RIVERSIDE, Calif. - A total of 11 UC Riverside coaches and student-athletes will represent eight countries in international competition this summer across men's basketball, women's basketball, women's soccer and softball. 

Flynn Cameron (New Zealand) and Vladimer Salaridze (Georgia) will represent Highlander men's basketball, while Esther Matarranz (Spain) Definitelywill represent UCR women's basketball. 

Braelynn Llamoca (Peru), Amelie Araya (Costa Rica) and UCR's Puerto Rican trio of Daphane Mendez, Jazmine Mendez and Emma Gonzalez will represent women's soccer under national team and current Highlander head coach Nat Gonzalez. Finally, Nikki Palmer will once again lead Team Israel in summer competition while Leah Brito will compete for the Dominican Republic. 

Men's Basketball

Salaridze and Cameron will represent Georgia and New Zealand, respectively ahead of this summer's FIBA World Cup. The competition will take place in the Philippines and Japan, as well as Indonesia, where Cameron led New Zealand to a third-place finish at last year's FIBA Asia Cup. Salaridze's second stint with the Georgia Basketball Federation (GBF) as well as Cameron's continued work with the New Zealand Tall Blacks is a continued testament to the program's international flair that has become a staple in the program. 

This is the program's second straight year of international competition following last summer's Australia summer tour, where UCR went 3-0 against top National Basketball League (NBL) talent. 

"We are excited to continue to build the strength of our niche of international players, and that is apparent as two of our own will be representing their countries in the FIBA World Cup this summer," UCR head coach Mike Magpayo said. "We are excited for Flynn and Vlad, as they will represent not only their countries, but also our proud UC Riverside community on the world stage."

The duo also find themselves in elite company as it relates to UC Riverside men's basketball. 

Cameron and Salaridze are part of a long line of transfers who have come into the program and made an immediate impact while elevating Highlander men's basketball to what it is today, helping guide UCR to a Division I program-record 22 wins last season. Additionally, UCR has had 17 international student-athletes come through the program since Magpayo's arrival in 2017-18 with Salaridze being just one of six in that group not from Oceania. 

Women's Basketball

Matarranz has been selected as one of 18 individuals trying out for the U20 Spanish National Team. Training will take place July 4 through the 27, and if selected, she will compete in the U20 European Championships in Lithuania from July 29 to August 6. 

"Esther is one of the hardest working student-athletes I have ever seen, both on and off the court," assistant coach Sean LeBeauf said. "She is also a great teammate. When you pour so much of yourself into something, and sacrifice for others, you deserve opportunities like this. She is a great representation of what college athletics should be. We wish Esther the very best as she trains with an opportunity to represent her country. No one deserves it more."

Matarranz follows suit with men's basketball in being part of a program's longstanding tradition of international talent. She is one of 12 international student-athletes representing eight countries for UC Riverside women's basketball since the 2017-18 season. 

Women's Soccer

Llamoca (Peru), Araya (Costa Rica), the Mendez sisters (Puerto Rico) and Gonzalez (Puerto Rico) will all be competing on the international stage this summer in South America, continuing the program's track record of elevating its student-athletes on the national stage. 

"I am honored to have the privilege to coach Puerto Rico," said UCR and Puerto Rico head coach Nat Gonzalez. "It is my heritage. It is a dream to lead any team in an official Olympic event, even moreso my island. As for the student-athletes here, Emma Gonzalez, Jazmine Mendez, and Daphane Mendez are representing PR as well as Amelie Araya here competing for Costa Rica. This says a lot about the quality we have in our program. They have worked hard to earn this honor and my hopes that these experiences will pay off in the Fall and beyond to get us in position for Big West championships."

Llamoca and Araya were both called into national team training camp with a World Cup roster spot on the line for Araya. Meanwhile, Gonzalez and the Mendez sisters will wear the Puerto Rico crest at the 2023 Central American and Caribbean Games against Jamaica, Mexico and Costa Rica from June 25 to July 7.

The trio will compete under current UCR head coach Nat Gonzalez, who has led Puerto Rico's first team since September of 2021. 

Softball

Palmer will return as head coach of Team Israel when they travel to the 2023 Canada Cup in July, a WBSC-sanctioned tournament meant to serve as a promotional event for the game of softball. Additionally, Leah Brito has been called into action for the Dominican Republic July 1-8 at the Panamericano Games in El Salvador. 

"I'm excited about the opportunity to continue to represent the country of Israel and build a brand that can compete at the highest level," she said. "It is an absolute honor and privilege to serve these young women as they build the sport in Israel and gain national recognition."

Added Brito, "I am so blessed to be with this extraordinary team that brings a lot of love, passion and incredible skills to the game. The Dominican Republic softball team is an absolute powerhouse, bursting with infectious energy and flashy style that captivates anyone who watches us."

Having just finished her seventh season in the Inland Empire, Palmer led Team Israel to its first ever top-six finish at last summer's European Championship in Barcelona. 

Stay tuned to @UCR_Athletics on Twitter and Instagram to follow our coaches and student-athletes all throughout their summers of competition.