioned NCAA sport.

"This is something we want to expand on," Gators coach Mary Wise said. "The NCAA is looking for viable team sports to help increase the number of women participating in college. We think NCAA beach volleyball is one of those sports."

Each of the 11 volleyball teams in the SEC will compete at the event. Vanderbilt, which doesn't have a volleyball program, but does have a beach volleyball club team, even got an invitation.

Schools will send three teams of two players to the event. Wise, who won't be able to use any of her talented seniors from last fall, isn't quite sure what her lineup will look like.

"Maybe I should ask (UF women's tennis coach) Roland Thornqvist for some advice on setting lineups," Wise said. "Do you stack your teams or do you spread the wealth?"

Play will begin at 8:30 a.m. on April 12 and culminate with a Bronze Medal match at 4 p.m. and a Gold medal match at 6 p.m.

Also, beach volleyball legend and three-time Olympic gold medalist Karch Kiraly will be the featured speaker Friday night at the SEC Coaches Beach Volleyball Banquet.

Gators CF disciplined internally for arrest

Gators center fielder Matt den Dekker has been disciplined internally for his Dec. 9 arrest, head coach Kevin O'Sullivan said.

Den Dekker was arrested early on the morning of Dec. 9 outside the Grog House Bar and Grill on University Avenue for felony theft.

O'Sullivan said den Dekker, a sophomore, has been disciplined, but wouldn't elaborate or say whether den Dekker will miss any games. The Gators open their season Feb. 22 against Siena.

"We've handled it internally," O'Sullivan said last Thursday. "I don't really want to comment too much more on that situation."

According to a police report, den Dekker was charged with stealing the contents from the purse of a Grog House waitress. The waitress noticed her purse missing from the bar area after she repeatedly refused to give her phone number to den Dekker, the report states. The waitress located her purse under a booth where den Dekker was sitting. The contents of her purse were missing, however.

A bouncer stopped den Dekker at the back door and found the waitress' cell phone, five credit cards and car keys in his pocket. According to the report, den Dekker said: "I know that I should have not taken her stuff. It was the most retarded thing I've ever done."

The court ordered den Dekker to seek alcohol counseling and pay $150 restitution to the victim. Charges will be dropped June 13, assuming den Dekker does not violate any other laws or statutes.

Former Gator Gal to make LPGA Tour debut

Ex-Lady Gator golfer Sandra Gal will make her LPGA Tour debut Thursday at the SBS Open in Kahuka, Hawaii. But her heart is still with the Gators.

After completing her practice round Monday, Gal immediately logged onto her computer at her hotel and checked in on the Lady Gators progress at the Northrop Grumman Regional Challenge.

Gal decided to forego the remainder of her senior season at Florida after tying for 14th and advancing through the final stage of LPGA Qualifying School in Daytona Beach in December.

With her amateur career now over, Gal admitted there will be some nerves when she makes her Tour debut.

“I’m pretty sure I’m going to have butterflies in my stomach when I walk up to the first tee,” Gal said.

“I’ve been progressively working on getting better on putting and my short game. My long game has always been pretty good but my putting wasn’t maybe where it should be.”

Also...

Men’s tennis newcomer Jeff Dadamo was named the SEC Freshman of the Week on Tuesday. Dadamo clinched both Florida matches this past week, as the Gators posted a 4-3 win over USF before going on to knock off No. 14 Florida State, 5-2, a day later. ... Florida's soccer team will open its spring season with a match today against Mercer at Pressly Stadium. ... Former Gator Jessie Levine, a wildcard qualifier at the ATP International Tennis Championships in Delray Beach, lost on Tuesday 7-5, 7-6 (4) to Gilles Muller.

Roundup

Florida's 13th-ranked softball team (5-0) is scheduled to play its home opener today when it hosts Mercer (1-1) in a doubleheader beginning at 4 p.m. at the Florida Softball Stadium.

Florida is starting a 14-game homestand after winning all five games at the South Florida tournament in Tampa last weekend.

Florida's dual women's tennis match against South Florida was canceled Tuesday due to weather.

This is the fourth time this season the sixth-ranked Gators (3-0) have had one of their dual matches postponed. It is also the second time their match against South Florida has been postponed this year.

It is unknown if or when the match between the Gators and Bulls will be rescheduled.