BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – Despite being relatively new to the sport of sand volleyball, CSU Bakersfield volleyball player Mariah Alvidrez (R-So., Bakersfield, Calif., Liberty HS) has proved she's already an incredibly skilled player as she has been selected to Elite Eight for the USA Volleyball U23 Beach National Team.

Alvidrez, who transferred to CSUB from Fresno Pacific in the fall, starred as libero for the Roadrunners on the indoor squad before stepping up a great sand player on CSUB's No. 2 doubles team in its inaugural season of competition earlier this spring. 

She recently attended the USA Volleyball Beach High Performance Tryouts and earned her Elite Eight selection.

"We are extremely proud of Mariah's selection to the Beach National Team,” said CSUB head sand volleyball coach Aaron Shepardson. “Mariah had virtually no experience playing beach volleyball before this year, but she dedicated herself to learning and improving her game. This selection is a reflection of her effort."

Alvidrez had a very successful first season of sand volleyball, helping the 'Runners put up a 5-7 record in their inaugural campaign. Alvidrez, with partner Shayna Guitare (Jr., Torrance, Calif., Pierce College), made up CSUB's No. 2 pairs team. The duo went 10-12 on the season, including a 2-1 victory over Nebraska's No. 2 squad in one of the most exciting and impactful wins of CSUB's first season in the sand.

The USA Volleyball Beach Junior National Team Program is the highest caliber program in the USAV Beach Pipeline. Athletes selected to the USAV Beach Junior National Teams are highly competitive beach players with previous national or international experience. Athletes selected to these programs have an ongoing commitment to improving as elite beach athletes and possess the physical attributes necessary to advance at the international level.

USA Volleyball contributed to this report.

~www.GoRunners.com~