2023 Bakersfield Volleyball: Pin Hitters

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – The 2023 volleyball season continues at the Santa Clara Mission Classic this weekend for the Cal State Bakersfield Roadrunners. In her tenth season at the helm, Head Coach Giovana Melo has crafted a talented squad with an even mix of returners and newcomers.

The `Runners are in the midst of another run toward their first Big West title and a return to the NCAA Tournament. 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. Wrapping up our position-by-position breakdown of the `Runner volleyball team, meet Bakersfield's pin hitters.

Notable

Melo on the team's outsides and one right side: "Our hitters are all very different from each other, but each one of them is capable of running our system well. They all have pretty good range and they have pretty good power. I feel like we're a little bit better in out-of-system situations...being comfortable to take some rips, not just in one-on-one situations."

`Runner Pin Hitters

#3 Paige Dugan (Newcomer)
- 5-foot-10, junior, outside hitter
- From Garland, Texas
- Transferred to CSUB from Lamar University in 2023
- Spent two seasons at Lamar, playing in 47 matches
- Ranked second on the team and seventh in the Southland Conference with 3.05 kills per set in 2022
- Tallied 498 kills and 407 digs in two seasons with the Cardinals
#10 Ava Palm (Returner)
- 6-foot-1, junior, outside hitter
- Native of Bakersfield, Calif.
- Last year, ranked second for the `Runners with 2.36 kills per set
- Transferred to CSUB from UTEP in 2022
- Earned C-USA All-Freshman Team honors in 2020
- Reset the UTEP single-season record with 0.49 aces per set as a freshman
#11 Sydney Dunning (Newcomer)
- 6-foot-0, freshman, outside hitter
- From Lamar, Colo., went to Lamar High School
- Two-time Tri Peaks Player of the Year and was the 2023 Colorado 3A Player of the Year
- Reset LHS kills record in 2023, finishing prep career with over 1,500 kills as well as 1,000 digs
#16 Samia Bhakta (Returner)
- 6-foot-0, junior, right side
- From Gilbert, Ariz.
- Played in 48 matches for the `Runners over her first two seasons including 33 starts
- As a freshman, averaged 1.6 kills per set before a season-ending injury
- Returned partway through the 2022 season and was a regular contributor again, averaging 1.2 kills per set to go with 30 total blocks
#18 Naomi Chankoumi (Returner)
- 5-foot-11, sophomore, outside hitter
- Native of Houston
- Played in 31 matches last season, starting nine times
- Ranked third on the team in kills per set (2.08)
- In the summer before coming to CSUB, earned an invitation to train and compete with the Cameroon National Team

Up Next on the Schedule

at Santa Clara Mission Classic
Sept. 8-9
Santa Clara, Calif.

~GoRunners.com~

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Players Mentioned

#16 Samia Bhakta: RS; 6' 0"; Junior; She/Her/Hers

#18 Naomi Chankoumi: OH; 5' 11"; Sophomore

#10 Ava Palm: OH; 6' 1"; Junior

#3 Paige Dugan: OH; 5' 10"; Junior

#11 Sydney Dunning: OH; 6' 0"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

#16 Samia Bhakta
: 6' 0"; Junior; She/Her/Hers
: RS

#18 Naomi Chankoumi
: 5' 11"; Sophomore
: OH

#10 Ava Palm
: 6' 1"; Junior
: OH

#3 Paige Dugan
: 5' 10"; Junior
: OH

#11 Sydney Dunning
: 6' 0"; Freshman
: OH

California State University at Bakersfield Athletics

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2023 Bakersfield Volleyball: Pin Hitters

Players Mentioned

#16 Samia Bhakta

#18 Naomi Chankoumi

#10 Ava Palm

#3 Paige Dugan

#11 Sydney Dunning

Players Mentioned

#16 Samia Bhakta

#18 Naomi Chankoumi

#10 Ava Palm

#3 Paige Dugan

#11 Sydney Dunning