BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — The CSUB volleyball team kicks off its inaugural season of full NCAA Division I eligibility this week when it heads to Grand Forks, N.D., for three matches at the University of North Dakota Volleyball Tournament. The Roadrunners will open against Drake University Friday (Aug. 27) before facing host UND and West Coast Conference foe Gonzaga Saturday (Aug.28).

While the 2010 season marks the end of the transition era and the first season of active NCAA Division I status for CSUB, it will be a season of transition in the 'Runner volleyball roster. Gone are several key players from the squads that compiled 31 wins over the past two seasons, including 2009 NCAA Division I Independent Setter of the Year Barbie Unfried and Defensive Player of the Year Kayla Williamson. Helping to fill the void will be seven new players, including six freshmen, many of whom will be expected to contribute immediately.

“I'm excited for the season to begin for a number of reasons,” says Head Coach John Price, who begins his 14th season at CSUB in 2010. “We play an incredibly challenging schedule, but we'll do it with one of the deepest rosters I've ever coached. Our young players will have to grow up fast for that depth to translate into wins, but I like the direction in which we're headed.”

While the young players will have to contribute, expect the 'Runners to lean heavily on a solid core of returning players early in the season. Leading that group will be juniors Alysia Baker (Vista/Tri–City Christian HS) in the middle and Lindy DeGeare (Stockdale HS) on the outside. Both players earned first team All–Independent honors as sophomores. Baker, who at 5–9 is one of the smallest middles in Division I volleyball, led all Independent attackers in hitting percentage (.293) and aces (54). DeGeare, meanwhile, enjoyed a breakout season in which she led the Independent ranks in kills (427) while finishing second in aces (52) and points (497.5).

Joining DeGeare on the outside will be redshirt sophomore Tika Smith (Sweetwater, Texas/Sweetwater HS), who got her feet wet by registering double figure kills four times in 22 matches last season. Smith has performed at an eye–opening level in preseason training. She possesses a cannon for an arm and tremendous vertical leap, traits that should earn her a starting spot come opening day.

Three other returning players will anchor the 'Runner back row. Seniors Lindsay Toone and Allison Cote, both Liberty High School products, each are in their third seasons at CSUB. One of CSUB's primary defensive specialists in 2008, Toone displayed her all–around game in 2009 as the only 'Runner attacker to play all six rotations. Cote, meanwhile, became a regular in the back row as CSUB's primary defensive specialist last season. Returning with Toone and Cote is sophomore Lauren Holderman. Holderman, the Bakersfield Californian All–Area Player of the Year at Bakersfield High School in 2008, jumped right into the fray as a freshman, appearing in 119 of 122 sets. While Toone could see action in the front row again, all three players will be in the mix to replace Williamson as CSUB's libero in 2010.

Whomever is playing in the back will be feeding the ball to a new setter this season. Junior Danielle Gong (Stockdale HS) returns for her third season with the 'Runners but her first with a chance to be an every day setter after playing behind Unfried the past two years. Her part-time experience, as well as a highly–effective serve, should help her see the court regularly this season.

She'll be pushed for playing time, however, by a pair of promising freshmen from local prep powers. Samantha Whittington led Frontier High School to the CIF Central Section Division II title last season, and like Gong, adds a strong service game to her repertoire. Emily Cote, Allison's younger sister, was a two–time Bakersfield Californian first team All–Area selection at Liberty High School who led the Patriots to the CIF Central Section finals in 2008.

Like Whittington and Cote, the rest of the 'Runner roster will experience their first NCAA volleyball action at the North Dakota tournament. Junior Brookey Holmes (Centennial High School) is the most seasoned member of that crew, having earned first team All–Western State Conference honors after helping lead Bakersfield College to the WSC title in 2009. Though she is the smallest outside hitter on the 2010 roster, she possess good all–around skills and could see time as a defensive specialist if she's not attacking.

Of CSUB's four freshmen attackers, Haleigh Haratyk (Corona/Centennial HS) has displayed the most polished all–around game in preseason training and could find herself in the starting lineup on opening day. While Jennifer Lawson (Dallas, Texas/Red Oak HS) is listed as an outside hitter and Chelcy Motes (Thatcher, Ariz./Thatcher HS) is listed as a middle blocker, both players have displayed good potential in the early going will be in the mix for playing time at either position. Hannah Fortin (Apple Valley/Granite Hills HS), the 2009 Desert Sky League MVP, has missed much of preseason training due to nagging injuries.

While the talent level of the 2010 'Runner roster is intriguing, its limited experience will be put to the test early against a rugged schedule featuring four Pac–10 opponents, six NCAA Tournament qualifiers and a pair of 2009 conference champions in the first three weeks alone. After the UND tournament, where the 'Runners will face the host and defending Great West Conference champs, they stay on the road to tackle perennial top 25 contender New Mexico State before squaring off with Louisville (19 wins), Butler (21 wins) and Arizona (19 wins) at the Wildcat Classic in Tucson.

The Icardo Center will provide little refuge early as CSUB's first two home opponents are UCLA (No. 9 in the final 2009 regular season rankings) and defending West Coast Conference champion Saint Mary's College.

In all, the Roadrunners will face nine 20–win teams, six teams that qualified for the 2009 NCAA Tournament and three conference champions among their 29 regular season matches before closing at the NCAA Division I Independent Championships Nov. 19–20 in Seattle.

“Scheduling is difficult as an Independent, but I believe we've put together an aggressive schedule that should be appealing to both fans and recruits alike,” says Price. “For an Independent team to get teams the caliber of UCLA and Saint Mary's College at home is almost unheard of and should be a special experience for our players and for volleyball fans in Bakersfield.”

Roadrunner volleyball tickets are on sale now. Don't miss out on any of the exciting NCAA Division I volleyball action, including the Sept. 9 home opener vs. UCLA and four matches against Pac–10 opponents. Call (661) 654–BLUE or CLICK HERE to visit the Roadrunner ticket page for more information.