Briggs Beach

MOUNT BERRY, Ga. - A special moment in the history of the Berry College Department of Intercollegiate Athletics took place today as the school's new beach volleyball facility was christened as Briggs Beach in honor of Berry President Stephen Briggs.

Steve Cage (74C), a member of the Berry Board of Trustees, is the primary monetary donor for the newest athletic facility on campus. His donation also came with the rights to name the facility, which he requested to name in honor of his friend and colleague.

"Thank you for this act of generocity, recognition, and this act of friendship," said Briggs during the naming ceremony. "To put it in volleyball terms, I think of Steve Cage as a great volleyball setter. He makes everyone look better. We've had many others come along as well, and I'm grateful to them for their support, but you need a great setter to make the team work.

"My wife Brenda grew up on the coast of North Carolina," Briggs continued. "She was a beach girl for years and years, and I'm grateful that she has a beach to call home here in Georgia."

The work of Berry head beach volleyball coach Caitlyn Moriarty and her staff were singled out by Briggs and Berry Director of Athletics Angel Mason during Friday's festivities. "When we served up the idea of adding beach volleyball as an intercollegiate sport at Berry College, she embraced the challenge," Mason said. "This new facility helps us continue to pursue championships and compete at the highest levels of NCAA D-III. It meant a lot to us to be able to have this event today as our beach volleyball program invited all of the other D-III schools that compete in this sport to be here this weekend.

The addition of the 22nd intercollegiate sport at Berry is essentially completed with the opening of the new faciltiy. "The athleticism, the partnerships, and just the sheer fun of the game is just a wonderful addition to all of the things that we do here at Berry. I just love having a beach on campus. It's a great sport and it's great fun at the same time."