In the summertime, while some USF students are having fun in the sun, athletes don’t stop their training. 

USF beach volleyball players Morgan Anderson and Sasha Pasloski know all too well what goes into a Division I athlete’s summer routine. 

Although the Bulls won’t play their inaugural season until the spring, they have been preparing since 2023. Initially, the team was scheduled to begin their inaugural season during 2024-25.

For Anderson and Pasloski, the summer provides unique opportunities and challenges — whether they gain time away from class or learn to hold themselves accountable for their success. 

Pasloski, a sophomore, said the ability to train without having to worry about classes opens up her time to focus on the sport.

“I haven’t had to do any summer classes so far,” Pasloski said. “It allows you to show what kind of athlete you are.” 

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But classes aren’t the only thing that can get in the way of a student-athlete’s routine. Some have obligations outside of school or practice. 

“There are other factors, such as work and other summer activities, that can impact training time,” Anderson, a junior, said. 

As both players return to their homes in Colorado and Canada, they leave the supervision of coaches and teammates. In turn, players become responsible for going through their training. 

Anderson said she spent her off time doing CrossFit with her father to diversify her training. 

On the other hand, Paloski invited her mother to help her practice while she spent time at home. 

Still, both Bulls do what they can to keep their teammates motivated while apart. 

“We have group chats and keep each other accountable,” Anderson said. “It’s not the same as being there in person to cheer each other on.” 

Yet the distance from their teammates presents many challenges. 

After spending a whole year with her teammates, Anderson said not having them close can make workouts feel emptier. 

On top of that, being away from Florida presents its own challenges to both athletes as they train. Anderson, being from Colorado, grew up playing indoor volleyball. 

Outside of the differing rules, something as simple as gaining footing becomes more difficult in the sandy environment of beach volleyball. 

“The beach demands players to be versatile and have all the skills,” Anderson said. 

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Pasloski dealt with the difficulty of adapting to beach volleyball after having grown up in Canada without those resources. 

Sand and sunshine are vital for beach volleyball, two things that might not be as common in Canada as they are in Florida.

“All these California girls and Florida girls have the resources to train all year,” Pasolski said. “I never had that.” 

Still, Pasolski said she was luckier than others because she had two sand volleyball courts near her house in Calgary. 

Even then, Pasolski said the outdoor elements and heat aren’t simulated in an indoor court. 

Anderson said USF provides players with resources such as weight lifting regimens for offseason training. 

Workouts aren’t just a means to stay in shape. For Pasloski, they help her strive towards a goal that she sets for herself. 

“I want to lead an example in physicality,” Pasloski said. 

With the summer semester in full swing, Anderson and Pasloski find ways to train in preparation for their upcoming beach volleyball season. 

Despite obstacles in the way of their training, Pasloski said the challenges are what make her love beach volleyball.

“I think it’s one of the most physically and mentally challenging sports in the world,” Pasloski said. “That’s why I love it so much.”