After having its 2020 season cut short and missing the entire 2021 season due to COVID, the Rio Hondo College women's beach volleyball team will finally make its official return this spring.

Head coach Teddi Esko, who launched the program in 2016, is excited for her team to be back to the court.

"It was tough not having the 2021 season," Esko said. "This is a fresh start with a solid group of athletes ready to take to the sand."

The Roadrunners will open the season with a roster of 13 student-athletes with many also competing on the indoor squad this past fall.

Esko will look to her two returners, Ariel Garcia and Camila Rau, to provide leadership to her freshman-heavy squad. Garcia played on the 2019 Rio Hondo team that last played a full season.

Strong newcomers for the Roadrunners this season include Nadine Oronoz, Faith Lee, Faith Wada, and Denisse Sanchez.

Rio Hondo will face Orange Coast College at 10 a.m. on Friday (Feb. 4) at the Newland Courts in Huntington Beach in its 2022 season opener.

The Roadrunners have 20 matches currently scheduled. Rio Hondo opens South Coast Conference action on March 11 when it travels to El Camino College for a 10 a.m. match. The postseason gets underway on April 29 with the SCC pairs tournament at Long Beach City College.