Founder of award-winning St. Petersburg beach volleyball club and former professional beach player to lead Bulls program
TAMPA, JUNE 6, 2023 – University of South Florida Vice President of Athletics Michael Kelly has named Pri Piantadosi-Lima (PREE pea-ANT-ah-DOE-zee LEE-mah) as the first head coach of the Bulls’ beach volleyball program.
A former standout professional beach volleyball player and founder of Optimum Beach, a St. Petersburg-based club program, Piantadosi-Lima was named the 2022 USAV Female Junior Coach of the Year during her work as the head coach of the USAV Beach National Team Development Program (2019-present) and also saw Optimum Beach earn 2022 USAV Beach Club of the Year honors.
“We are thrilled that Pri will lead our beach volleyball program and oversee the launch of what we expect to be a very competitive and successful new sport at USF,” Kelly said. “She brings vast experience and tremendous success as a player, coach, and founder and operator of one of the most respected club programs in the country, which she built right here in the Bay Area. She has tremendous relationships both nationally and internationally in beach volleyball and is held in very high regard in that community for her passion for the sport and her ability to develop high-level competitors.”
A co-founder of the Beach Volleyball Women’s Coaches Alliance (BVWCA), an organization that provides networking and support for female beach volleyball coaches as well as unique camps and player development, Piantadosi-Lima was a standout player, earning 28 semifinal and 19 finals appearances while capturing eight US professional tournament championships. She was a six-time South American Champion (2009-11) and 2009 Continental Cup Olympic Qualifier champion while playing for Brazil and earned five Brazilian professional tournament titles among her many achievements as a player.
“It’s an honor to have been chosen to be the very first Beach Volleyball Head Coach for USF Athletics,” Piantadosi-Lima said. “I’d like to thank Vice President/Director of Athletics Michael Kelly, Senior Associate Athletics Director Dr. Jodie Libadisos and Deputy Athletics Director Kris Pierce for offering me this position.
“My goal is to make BULLS BEACH nationally known, not only for our athletic success but for the type of culture and character our teams will have and our success in the classroom. Beach volleyball opened the doors to the world for me, so I hope I can share with our players what it takes to play at the highest level while also preparing them for life outside of college with the help of all the tremendous student-athlete development resources USF has.
“The trust that USF Athletics has given me to start the first Bulls Beach Volleyball program will not be taken lightly. With all the support and resources that we will be able to provide student-athletes, we will bring some of the top tier talent in the nation to the Bay! I am more than ready to go meet some future Bulls Beach players!”
Her passion for the sport led her to become one of the most sought-after beach volleyball coaches in the country. She previously served as an assistant coach at Eckerd College (2012-18), helping to launch their beach volleyball program in 2015 before going on to help lead the team to its first AVCA National Championship and two consecutive NCAA Championship podium finishes.
Piantadosi-Lima became the owner and founder of Optimum Beach (2014-present) in 2014. The club focuses on elite players and specific divisions dedicated to the development of high-level junior players and professional athletes. In her role, she was responsible for the daily operations, finances, budgeting, scheduling, selection and supervision of coaches and fundraising for the multi-location beach volleyball club and training program that has four divisional directors, two administrative staffers and 10 coaches.
“I’d like to thank all my Optimum Beach family who have been great supporters of my work and have been with me for almost 10 years,” Piantadosi-Lima said. “Thanks to all the coaches, players and parents that have entrusted me with either your career development or volleyball dream. Optimum will continue to grow the game, and I look forward to continuing to fulfill dreams by coaching my CRTP group.
“A big thank you to my wife, Michelle, who is not only my number one fan but also my biggest source of support and inspiration. I could not be where I am today without her love and support.”
Optimum Beach grew to operate satellite locations in Tampa, Tennessee, Kentucky and New York and features “The Optimum Beach Training System” that simulates game situations while integrating drills, agility, strength and conditioning, and mindset training. Optimum Beach conducts camps and clinics for college coaches and players as well as tournaments and has produced 92 NCAA Division I, II, III and junior college athletes.
Piantadosi-Lima was named the 2021 Florida Region Outstanding Club Director and conducted international training in seven countries outside the United States. Optimum Beach has helped produce several outstanding players, including three-time All-American Lexy Denaburg (UCLA, 2021, ’22 & ‘23); 2023 Atlantic Sun Freshman of the Year Madison Espy (University of North Florida); 2022 Canadian Provincial Championships winner Emma Braticevic; 2021 USAV U19 World Championship Trials champions Lexy Denaburg and Maddie May-Anderson; 2022-23 USA National Team Juniors Kennedy Coakley, Sam Crosby, Bailey Higgins and Ashley Pater; and 2022 U19 Word Championship runner-up Ashley Pater.
