`Runners To Open Season At Aztec Invitational

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BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – The butterflies will be restless in the stomachs of 17 student-athletes and four coaches this weekend as the CSU Bakersfield volleyball team prepares to open the 2018 regular season. The excitement of a new year will overflow as the Roadrunners head south to take on San Diego State's Aztec Invitational, Aug. 24-25, with three matches on the agenda.

"The first weekend will be the first step in finding out where we stand as a team," said Giovana Melo, Director of Volleyball at CSUB. "So much goes on in first weekends because nobody knows much about each team. That is the fun of it, figuring things out. We play the first game of the tournament, so, we will not get a chance to watch Portland play. All of the teams at the tournament are competitive teams in their conferences. I am excited to see our team compete."

The season will kick off with a pair of matches on Friday. The `Runners will open the Aztec Invite against Portland, a team that went 15-15 a year ago in a strong West Coast Conference. The Pilots are operating under a new head coach, Jeff Baxter, but managed an exhibition sweep over Seattle U last weekend.

Friday's action will wrap up when CSUB takes on host San Diego State. The Aztecs were 16-15 a year ago, but were picked to finish third in the Mountain West Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll. SDSU is led by middle blocker Deja Harris, who is a three-time All-Conference honoree.

On Saturday, the `Runners will conclude their time in San Diego, Calif. with a cross-coast matchup against Campbell. The Camels will arrive from Buies Creek, N.C. following a 2017 season in which they went 20-12 and participated in the National Invitational Volleyball Championship.

CSUB will be led by a pair of seniors, Briannah Mariner and Mattison DeGarmo, and redshirt junior Sidney Wicks. Armed with a talented group of underclassmen, Coach Melo's squad will take on the challenge of a new season with the goal of another trip to the NCAA Tournament on the horizon.

First serve for Friday's first match against Portland is set for 2 p.m. The `Runners and SDSU will clash at 7 p.m. on Friday evening before CSUB wraps up the tournament against Campbell on Saturday at 4:30 p.m.

Live stats will be available for all three matches this weekend, but a live stream is only available during CSUB's match with the host team, SDSU. Links are available on the CSUB volleyball schedule page and live updates will be posted on the CSUB volleyball twitter account. Follow that account by clicking on the follow link at the top of this release.

~GoRunners.com~

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Players Mentioned

#15 Mattison DeGarmo: RS/MB; 6' 3"; Senior

#10 Briannah Mariner: OH; 5' 10"; Senior

#8 Sidney Wicks: S; 5' 7"; Redshirt Junior

Players Mentioned

#15 Mattison DeGarmo
: 6' 3"; Senior
: RS/MB

#10 Briannah Mariner
: 5' 10"; Senior
: OH

#8 Sidney Wicks
: 5' 7"; Redshirt Junior
: S

Players Mentioned

#15 Mattison DeGarmo

#10 Briannah Mariner

#8 Sidney Wicks

Players Mentioned

#15 Mattison DeGarmo

#10 Briannah Mariner

#8 Sidney Wicks