• Birnbaum is entering her sixth season of pro beach volleyball.
• In the first season of the BVA Tour last year, her best finishes were 17ths with Erin Galli at Oceanside, Seal Beach, Pismo Beach, Long Beach, and San Diego.
• She also posted multiple 17ths when she played on the former women's pro beach tour from 1993-1996.

College

• Played her collegiate volleyball at UC Santa Barbara.
• Was the goalie on the UC Santa Barbara women's water polo team that won the National Title in 1989.

Personal

• Birnbaum, formerly Belding, is married to Walter Birnbaum and lives in San Diego, Ca.
• They have a daughter, Megan, who was born in June 1999.
• Graduated from UC Santa Barbara with a BS in Geological Sciences.
• While playing on the pro beach tour from 1993-1996, she also worked full-time as a geologist for the Bechtel Corporation.
• She is currently the president of the San Diego Association of Geologists.
• Hobbies include skiing, hiking, bicycling, anything outdoors, geology, wine tasting, and being a mom.