SEASIDE, Calif. — Cal State Monterey Bay volleyball will put the finishing touches on its 2018 recruiting class by signing Carmel's Kiara Hinze to a National Letter of Intent (NLI) Friday evening (Aug. 17) following the Otters' scrimmage versus Gavilan College.

Otter Volleyball is joining Team IMPACT to create this special opportunity for 11–year–old Kiara, who was diagnosed with a brain tumor in 2017. Team IMPACT is a national nonprofit headquartered in Boston that connects children facing serious or chronic illnesses with college athletic teams, forming life-long bonds and life-changing outcomes.

As Kiara joins the Otter Volleyball team, Otter student-athletes join the her support team. The goal of the journey is to help Kiara gain strength, camaraderie and support while the student-athletes experience lessons of courage, resiliency and perspective they can't learn in a classroom.

"We are so excited to welcome Kiara Hinze and her family to our family here at CSUMB," says CSUMB Head Coach Moe Melhart. She is a remarkable young woman with a huge heart and a lot of fight. She makes us better and we are thankful for her and all she brings to the family!"

Through this partnership, Kiara will become an official member of the Otter Volleyball team. As a team member, Kiara will have the opportunity to attend Otters practices, games, team dinners, events and other team functions.

The signing ceremony is scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m. on the Kelp Bed court inside the Otter Sports Center. In addition to Kiara signing her official NLI, Coach Melhart and senior student–athlete Chandler McKean will deliver special remarks.
 

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ABOUT CAL STATE MONTEREY BAY VOLLEYBALL
Otter Volleyball is one of 13 NCAA sports sponsored by Cal State Monterey Bay. Competing in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA), the Otters are coming off one of the most successful seasons in program history, reach the postseason for the first time since becoming a full NCAA member in 2007.

ABOUT TEAM IMPACT
The mission of Boston-headquartered national nonprofit Team IMPACT is to improve the quality of life for children facing serious and chronic illnesses through the power of team. Since 2011, Team IMPACT has matched nearly 1,600 children with more than 500 colleges and universities in 48 states, reaching over 50,000 participating student-athletes. 

ON-SITE MEDIA CONTACTS:
Christina Ferrante, Director of Marketing and Creative Services
cferrante@csumb.edu / 831-582-4783

TEAM IMPACT MARKETING CONTACTS:
Shelby Carney, Team IMPACT Marketing & Communications Coordinator
scarney@goteamimpact.org / 978-835-8538

Mary Callaghan, Team IMPACT Director of Marketing & Communications
mcallaghan@goteamimpact.org / 401-580-5370