Sports
The Runner
April 6, 2022
Player Spotlight: Cameron Solberg & Milica Vukobrat By Madalyn Powers Sports Editor Heading into their fourth year, the top duo in CSUB’s beach volleyball program right now is Cameron Solberg from Illinois and Milica Vukobrat is from Serbia. Despite all of the highs and lows they have faced while participating in a partnership based sport, they have built a very close friendship. That team building started way before they even stepped on
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Photo of Cameron Solberg, junior and Milica Vukobrat, junior high-fiving.
campus. When asked why they chose CSUB’s program they both shared a common experience, the coaches’ very big interest in them. They also have great communication skills. Solberg mentions she experienced how hardworking everyone was. As for Vukobrat, the teams reassurance, competitive program, and their family oriented program was very important to her. “Our whole team is family and the coaches are super sup-
portive.” Vukobrat stressed. Solberg and Vukobrat both attended CSUB ready to play both indoor and outdoor volleyball, but their main love has always been beach volleyball. Vukobrat discusses her love for the sport and why she always gravitated towards outdoor volleyball. “I love to hit and being 5’8 you can’t do that except in outdoor.” Vukobrat states. As for Solberg, the partnership versus team of six aspect is the biggest change for her. Solberg emphasizes, “Beach
Photo provided by Isaac Comelli/CSUB Athletics
has always been my love, playing the ball, being able to touch the ball every time as you only have yourself and your partner to rely on.” This season has not only been big for Solberg and Vukobrat, but also for the whole organization. They have been the underdog, competing in the Big West with many large schools such as Pepperdine, but they have ranked top twenty for the first time ever this season. “Our whole team embraces the challenge and have no doubts
we can beat these ranked teams.” Solberg exclaims. For Vukobrat, the growth between herself, their partnership but also within the program these past four years has been the best to see. She highlighted, “ We have two more months to prove that.” Their last game is Apr. 9 and the women couldn’t emphasize enough how amazing the atmosphere is during these games being outside with the music, chill environment, and loud cheers.
Beach volleyball coach is digging for the win By Madalyn Powers Sports Editor For head coach Cesar Benatti the 2021-2022 beach volleyball season has been a big one. The team accomplished a goal Benatti set years back by being a top 20 ranked team in which they accomplished when the AVCA, American Volleyball Coaches Association, were released on March 1 as number twenty. With this season already starting off great the team itself is also doing really well with a 6 to 1 win only losing to #18 spot Pepperdine. Benatti couldn’t stress enough, “Pepperdine has been our only loss and that was a close 3 to 2 game. With them being 4th in the nation this has been the best season yet.” He also couldn’t exclaim enough how proud he is of the women on the team with all of them improving every week. For Coach Benatti, choosing to come to Cal State Bakersfield eight seasons ago was an easy one.
A photo of head coach, Cesar Benatti
Benatti had worked with Indoor Head Coach Giovana Melo before at a junior college in Nebraska when asked to come be an assistant coach here at Cal State Bakersfield. Eight years later he is the head coach of his own beach volleyball team. Something he never imagined. When discussing the future of the program
Benatti emphasized the want to become a national powerhouse. And for the first time in program history beach volleyball is completely separate from indoor. With the program getting larger as of December 2021 Benatti solely went to coaching beach volleyball. With that came five full time beach players and a staff with a main focus.
