SOLD AS A SEXY, LIFESTYLE SPORT, MARKETING BEACH VOLLEYBALL WAS IN LARGE PART BUILT ON THE BACK OF TELEVISED BIKINI CONTESTS.

AS ITS PARTICIPANTS WERE PARADED, FEMALE AUDIENCE MEMBERS GREW INCREASINGLY UNCOMFORTABLE WITH THIS EXPLOITATION. SPONSORS BEGAN TO QUESTION THE SPORT’S SUSTAINABILITY, AS DID A SMALL NUMBER OF PLAYERS LIKE THE OUTSPOKEN KENT STEFFES, WHO OPENLY DEMANDED MORE OF THE SPORT’S UPPER BRASS EN ROUTE TO BECOMING ONE OF THE ALL-TIME BEST PLAYERS.