New beach volleyball league lures top players to Calgary

A new beach volleyball league has been established in Calgaryand it hasdrawntop-tier talent to battle it out thiswinter.

The National Beach Volleyball League (NBVL) was founded by Calgarian Ben Saxton, a Canadian beach volleyball Olympian.

It began operating out of Vancouver last year, and expanded to Calgary this January.

The local league iscomprised of four teamsthat train and compete at The Beach YYC, thecity's only indoor beach volleyball facility.

• Watch a bit of the league's action in the video above.

Players were selected through an open draft in November. Player Jarron Mueller says that an appetite for the sport was evident throughout the process.

• Calgary's first indoor beach gets ready for sand sport enthusiasts

He told CBC News that the draft attracted high-level athletes, including Team Canada members, who were eager for a chanceto play throughout the year.

"All the best players in Alberta all signed up, and itwas really cool to see international players coming into Calgary and playing. So that's what's really special about this league," said Mueller, a former national team member.

Local arena eases logistical challenges

League members say the enthusiasm also comes from finallybeing able to train and compete at home.

Claire Crossfield is a player who was drafted to the NBVL by the Calgary Beach Volleyball Association.

She says that beforethe league began at The Beach YYC,shetook a year off from volleyball because the logistics of travelling to train were too difficult.

"There was no opportunity for me to continue," Crossfield said.

"So this is incredible to have a place [where] my friends and family can come and see. It's high-level ball, and it's a lot of fun."

Some of the league's aspirations areto make the sport more accessible and to sharpen local talent, Mueller and Crossfield told CBC News.

That the volleyball community is tight-knit, Mueller says, is a large bonus.

"It's really a great experience to be able to play with all the people around here," Mueller said.

"There's so many people that love the sport, so being able to share that with them it's really been a dream come true."

The league's semi-finaland final gameswill be hosted at The Beach YYC on Feb. 16 and 23, respectively.