Defining the culture is what Cal State Bakersfield’s Beach Volleyball team is all about. Coach Andy Fulenwinder inspires toughness, drive, and fighting every tooth and nail for every point.
“The girls I’m recruiting have that little bit of dog in them. You get enough girls that are like that then they are going to grind and fight,” said Fulenwinder.
With big wins over Pepperdine University, University of Hawaii, and Georgia State, CSUB has appeared as an underdog in these heavyweight matchups but was able to prevail. Fulenwinder values that underdog mentality when it comes to each and every one of his players.
“If they have that right mindset like that grind mentality, they’re going to push each other on the court and in the weightroom,” Fulenwinder said.
These statement wins have set a precedent amongst other teams that they should not overlook Bakersfield. Fulenwinder, going into his third year, turning this team into a fighting one. A win against the University of Hawaii, currently ranked 15th, is one example of the team’s grit and personality.
His players embody that same gritty mentality that keeps them a competitive team within an already difficult division. The Big West Conference is no joke when it comes to beach volleyball with teams like Cal Poly and Hawaii which have established programs.
“Our team culture is very much formed around grit. We’re pushed to an extreme level and pushed to our strengths where a lot of people are able to grow,” said Vivi Kaelin, a business administration major.
Not only does this team have good mental preparation but Fulenwinder also established a playstyle that has been mimicked by other teams. In his first year coaching the CSUB beach volleyball team, Fulenwinder brought a jump setting philosophy to the team. After bringing that into effect and shocking the rest of the BWC, the team started to see success.
Prior to Fulenwinder being hired in October 2023, there was not as much success from the program. They played easier opponents and did not have very many major upsets. Ella Ensign, a kinesiology major, believes the culture has developed higher standards.
“I’d say a competitive culture. It starts in practice, and I’d say we were able to beat those teams because we go so hard with each other,” said Ensign.
Fulenwinder has taken the pressure off his team when playing the big opponents. This helped them be more comfortable and confident in each match played. The big upsets this team produced against Pepperdine and Hawaii was a credit to that.
“I think just gaining like a couple of set wins last year, I expect that our team will have an upward trajectory and keep surprising people. He (Fulenwinder) definitely helped put Bakersfield on the map for beach volleyball,” said Kaelin.
Fulenwinder brought a competitive and hungry culture here to CSUB. His mentality has spread across the program and is giving players the push they need to compete at the next level.
“He loves people that think like him or people with that dog in them,” said Ensign.
