We were lucky to catch up with Janice Reese recently and have shared our conversation below.
Janice, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?
Nestled in the heart of Tennessee, on a quiet 10-acre property in the woods at the end of a road, Roman and Janice Reese built something extraordinary—Nashville Beach Volleyball Club. What started as a passion project in our front yard has grown into a community hub where athletes, friends, and families come together to play, connect, and celebrate the joy of beach volleyball. For over thirty years, Nashville Beach has been more than a collection of volleyball courts—it’s been our heart and second home. Roman and I built this place with the simple dream of sharing the joy of the game, and it’s grown into something far greater. We created a space where kids and adults could come as they are—whether to compete, unwind, or just belong.
I’ve watched families raise their kids here—young players who started in the sand as beginners and went on to compete at the collegiate level, driven by the passion and skills they developed playing on competitive teams at Nashville Beach. We’ve welcomed players from across the country at our tournaments, turning this place into a beloved and uniquely spirited stop in the volleyball world.
But beyond the competition and awards, this place became something even more powerful: a sanctuary. A space for mental health, connection, and community. A reminder that sports are about more than competition—they’re about play, joy, and the kind of togetherness that sticks with you long after you’ve brushed the sand off your feet. Lifelong friendships and a community connected througn play.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
Roman and I met playing indoor volleyball at a high school in Nashville, but my love for the game started long before that—outside. I grew up playing in the sun, barefoot in the grass or sand, and I’ve always believed in the importance of being outdoors, staying active, and connecting with people through play.
That belief was part of what inspired Nashville Beach. We didn’t just want to build volleyball courts—we wanted to create a space where people of all ages could unplug, soak up the sunshine, and be part of something joyful and healthy. It was about more than volleyball. It was about creating a place where community could thrive, one serve, one set, one smile at a time.
We partnered with the AVP to bring professional-level play to Nashville, giving our community a front-row seat to world-class competition and helping players see what was possible if they stayed with the sport. That visibility inspired a whole new generation to dream bigger and train harder.
By 2010, when the NCAA began formally promoting beach volleyball as a collegiate sport, everything changed. What had started as a backyard game and a local passion suddenly had a national stage—and young players from Nashville Beach were ready. The timing helped us expand our Juniors program, giving more kids the chance to train competitively, travel for tournaments, and pursue beach volleyball not just as a pastime, but as a pathway to college opportunities and lifelong confidence.
Our property—10 acres nestled in the woods just outside of Nashville—gave us the perfect setting to bring our vision to life. It was quiet, natural, and full of potential. We believed from the beginning that if we could create a successful model for beach volleyball here, in a place without a coastline, we could inspire others to grow the sport in communities where beaches don’t exist.
This wasn’t just about building courts—it was about proving that with the right space, passion, and community support, beach volleyball could thrive anywhere. Our home became a testing ground for what was possible, and over time, it became a blueprint for how the sport could expand far beyond the coasts.
Have you ever had to pivot?
There was a time when keeping Nashville Beach open felt more like an act of faith than a business decision. Roman and I had built something special—a grassroots beach volleyball haven on our 10-acre wooded property just outside of Nashville. But as the years went by, the sport we loved so deeply was facing its own battles.
The AVP—the national tour we’d partnered with to bring professional-level play and recognition to Tennessee—was going through turmoil. Ownership changes, financial uncertainty, even bankruptcy. At times, we didn’t know whether the professional side of beach volleyball would survive at all.
But in those moments, I made a choice: we would keep Nashville Beach going, no matter what.
I leaned into the one thing we always had: our community. I started building stronger ties with local players, families, and schools. I organized more grassroots tournaments, partnered with our community to help develop junior development programs, and doubled down on making Nashville Beach not just a place to compete—but a place to belong.
Even as the AVP changed hands—through bankruptcies, investor takeovers, and rebranding—I stayed the course. I kept in touch with each new leadership team, making sure they knew Nashville Beach was still here, still growing, and still committed to supporting the sport at every level. I worked hard to keep our facility aligned with AVP America, ensuring our players had access to sanctioned events, bid opportunities, and a path to collegiate and even professional play.
There were years when the uncertainty was heavy. Times when we didn’t know if we’d have enough turnout of players, always hard to gain sponsors, or having to repair the decks and courts after a big storm. But every year, we opened, bought new sand, umbrellas, created new offerings and set up the nets. And every year, the players came back.
Some of those kids who grew up on our courts are now playing in college. Some are coaching. Some are bringing their own children to play. That’s the legacy that kept us going.
Through it all—through AVP shakeups, the ups and downs of small business ownership, and the changing tides of a niche sport—I never stopped believing in the power of this place. Because Nashville Beach isn’t just about volleyball. It’s about resilience. It’s about joy. It’s about the kind of community you can count on, even when everything else is shifting beneath your feet.
And that’s why we’re still here. Thirty years later, still digging in the sand. Still building something beautiful, one day at a time.
We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?
From the very beginning, I made it a priority to take action shots at every Nashville Beach tournament. Whether it was juniors diving for a save, a high-flying spike, or a simple moment of teamwork and laughter between matches—I was there with my iphone camera capturing it.
Why? Because people want to see themselves in the story.
Posting those photos on Facebook and Instagram did more than document an event—it created energy. Players would tag each other, share their moments, and relive the day through the pictures. Parents loved seeing their kids in action. Out-of-town players would follow the page just to stay connected. The photos weren’t just content—they were connection.
Those images helped build momentum, especially in the early days when we were trying to grow our audience. They created a sense of belonging and pride. When players saw themselves featured, they felt like part of something—and they kept coming back, bringing friends with them.
If you’re starting to build community online, here’s my advice: capture the moment. It doesn’t have to be professional—just real. Make people feel seen. Celebrate their effort. Highlight the joy.
That simple act of sharing action shots helped turn Nashville Beach into more than a place to play—it became a community people wanted to be part of, both in person and online.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.nashvillebeach.com
- Instagram: @nashvillebeach
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NashvilleBeach
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/nashville-beach/
Image Credits
Janice Reese