Skip To Main Content

California State University at Bakersfield Athletics

Next Event

Volleyball Group_HW 01
Hannah Walker

Women's Volleyball

2023 Bakersfield Volleyball: Liberos/DS

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – The 2023 volleyball season kicks off on Friday for the Cal State Bakersfield Roadrunners. Heading into her tenth season at the helm, Head Coach Giovana Melo has crafted a talented squad with an even mix of returners and newcomers.
 
When the weekend arrives, the `Runners will embark on another run toward their first Big West title and a return to the NCAA Tournament. This weekend, Bakersfield will play host to the Roadrunner Classic, featuring four teams playing six matches over two days in the Icardo Center.

As the season gets started, we want to introduce fans to the team, providing more insight into the person behind the name, number, and uniform. First up in our position-by-position breakdown of the `Runner volleyball team, meet Bakersfield's liberos/defensive specialists.

Notable
  • Melo on her back row defenders: "They are grinders and they want to get better. The main focus is to serve-receive better this year than we did last year and they are understanding more and more how we do things…There is a pretty big battle in that position for the jersey. I'm excited to see what they do and how much better they get together."
`Runner Setters
  • #1 Grace Moss (Newcomer)
    • 5-foot-5, freshman
    • From Dana Point, Calif., went to Santa Margarita High School
    • Named First Team All-League as a senior
    • Competed for Mizuno Long Beach club team, posting Top 12 finish in Open Division and Junior Nationals
    • Plans to major in kinesiology
  • #4 Maci Perkins (Returner)
    • 5-foot-5, redshirt freshman
    • From Lovejoy, Texas, went to Lovejoy High School
    • Named to 2021 AVCA High School All-American watch list
    • Helped LHS win National and State UIL 5A championships in 2020 and State and District titles in 2021
    • Last year, sat out the season as a redshirt at CSUB
    • An economics major
  • #8 Charli James (Newcomer)
    • 5-foot-5, freshman
    • From Aurora, Colo., went to Vista Peak Preparatory
    • Three-time All-Conference honoree
    • Led Bison to league championship in 2019-20
    • Plans to major in business with an emphasis on marketing
  • #15 Sarah Martin (Returner)
    • 5-foot-8, junior
    • From Phoenix, went to Sandra Day O'Connor High School
    • Entering her third year as a `Runner
    • Appeared in 25 matches over the last two seasons, averaging 1.32 digs per set over that span
    • Tallied career-high nine digs twice last year, vs. California Baptist and at Washington State
    • An education major
Up Next on the Schedule
  • Roadrunner Classic
  • Aug. 25-26
  • Bakersfield, Calif. / Icardo Center
  • Season Ticket and Single-Game Ticket information available at GoRunners.com/Tickets.
~GoRunners.com~
Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

Sarah Martin

#15 Sarah Martin

L/DS
5' 8"
Junior
Maci Perkins

#4 Maci Perkins

L/DS
5' 5"
Redshirt Freshman
Grace Moss

#1 Grace Moss

L/DS
5' 5"
Freshman
Charli James

#8 Charli James

L/DS
5' 5"
Freshman

Players Mentioned

Sarah Martin

#15 Sarah Martin

5' 8"
Junior
L/DS
Maci Perkins

#4 Maci Perkins

5' 5"
Redshirt Freshman
L/DS
Grace Moss

#1 Grace Moss

5' 5"
Freshman
L/DS
Charli James

#8 Charli James

5' 5"
Freshman
L/DS
California State University at Bakersfield Athletics loading