Star athlete identified as woman whose body found off popular San Diego beach

A woman found dead in the water near a popular beach in San Diego last week has been identified as a star volleyball player and avid surfer.

Summer Nash, 34, was seen floating in the water near Ocean Beach Pier on June 18 before lifeguards recovered her body and pronounced her dead at the scene, according to the San Diego County Medical Examiner’s Office.

The manner of her death remains under investigation.

A person identifying themselves as Nash’s mother described her as a surfer who frequented hot spots around San Diego.

“She was beautiful, deeply empathetic, and an accomplished athlete,” the person, Avery, commented in a post from the local publication OB Rag. Over the past couple of years, she’s spent much of her time surfing beaches from Tourmaline to Mission. The loss is insurmountable.”

Nash played volleyball at San Diego State and Florida International universities before transitioning into coaching roles for powerhouses programs at Florida State and Stanford universities..

She appeared to have last coached for Stanford during the 2022-2023 season.

Nash’s head coach at SDSU, Deitre Collins, mourned her in an Instagram post, noting the player started many games for the Aztecs and led the team in kills for her 2013 senior season.

“Heartbroken to learn of the passing of my former player, Summer Nash,” she wrote.

“Summer was an exceptional talent on the volleyball court, but what I’ll remember most is the person she was. She had a beautiful spirit, a kind heart, and a presence that made those around her better. She was truly a special soul.”

Matt Olson, executive director of San Diego’s WAVE Beach Volleyball club, told The California Post he worked with Nash for years.

He called her a “wonderful coach” for the club volleyball organization and “one of the nicest people I’ve ever met in my life.”

Olson described Nash as a very physical player who could “hit the snot out of the ball.”

“People didn’t serve her because they were scared of her physicality and her ability to crush the ball,” he said.

Olson said he took her surfing several years ago, but she had a “rough outing.” Still, he wasn’t wasn’t surprised that she threw herself into the sport.

“[Her death] was devastating, and I honestly think the beach volleyball community was better with her, and it’s a big loss,” he said.

Nash’s death came as Southern California officials warned of towering waves and dangerous surf conditions earlier this month.