Pepperdine Out-Blocks the 49ers

49ers Beaten At The Net By Waves
Pepperdine Records 25.0 Team Blocks In Five-Game Win

LONG BEACH, CA – Pepperdine dominated play at the net and came away with a five-game win over Long Beach State on Friday evening in men's volleyball action at The Pyramid. The Waves (6-1, 4-0 MPSF) recorded 25.0 team blocks and bounced back from a two games to one deficit to defeat the 49ers (7-3/3-2 MPSF). Game scores were 24-30, 30-21, 31-33, 30-22, 15-10.

Sean Rooney and Fred Winters both had 20 kills to lead the Pepperdine attack, but the difference was at the net. Brad Keenan had 12 blocks, John Mayer eight, Winters seven and Rooney six. The 49ers managed just 3.5 team blocks on the evening.

Pepperdine came out strong in game five and put the game away early, jumping to leads of 7-2 and 12-4. Long Beach fought back with a 4-0 run to pull to within 12-8, but would get no closer than four points the remainder of the game as Pepperdine won, 15-10. Pepperdine hit .471 (8-0-17) in game number five.

Long Beach came out strong winning game one, 30-24. Scott Touzinsky had 10 of his team-high 25 kills in game one and the 49er defense came up with 20 digs in the win. After game one Touzinsky had a tough time as he finished with a .048 hitting percentage on the night on 62 swings.

After losing 30-21 in game two, the 49ers once again played inspired volleyball in game three. The 49ers led 13-9 and 22-14 before Pepperdine mounted a comeback. The Waves tied the game at 25-25 and had game point at 29-28, but the 49ers Duncan Budinger recorded a kill to tie the game at 29-29. The two teams traded kills until 31-31 when back-to-back hitting errors by the Waves gave the game to LBSU, 33-31.

David Lee tied his career-high with 22 kills on the night for Long Beach State and he hit an impressive .543 (22-3-35). Clint Coe had a career-high 16 kills and also added nine digs. Phillip White led the 49er defense with 21 digs while Touzinsky added 18. Freshman setter Tyler Hildebrand finished with 79 assists.

The 49ers will next be in action when they host Hawai'i on wednesday, Feb. 5 at 7:30 pm in The Pyramid.

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Long Beach State University Athletics

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