Blackjack for the Black & Gold
No. 1-ranked 49ers Win 21st in a Row to Start the Season November 10, 2001
IRVINE, CA-- The No. 1-ranked 49ers (21-0, 14-0 Big West Conference) extended their unbeaten streak to 21 straight games to start the season, sweeping host UC Irvine (3-20, 1-13 BWC) 30-17, 30-24 and 30-16 on Saturday night. Tayyiba Haneef led The Beach with 22 kills and a .310 attack percentage, while Elisha Thomas added 11 kills, six blocks and a .500 percentage. The top ranked offense in the country hit .362 as Keri Nishimoto with 44 assists. Kelly Wing led Irvine with 14 kills, six digs, three blocks and a .290 percentage. UCI hit .159 for the night. For the top-ranked 49ers, they picked up their seventh sweep in a row and 17th, 3-0 victory of the season. LBSU are now riding a 22-game win streak since losing the third game of a 3-1 win at Cal Poly back on October 19. The 49ers took yet another sweep, winning game three 30-16. The Beach went up by two games, winning the second set 30-24. LBSU hit .275, while UCI hit .241. Three straight points by the Anteaters tied it at 12-12 and closed to 24-20. The 49ers took game one 30-17, hitting an impressive .485, closing the game on a 16-7 run. The Anteaters hit .222. UCI had closed, at one point, to 14-10. LBSU defensive specialist Tracy Bulquerin left game two, with the scored tied 1-1, after injuring her left knee. Her status is listed as day-to-day. UC Irvine played without the services of their top two players, Chanda McLeod and Dana Kurzbard, who both injured their ankles earlier in the week. The 49ers next travel to Utah State on Thursday and to Idaho on Saturday, before returning home on Monday and Tuesday when they host Idaho and Utah State. The Beach will than close out the regular season by hosting the annual Thanksgiving Tournament, featuring Brigham Young, Cal Poly, Weber State and Pittsburgh, on November 23 and 24. BOX SCORE |
