Star athlete found dead off popular San Diego beach
Summer Nash, a 34-year-old former college volleyball player and surfer, was found dead in the water near San Diego's Ocean Beach Pier on June 18, with the cause of death still under investigation.
Summer Nash, 34, was discovered floating near Ocean Beach Pier on June 18 before lifeguards pulled her from the water and declared her deceased at the location, the San Diego County Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed.
Authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding her death, with the manner of death still pending official determination.
A commenter identifying as Nash’s mother posted a tribute to the local news site OB Rag, describing her daughter as a surfer who regularly visited beaches throughout the San Diego area.
She was beautiful, deeply empathetic, and an accomplished athlete, wrote the commenter, identified as Avery. The grieving mother noted that Nash had spent considerable time over the previous two years surfing at beaches ranging from Tourmaline to Mission, calling the loss insurmountable.
Avery further characterized her daughter as a brilliant and unstoppable force who cherished her sisters, nature, and the smallest details of life.
Distinguished Volleyball Career
Nash built an impressive athletic resume playing volleyball for San Diego State University and Florida International University before moving into coaching positions at elite programs including Florida State University and Stanford University.
Records indicate her most recent coaching stint was at Stanford during the 2022-2023 season.
Deitre Collins, Nash’s head coach at SDSU, paid tribute through an Instagram post, highlighting that Nash started numerous games for the Aztecs and topped the team in kills during her 2013 senior campaign.
Collins expressed heartbreak over losing her former player, remembering Nash as an exceptional talent whose beautiful spirit, kind heart, and uplifting presence left a lasting impact on teammates and coaches alike.
Remembered as Fierce Competitor
Matt Olson, executive director of San Diego’s WAVE Beach Volleyball club, told New York Post he had worked alongside Nash for years and knew her as both an outstanding coach and one of the finest individuals he had ever encountered.
Olson recalled Nash’s physically dominant playing style and powerful hitting ability, noting that opponents often avoided serving in her direction due to fear of her crushing power at the net.
Despite a challenging initial experience when Olson took her surfing years earlier, he said it came as no surprise that Nash embraced the sport with characteristic determination.
The beach volleyball community suffered a significant loss with her passing, Olson stated, adding that the sport was better with her in it.
Nash’s death occurred as Southern California authorities issued warnings about elevated wave heights and hazardous surf conditions along the coast earlier this month.
With information from New York Post
