By KEVIN ECKLEBERRY

Daily News

LaGrange College’s newest sports team will soon have a place to call home.

Work is underway on a new beach volleyball facility on the LaGrange College campus, and it will be ready to go when a new season begins in a few months.

A groundbreaking ceremony was held on Friday, with coaches from all the different sports at LaGrange College on hand to celebrate the moment.

Jennifer Claybrook, LaGrange College’s athletics director and softball coach, said she’s “absolutely thrilled” with the decision to bring beach volleyball to the school.

“Beach volleyball is one of the fastest growing sports in the NCAA,” Claybrook said. “It gives women an incredible competitive opportunity.”

Claybrook added that “beach volleyball has made the fastest transition from an emerging sport to a championship sport in NCAA history. We are excited for it to join our other 17 other NCAA Division III Panther teams.”

Also at the groundbreaking ceremony were representatives from Strack, Inc., which is building the facility.

The facility, which will be located next to the Nick Allen Paviion near the tennis courts, will have three side-by-side courts.

The head coach for the team will be Madison Machurek, who will be pulling double-duty since she’s also the coach for the indoor volleyball team.

Machurek, who recently completed her third season as the Panthers’ head coach, said beach volleyball is an “exciting addition for our fans, and I know that the sport’s addition will create valuable opportunities for the young women representing the Panthers.”