Longtime sand volleyball professional Beth Van Fleet has been named assistant coach for the brand-new sand program at her alma mater, Georgia State.

Van Fleet spent eight seasons (2003-10) with the Association for Volleyball Professionals, competing in over 80 career sand tournaments and representing the United States abroad. She is well-known throughout the sport and has worked with some of the top athletes and coaches in the game. She earned five top-10 finishes during her pro career and medaled during NORCECA competition in Mexico and Guatemala City.

Based in San Diego, Calif. for much of her professional career, Van Fleet was also the west coast director for Team VolleyChick, a company that hosted clinics and tournaments for players of all ages.

Van Fleet spent her off-seasons working in the marketing industry, creating and executing direct-mail and email campaigns.

Currently earning her master's degree in sports administration at GSU, Van Fleet has aided coach Tami Audia's court volleyball staff for the last two seasons. She has worked with the team during practice, scouted opponents and offered match analysis.

During her collegiate court career in the Panther uniform, Van Fleet piled up 1,177 kills from 1995-98, the fourth-most in school history. She became one of the first players in GSU history to amass both 1,000 kills and 1,000 digs, earning second-team all-conference honors her junior and senior seasons. Van Fleet helped lead the Panthers (then in the Trans America Athletic Conference) to two regular season conference championships, three winning seasons and 69 victories in four years.

Van Fleet, 34, was also an all-conference academic selection all four seasons, graduating in 1999 with a 3.79 GPA in marketing.

While in college, Van Fleet worked as a head club coach in the metro-Atlanta area, helping prep athletes succeed on the court and earn collegiate scholarships.

A native of Tampa, Fla., Van Fleet currently resides in Atlanta.