TAMPA, JUNE 6, 2023 – University of South Florida Vice President of Athletics Michael Kelly has named Pri Piantadosi-Lima (PREE pea-ANT-ah-DOE-zee LEE-mah) as the first head coach of the Bulls’ beach volleyball program.
A former standout professional beach volleyball player and founder of Optimum Beach, a St. Petersburg-based club program, Piantadosi-Lima was named the 2022 USAV Female Junior Coach of the Year during her work as the head coach of the USAV Beach National Team Development Program (2019-present) and also saw Optimum Beach earn 2022 USAV Beach Club of the Year honors.
“We are thrilled that Pri will lead our beach volleyball program and oversee the launch of what we expect to be a very competitive and successful new sport at USF,” Kelly said. “She brings vast experience and tremendous success as a player, coach, and founder and operator of one of the most respected club programs in the country, which she built right here in the Bay Area. She has tremendous relationships both nationally and internationally in beach volleyball and is held in very high regard in that community for her passion for the sport and her ability to develop high-level competitors.”
A co-founder of the Beach Volleyball Women’s Coaches Alliance (BVWCA), an organization that provides networking and support for female beach volleyball coaches as well as unique camps and player development, Piantadosi-Lima was a standout player, earning 28 semifinal and 19 finals appearances while capturing eight US professional tournament championships. She was a six-time South American Champion (2009-11) and 2009 Continental Cup Olympic Qualifier champion while playing for Brazil and earned five Brazilian professional tournament titles among her many achievements as a player.
“It’s an honor to have been chosen to be the very first Beach Volleyball Head Coach for USF Athletics,” Piantadosi-Lima said. “I’d like to thank Vice President/Director of Athletics Michael Kelly, Senior Associate Athletics Director Dr. Jodie Libadisos and Deputy Athletics Director Kris Pierce for offering me this position.
“My goal is to make BULLS BEACH nationally known, not only for our athletic success but for the type of culture and character our teams will have and our success in the classroom. Beach volleyball opened the doors to the world for me, so I hope I can share with our players what it takes to play at the highest level while also preparing them for life outside of college with the help of all the tremendous student-athlete development resources USF has.
“The trust that USF Athletics has given me to start the first Bulls Beach Volleyball program will not be taken lightly. With all the support and resources that we will be able to provide student-athletes, we will bring some of the top tier talent in the nation to the Bay! I am more than ready to go meet some future Bulls Beach players!”
Her passion for the sport led her to become one of the most sought-after beach volleyball coaches in the country. She previously served as an assistant coach at Eckerd College (2012-18), helping to launch their beach volleyball program in 2015 before going on to help lead the team to its first AVCA National Championship and two consecutive NCAA Championship podium finishes.
Piantadosi-Lima became the owner and founder of Optimum Beach (2014-present) in 2014. The club focuses on elite players and specific divisions dedicated to the development of high-level junior players and professional athletes. In her role, she was responsible for the daily operations, finances, budgeting, scheduling, selection and supervision of coaches and fundraising for the multi-location beach volleyball club and training program that has four divisional directors, two administrative staffers and 10 coaches.
“I’d like to thank all my Optimum Beach family who have been great supporters of my work and have been with me for almost 10 years,” Piantadosi-Lima said. “Thanks to all the coaches, players and parents that have entrusted me with either your career development or volleyball dream. Optimum will continue to grow the game, and I look forward to continuing to fulfill dreams by coaching my CRTP group.
“A big thank you to my wife, Michelle, who is not only my number one fan but also my biggest source of support and inspiration. I could not be where I am today without her love and support.”
Optimum Beach grew to operate satellite locations in Tampa, Tennessee, Kentucky and New York and features “The Optimum Beach Training System” that simulates game situations while integrating drills, agility, strength and conditioning, and mindset training. Optimum Beach conducts camps and clinics for college coaches and players as well as tournaments and has produced 92 NCAA Division I, II, III and junior college athletes.
Piantadosi-Lima was named the 2021 Florida Region Outstanding Club Director and conducted international training in seven countries outside the United States. Optimum Beach has helped produce several outstanding players, including three-time All-American Lexy Denaburg (UCLA, 2021, ’22 & ‘23); 2023 Atlantic Sun Freshman of the Year Madison Espy (University of North Florida); 2022 Canadian Provincial Championships winner Emma Braticevic; 2021 USAV U19 World Championship Trials champions Lexy Denaburg and Maddie May-Anderson; 2022-23 USA National Team Juniors Kennedy Coakley, Sam Crosby, Bailey Higgins and Ashley Pater; and 2022 U19 Word Championship runner-up Ashley Pater.
