How it started

When Gina established WBA in 2018 all she had was her knowledge of the sport, a bag of balls, and a handful of hard-working athletes with dreams of playing collegiate beach volleyball. WBA ran its programs at Dig & Dive until they closed then moved to Olsen Park in Wilmington, hence the name Wilmington Beach Academy.

How it’s going

Today, WBA is the volley spot in Brunswick county! WBA owns and operates a two-court beach volleyball facility on the corner of Village Rd and Wayne St. in Leland, NC.

The courts are built to USA Beach Volleyball specifications which provide an exceptional playing experience.

The courts run north-south lengthwise to minimize sun glare and the sand is 18” in depth. The nets can be quickly adjusted between men’s and women’s height.

Our Mission

Wilmington Beach Academy is committed to sharing our passion and knowledge of the sport with anyone willing to learn in a safe, welcoming environment that is supportive of all individuals regardless of age, gender, race, ethnicity, sexuality, religious affiliation, or socio-economic status. Wilmington Beach Academy does not tolerate any individual, athlete, parent, or staff member, acting in any manner which conflicts with our mission or values.

As individuals, we may have separate opinions on topic matters, but as a training institution, we have always and intend to continue, to respect the individual beliefs of all. That said, and keeping with Wilmington Beach Academy’s values and mission, we expect and uphold individuals training with us to play with integrity and treat themselves and others with respect .

Our Values

Wilmington Beach Academy and its staff support and accept the rights of all. We are in the business of training athletes and our core values include:

• Respect: we promote ethical behavior, fair play and respect for the game and all its participants

• Integrity: we are honest and adhere to moral and ethical principles

• Passion: we instill love for the sport that encourages volleyball for life and we encourage all our athletes to pursue their passions

• Pursuit of Excellence: we put forth our best effort in all that we do to become the best version of ourselves

Training Philosophy

As a training institution, we have adopted a growth mindset culture which is the optimistic belief that one can learn and improve with deliberate practice over time. Individuals can learn how to complete difficult tasks, but it starts with listening, learning, a desire to try new things, and being willing to fail.

Guidance is provided in a constructive manner to areas that are within the control of the athlete: attitude, openness to feedback, and motivation. Our methods build confidence, promote teamwork and autonomy, and advance problem-solving - attributes which will serve the individual well both on the court and in life. Wilmington Beach Academy is committed to the use of beach volleyball as a vehicle to further the education and development of the whole person.

Coach Gina Kirstein

Coach Gina is the owner and Lead Coach at Wilmington Beach Academy. She brings more than 30 years of combined coaching and playing experience - the most in Southeastern North Carolina. She served as a USA Beach Volleyball High Performance Coach (Olympic pipeline) where she scouted, coached, and assisted in coaching some of the best Juniors in the country. She also served as the Volunteer Assistant Coach for the Beach program at the University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW) for the 2018-2021 seasons.

Coach Gina values effort, coachability, and a positive attitude over skill.

Her coaching philosophy for an athlete’s success:

• Hard Work - athletes must put forth their best effort

• Positive Attitude - positive self talk, excellent sportsmanship, being a great teammate, being kind

• Coachable - athletes must be open to receiving and implementing feedback