Beach Bits:

• The 2013 AVP season opener in Salt Lake City will mark Mariano's 100th career AVP event.
• Mariano improved his end of year player ranking five of six possible times from 2002 to 2009.
• In Mariano's first championship match, in Huntington Beach in 2006 with Brent Doble, he became part of the lowest seeded team (14th) to make an AVP final since 1998.

2012: Mariano and Ratledge had two seventh-place finishes on the AVP Tour, and had a best of third place twice on the Cuervo Tour.
2011: In nine domestic events on three different tours, Mariano and Ratledge had a best of third twice, including in Manhattan Beach.
2010: In a repeat of the 2009 season, Mariano and Ratledge had a best of fifth in the season opener and added three seventh-place finishes.
2009: Mariano and Ratledge played in 14 AVP events, with a best of fifth in the season opener. The duo also had three seventh-place finishes, including at Manhattan Beach.
2008: Playing with Ratledge the whole season, the duo placed fifth twice and seventh eight times as Mariano was again ranked in the top 20 in season points at 16th. He was fifth in digs per game (5.28).
2007: Started the year playing four times with Larry Witt, finishing third in Dallas. After teaming with Doble four times, he established a partnership with Ed Ratledge. In seven events with Ratledge, he had a best of seventh place, in the season finale. Mariano was ninth in both digs per game (4.49) and aces per game (.50).
2006: Reunited with Doble, setting a new career best of fifth. Then a week later in Huntington Beach, won four straight contender's bracket matches against teams seeded eighth or higher, all in three sets, in advancing to his first championship match. Mariano concluded the season with his first top 20 ranking, ending 17th in points. He was fourth in digs per game (4.95) and ninth in aces per game (.57).
2005: Played the entire season with Matt Heath, with their second event, in Tempe, ending with a loss in the qualifier. That marked the last time Mariano did not play in a main draw. His season best of ninth marked the fourth time in his career he finished that high. He was seventh in digs per game (4.44).
2004: Competed in 10 events with four different partners. He placed ninth three times, including twice with Brent Doble and once with Adam Jewell. He finished the year fifth in digs per game (4.66).
2003: Played seven events with three different partners. Mariano advanced to his first main draw in what was his fourth career event, with a fourth different partner, in Hermosa Beach. In his first tournament with Rich VanHuizen, the duo placed 13th in Manhattan Beach.
2002: Began his pro beach volleyball career in Hermosa Beach, playing in the qualifier with Dan Valdes, placing 89th, and played in one other qualifier that season.

College: Mariano went to Long Beach State, graduating with a degree in Communication Studies. Following school he played indoor volleyball in Austria for three years and Switzerland for three years.

Personal: Mariano, who has an older brother, played two seasons on his varsity high school team. He was the 1995 Mizuno National Player of the Year and a first-team Junior Olympic All-American.