BAKERSFIELD, Calif.—As CSU Bakersfield volleyball gets ready to open training camp Aug. 5, Roadrunner director of volleyball Giovana Melo has finalized the CSUB roster with the addition of three Bakersfield natives.
Emily Lopes, a 2014 graduate of Independence High, transfers to CSU Bakersfield from Division I Albany. Lopes, a junior setter, was named to the America East All-Rookie Team in 2014. Lopes led the Falcons to CIF Central Section Div. III Championship in 2011. A three-year team captain, she recorded 2,524 assists, 430 digs, 149 kills and 102 service aces in her career.
Shelby Frank, a 2015 Frontier grad, comes to CSUB from Division II Chico State. Frank posted 106 kills and 64 digs for Chico State last season. Frank tallied 305 kills, 25 service aces, 38 blocks and a team-high 352 digs as a senior to earn first team All-League honors for Frontier. She finished her varsity career with 504 kills.
Addy Peters is a 2016 graduate of Centennial High School. She was named first team Bakersfield Californian BVarsity All-Area and first team All-League as a senior after recording 663 digs, which ended up being the seventh most in the state. Peters was named team MVP and Centennial's Female of the Year as a senior. She also earned second team All-League honors as a freshman, sophomore, and as a junior.
“All three of our incoming players from Bakersfield will be a huge asset to our program,” Melo said. “They are very competitive and hard workers. We are looking forward to getting started with them.”
The Roadrunners will look to return to the top of the Western Athletic Conference in 2016 and make a fourth consecutive WAC Tournament final appearance. CSUB has three starters returning in seniors Sophie Flemion and Carol Grasso, and junior Sydney Haynes. Flemion alternated between libero and setter last season and finished second on the squad in digs (274) and assists (216).
Grasso was chosen second team All-Conference in her first season with the Roadrunners after transferring to CSUB from Salt Lake CC. She finished regular season third on the team in kills (247) and was seventh in the WAC in digs (2.93). Haynes led the 'Runners with 66 blocks a year ago and was fourth on the team in kills with 191.
The Roadrunners return a total of five letterwinners and will have 10 newcomers on the 17-player roster this season. CSUB will have a pair of junior college All-Americans joining the program in setter Fabiana Andrade da Silva (Western Nebraska CC) and outside hitter Aleksandra Djordjevic (Northwest College).
“We do have a great group of players returning who saw a lot of playing time last year and we are hoping some others who didn't will step it up,” Melo said. “As for the incoming, we have some high expectations for them. We will see how it all pans out.”
The CSUB season gets underway Aug. 26-27 at the Army West Point Knights' Invitational. The WAC slate begins Sept. 23 with a home match against Grand Canyon.
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