GRAND JUNCTION, Colo.— Colorado Mesa University volleyball coach Austin Albers has announced the late addition of graduate student Charleston Tidwell to the Mavericks' roster for the upcoming 2025 season.  She is one of 11 new Mavs.
 
Tidwell is a 5-foot-10 outside hitter out of Colorado Springs and will use her final season of eligibility with the Mavs after playing last year at Point Loma. 
 
She is also one of nine new additions to the Mavs' beach volleyball program, under the direction of head coach David Skaff.
 
Tidwell spent her first four collegiate seasons (2020-23), including a redshirt year, at Division I Central Arkansas.
 
At Point Loma, Tidwell played in 16 matches helping the Sea Lions to a 26-2 record, a Pacific West Conference title and a trip to the semifinals of the NCAA Division II West Region Tournament.
 
Previously, Tidwell averaged more than two kills per set in 52 career matches with the Central Arkansas Sugar Bears.  She was named to the Southland Conference All-Tournament team as a freshman in the 2020-21 season before redshirting during the 2021 fall season.
 
"Charlie will be a great addition to our program adding another experienced transfer who has a wealth of college experience and has been battle tested at the highest level," Albers said.  She will be a fantastic teammate and someone who can help lead our young and less experienced players on how to work hard and be a culture driver," he added.
 
"The beach team is excited to add Charlie to the team," Skaff said about the newest Maverick who qualified for the AVP Beach Volleyball Nationals while in high school.
 
"She brings  a lot of experience , leadership,  and strong skill set that will help us on and off the net. We look forward to her on our Mav Family!," Skaff continued.
 
Tidwell, who is majoring in sports management, is a 2020 graduate of Colorado Springs Christian High School and set the Lions' school record for kills per match during her 2019 senior seas, when she was named as the Max Preps Colorado Volleyball Player of the Week.
 
She also qualified for the AVP Beach Nationals in 2018.
 
The Mavs begin official preseason practices this week and will take on Utah State-Eastern in a public scrimmage next Monday (Aug. 18) at 4 p.m. in Brownson Arena.
 
Tidwell's complete biography can be found below.
 
Charleston Tidwell (5-10, Gr., OH, Colorado Springs, Colo./Point Loma/Central Arkansas/Colorado Springs Christian HS)
 
Will complete her CMU career as graduate student after previously playing indoor volleyball at both the NCAA Division I and II levels at Central Arkansas (2020-23) and Point Loma (2024).

2024 (@ Point Loma): Played in 16 matches and 29 sets at Point Loma… Helped the Sea Lions to a 26-2 overall record and a Pacific West Conference title with a 19-1 record… The Sea Lions won their first 22 matches and went on to reach the semifinals of the NCAA West Region Tournament and finished 14^th in the AVCA Division II Poll… Started one match… Recorded 34 kills (1.17/set) and hit .247 on 89 swings… Also recorded nine digs and nine blocks… Recorded ten kills in the Sea Lions' regular season finale against Menlo on Nov. 23… Had a season-high three blocks against Dominican (Nov. 1).

2023 (@ Central Arkansas): Played in 21 matches and 58 sets for the Sugar Bears… Recorded 143 kills and hit .180 on 412 total attempts… Recorded 39 digs and six blocks… Recorded 19 kills on Sept. 3 against Colorado State in one of six double-figure kill efforts.

2022 (@ Central Arkansas): Played in 15 matches and 39 sets for the Sugar Bears… Finished with 67 kills and hit .203 on 187 attack attempts… Finished with 18 digs and 11 blocks… Had a season-high 15 kills at Austin Peay (Oct. 22).

2021 Fall (@ Central Arkansas): Redshirt season.

2020-21 (@ Central Arkansas): Played in 16 matches and 56 sets during the combined fall and spring seasons… Helped the Sugar Bears reach the Championship Match of the Southland Conference Tournament and was named to the All-Tournament team after recording 34 kills in three matches… Had a season-high 16 kills on .394 hitting in a semifinal win over Southeastern Louisiana on Apr. 1… Had 11 kills in the quarterfinals against Abilene Christian and seven in the championship match against Sam Houston… Also had two other 13-kill efforts throughout the season… Tallied a career-high five blocks at Houston Christian (Mar. 13), finishing the season with 41 total blocks… Had 32 digs.

Prep: Four-year varsity starter at three different schools... Graduated from Colorado Springs Christian in 2020 after going to Air Academy and Cheyenne (Wyo.) Central… Set the Lions' school record for kills per match in her 2019 senior season… Coached by Laurie Currier… Helped the team qualify for the state tournament… Was the Max Preps Colorado Volleyball Player of the Week that year… Qualified for AVP Beach Nationals (2018)... Led the Tri-Peaks League in kills in 2018 as the Lions finished second at the state tournament… Was also a state statistical leader and academic all-state honoree… Also earned two letters in track & field and participated in basketball and Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

Personal: Is majoring in sports management… Would love to work in the sports field as either a coach, a broadcaster or starting a beach volleyball club… Daughter of Chad and Heather Tidwell… Chad Played Baseball while Heather played basketball at Arkansas Tech ... Has three siblings— Caleb, Jonathan and Melody… Loves all things outdoors such as hiking, skiing, biking and kayaking.

Why I Chose CMU: "I wanted to finish out my last year playing indoor and beach in my home state."