Skip To Main Content
Skip To Main Content

California State University at Bakersfield Athletics

Next Event

TeamBVBNE002
Nick Ellis

Beach Volleyball

CSUB Beach Volleyball Reflects on First 10 Years, Names All-Decade Team

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – The Roadrunner beach volleyball team was one of the earliest groups to join the field when the NCAA recognized the emerging sport back in 2013. Despite being the newest program in the Bakersfield Athletics Department, the `Runner beach program has enjoyed great success with dozens of talented student-athletes making huge impacts on the program along the way.

Cesar Benatti, CSUB's Head Beach Volleyball Coach, has been at the helm of the program for the majority of the first decade as he just wrapped up his sixth season with the `Runners. His squad has reached new heights, redefining success each year, and Benatti looks back fondly at Bakersfield's first decade.

"It's been a pleasure to serve as the coach of this amazing team," Benatti said. "I've been here since Year 3 and seeing the transformation of the program throughout the years is something that drives me every day. We've had amazing people who set a new standard and built a strong culture which will last for many years."

Benatti also discussed his vision for the future of the `Runners: "I'm very excited that we're heading towards being a beach-only program, which will be very beneficial to reach the goal of being among the best in the country. We've accomplished so much already being a hybrid program and I can't wait to see where we will be in a few years as a beach-only team."

Just as the beach volleyball team lines up in competition, CSUB has selected its Top 5 pairs from the past ten years for its All-Decade Team (2013-2022). The criteria for the pairs chosen include win-loss record, statement victories, accolades, and overall impact on the program.

Two extra duos have also been selected featuring `Runner alumni who never played together, but have been linked as "wildcard pairs" to honor the positive impacts they individually made in their time as `Runners.

In chronological order of when they played together, the All-Decade Pairs are below:

Molly O'Hagan and Mariah Alvidrez (2015)
Alvidrez and O'Hagan went 12-10 in 2015 as the top `Runner pairing. Their contribution helped CSUB earn its first-ever Top 20 ranking, coming in at No. 18 in the DiG Magazine Collegiate Beach Volleyball Poll. Alvidrez and O'Hagan still rank second and third all-time, respectively, in career wins.

Carol Grasso and Sydney Haynes (2016)
Grasso and Haynes were CSUB's first-ever `Runner duo to earn All-Big West honors with a First Team nod in 2016. The duo posted a 12-6 record that year as Bakersfield's No. 1 pair and their .667 mark remains the best single-season win percentage by a `Runner duo. Haynes went on to become CSUB's all-time career wins leader with 43 victories, a mark that still stands today.

Mattison DeGarmo and Briannah Mariner (2019)
DeGarmo and Mariner led the `Runners from the No. 1 team position in 2019. That season, the women posted a 10-14 record, including a pair of wins in the Big West Championship. They earned an All-Big West Honorable Mention honor for their performance.

Emily Hansen and Hana Makonova (2020-2021)
Hansen and Makonova earned All-Big West Honorable Mention honors in 2021. The `Runner pair posted a two-season record of 13-12, mostly playing in the No. 2 spot. Makonova is the only currently active `Runner to have made the list and she is now a two-time All-Conference honoree.

Cameron Solberg and Milica Vukobrat (2019-2022)
Vukobrat and Solberg paired exclusively together all four years, including the last two seasons as Bakersfield's top pair. The women are tied with each other for best career individual win percentage (.532) and single-season wins (17). They are also ranked second in career wins (41) and graduated from CSUB this spring as two-time First Team All-Big West honorees.
 
And the two Wildcard Pairs are (years played at CSUB):

Brooke Boiseau (2018-2022) and Danika Youngblood (2013-2015)
Boiseau is another recent CSUB graduate who ranks sixth all-time at CSUB with 30 career victories. This season, Boiseau and teammate Anna Unke became the program's first-ever pair to earn a Big West Pair of the Week honor.

Youngblood is one of the original members of the first-ever CSUB sand volleyball team and played three seasons for the `Runners. She still ranks ninth all-time with 26 career wins and a .403 career win percentage.

Shayna Guitare (2013-2014) and Sara Little (2013-2017)
Guitare nearly landed on the All-Decade Team list for her work with Alvidrez in 2013 and 2014. She still ranks tenth on the all-time wins list and is tied for third in single-season victories thanks to winning 13 matches in 2014.

Little was a four-year `Runner who earned Second Team All-Big West honors with Grasso in 2017. A versatile player who saw action with a number of teammates, Little posted an 11-9 record (.550) with Sophie Flemion in 2015, a mark that still ranks fifth on the single-season win percentage list today.

~GoRunners.com~
Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

Brooke Boiseau

#2 Brooke Boiseau

6' 1"
Sophomore
Mattison DeGarmo

#15 Mattison DeGarmo

6' 3"
Senior
Emily Hansen

#13 Emily Hansen

5' 10"
Sophomore
Briannah Mariner

#10 Briannah Mariner

5' 10"
Senior
Cameron Solberg

#3 Cameron Solberg

5' 8"
Freshman
Hana Makonova

#22 Hana Makonova

5' 10"
Freshman
Milica Vukobrat

#25 Milica Vukobrat

6' 0"
Freshman
Anna Unke

#12 Anna Unke

5' 4"
Junior

Players Mentioned

Brooke Boiseau

#2 Brooke Boiseau

6' 1"
Sophomore
Mattison DeGarmo

#15 Mattison DeGarmo

6' 3"
Senior
Emily Hansen

#13 Emily Hansen

5' 10"
Sophomore
Briannah Mariner

#10 Briannah Mariner

5' 10"
Senior
Cameron Solberg

#3 Cameron Solberg

5' 8"
Freshman
Hana Makonova

#22 Hana Makonova

5' 10"
Freshman
Milica Vukobrat

#25 Milica Vukobrat

6' 0"
Freshman
Anna Unke

#12 Anna Unke

5' 4"
Junior
California State University at Bakersfield Athletics loading logo