Reporter

The CSU Bakersfield women’s volleyball team will be honored with a banner commemorating its championship effort in the Western Athletic Conference Tournament last season.

According to Athletic Director Kenneth Siegfried, the Roadrunners should get their banner at the Icardo Center some time later this October or early November.

Although the team already received their rings at a volleyball game last spring, the upcoming event was made possible through the efforts of Associate Director of Athletics Advancement Karen Langston.

Director of Volleyball Giovana Melo said she is “very honored to be able to reveal that banner.” She hopes that she and her teams can bring many more accolades to the university in the years to come.

She acknowledged that being successful and highly competitive at any level can help teach both coaches and players how to create a winning culture. Only five players from the championship team have returned this year, leaving a large void to be filled by a combination of experience and youth.

Two such returnees and veterans on the team, senior setter Luiza Martins and senior outside hitter Kelsee Sawyer, echoed their coach’s sentiments. Martins has been playing for Melo for four years since their time together at Western Nebraska.

Sawyer has been with the team since her freshman season. Although this is only Sawyer’s second season under Melo, she has seen what Melo can do with a group that wants to work hard and strive to win.

“I have always been on a team where we work so hard, and we come up short,” Sawyer said. “Last year with everything being new, it was really hard to know if we were going to be successful or not.”

Martins described some of the difficulties inherent in trying to defend a championship with a less experienced roster. Martins’ desire to come to CSUB to play for her coach and mentor is a testament to Melo’s positive influence both on and off the hardwood.

Although the team is off to a rough start this year, both Martins and Sawyer attribute their record to growing pains and acknowledge that last year’s started off a little shaky as well. Melo’s talent, work ethic, and ability to inspire her team has the program in great hands.