While the sun and sand at Santa Monica beach provide the perfect setting for Archer’s varsity beach volleyball players, the real challenge extends beyond the court. Los Angeles traffic can disrupt factors such as time management, energy and focus, senior Charlotte Stein said.

Archer players practice four days a week, with the occasional Saturday practice to make up for missed ones. The practice is held at the Annenberg Beach Club from 4-5:30 p.m., located at Santa Monica Beach.

Sophie Shafipour (‘27) started playing beach volleyball in seventh grade. As she transitioned into high school, the commitment requirements for beach volleyball grew, with more practices during the week. She said the shift required her to adapt and learn to balance the demands of sports with her academics.

“In terms of balancing schoolwork for me, it is fine because I don’t live super far. I’m a multisport athlete, so I have learned how to balance work,” Shafipour said. “I do think, as a whole, the distance sometimes is not the best because some people don’t live as close.”

According to Google Maps averages, the commute to practice from Archer takes approximately 14-26 minutes; however, Stein said it can take 30-45 minutes. She said she has adapted to the challenge by using the commute to complete homework and stay on top of her responsibilities. As a senior, she said she has developed strong time management skills and recognizes how crucial it is to stay organized.

The long drive, though manageable for some, can still be a significant challenge for other teammates, especially those who live farther away, Stein said.

“I had a conversation with one of my teammates last year. She chose not to play beach volleyball, just because the distance was so far from her house and back,” Stein said. “We finished practice at 5:30, so it’s rush hour, so I know that really affected her.”

Vienna Gentin (‘29) expressed her personal struggles with the commute home due to peak traffic hours, from 4-7 p.m., affecting the time she has to do homework. In addition to beach volleyball, Gentin plays indoor volleyball for her club team, at Park Century in Culver City. After her beach volleyball she would commute to her next practice, 7-9:30 p.m. With such a tight schedule, she has to primarily rely on FLX periods, lunch breaks or any free time during the school day to complete assignments. However, she said this is unreliable because she can’t assume her free time won’t end up being occupied by other priorities or events.

“The drive home is definitely the most annoying part about beach because I end up having to do a lot of my homework during lunch or during the school day,” Gentin said, “so that when I get home late at night from indoors, I can just go to sleep. So I have to prioritize my homework and what I do in my free time.”

Gentin reflected on ways to make beach volleyball practice more accessible and less stressful. She recognized the limits to how much logistics can change, given that the school administration can’t make the distance to the beach any closer or change traffic.

“I think, honestly, it is just about everyone at Archer managing their time, because you really can’t get around the drive to the beach,” Gentin said, “but if they had tables on the bus or just a tray to do homework, that would be great, too.”

However, other players have a different approach. Luella Moshtaghi (‘28) said that she brings joy and positivity to her team. She tends to view beach volleyball as therapeutic, especially in contrast to the challenges faced by other players with longer commutes and more scheduling conflicts.

“I feel like my role on the team is to always be there to put a smile on people’s faces. After a long day, it is always so good to get out and go to the beach,” Moshtaghi said. “I feel like it is really good for relieving stress, and then you go home and do your homework, but there’s little to no stress for me, and so I’m just there to have fun.”

Despite the challenges some players face, many highlighted the importance of balancing responsibilities effectively and supporting each other to succeed.

“I think it is all about managing your time,” Moshtaghi said, “and how we all have to support each other to make it all work.”

This story was originally published on The Oracle on March 19, 2026.