Cal State East Bay University Athletics

A two-year outside hitter for the Pioneers, Marion Champion (1998-99) helped guide the volleyball team to back-to-back NCAA Division III playoff appearances and a 55-17 overall record during her time on the court. As a senior, Champion was named to the American Volleyball Coaches Association Division III All-West Region Team after setting the still-standing season record for kills in a campaign with 451 and finished her career with 1999-2000 Pioneer Female Student-Athlete of the Year honors. A team captain both years, Champion remains a staple in the volleyball record book, ranking among the program's career top 10 in kills (786), digs (660) and aces (87). Prior to joining the Pioneers, Champion was an all-conference, all-section and all-state player at San Joaquin Delta College and was named to Denair High School's All-Decade Team in 1997.

Following her impressive career at then-Cal State Hayward, Champion graduated in 2000 with a bachelor's degree in mass communications with an emphasis on public relations. Since then, she has coached for more than 15 years for club teams in both Northern and Southern California and has served as an assistant coach for the past three seasons at College of the Desert. Currently, Champion is working on her MBA at Strayer University and works as the Officer of Media Communications for the Imperial Irrigation District, while coaching at the Desert Sports Center in Palm Desert, Calif.