No. 16 LBSU Involved in Texas Two-Step
49ers Open Season versus Texas-Arlington and No. 23 Texas
August 25, 2003 PDF Version of this RELEASE 0-0, 0-0 Big West
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AVCA Rank: No. 16 Listen Live! All Long Beach State Volleyball matches will be broadcasted on the Internet. Click on the Live Audio link at www.longbeachstate.com. Quickly: Long Beach State will begin its 2003 campaign versus Texas-Arlington in the Mizuno Invite at The Pyramid at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 29. The 49ers then play No. 23 Texas the following day (Aug. 30 at 7:30 p.m.). Both matches can be heard live at www.longbeachstate.com.
Season Series: Long Beach State holds a 5-2 series advantage over UTA, dating back to the 1974 season. The 49ers last faced the Mavericks on Oct. 9, 1993 at home with a 3-0 victory (15-6, 15-7, 15-1). LBSU holds a 2-0 series advantage over Texas, dating back to the 1988 season. Long Beach State last faced the Longhorns in an NCAA playoff match on Dec. 11, 1998, with a 3-0 victory (15-9, 15-9, 15-2).
Mizuno Invite Schedule:
Friday, Aug. 29
5:00 p.m. St. Mary's v. Texas
7:30 p.m LBSU v. Texas-Arlington
Saturday, Aug. 30
5:00 p.m. UCSB v. Texas-Arlington
7:30 p.m. LBSU v. Texas
What's New in 2003?: After losing nine players off last year's team, including All-Americans Brittany Hochevar and Elisha Thomas, Long Beach State added six recruits and three transfers to this year's roster. There are two (2) seniors: Liz Hudson, Raimi Mitchell; two (2) juniors: Erika Chidester, Jillian Mazzarella; five (5) sophomores: Melanie Fleig, Sara Kroneberger, Heather Laudato, Rosie Lewis, Taylor Peyton; six (6) freshmen: Mariko Crum, Heather Hetzer, Dyanne Lawlor, Makini Thompson, Natalie Uhart, Kristen Voyson; and one (1) redshirt freshman: Robin Miramontes.
Who is Returning?: Long Beach State will return seven players, including junior Erika Chidester and Heather Laudato. Chidester led the team last season with a .380 hitting percentage, and also registered 151 blocks and 2.59 kills per game. Chidester was a Big West Conference honorable mention as well. Sophomore Heather Laudato also returns in the back row, after leading the team with 262 digs (2.36 average).
Running the Offense: Jillian Mazzarella will be the new setter for The Beach this season, after transferring from Baylor last season. Mazzarella recorded 658 assists (Baylor used two setters) and 293 digs in 2002 for the Bears.
LBSU in Season Openers: The 49ers are 16-2 in season openers since 1985, including 10 straight season opening victories, dating back to 1993.
Gimmillaro Honored by USA Volleyball: 19th year head coach Brian Gimmillaro was the sole recipient of the 2003 USA Volleyball All-Time Great Coach award this past summer (June). It is one of the highest honors a coach can receive. Gimmillaro will be honored on Saturday, Aug. 30 vs. Texas.
Green-Vargas Honored by USC: 18th year assistant coach Debbie Green-Vargas became just the fifth woman to be inducted into the University of Southern California Athletic Hall of Fame this past off-season.
Niners Start Season No. 16: LBSU will start the 2003 season ranked No. 16, according to the AVCA Pre-Season Poll, released Aug. 11. Long Beach State has been ranked in 229 AVCA polls, 11th highest in the poll's history. The 49ers have been ranked in 201 consecutive polls since 1989.
Beach Picked Second in the BWC: Long Beach State received 85 points and one first place vote in this year's Big West pre-season coaches poll, good enough for a second place prediction from the ten coaches in the league.
Numbers Watch: Long Beach State is one of seven programs in NCAA history to record 800 or more wins with 880 since 1964. LBSU is 20 wins away from 900 program wins.
16 Years of 20: Long Beach State has won 20 or more matches 16 years in a row.
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