No Rest for Long Beach State
49ers Face Nevada on Monday and EA. Washington on Thursday
August 31, 2003 PDF VERSION of this RELEASE
2-0, 0-0 Big West
Home: 2-0 • Away: 0-0 • Neutral: 0-0
AVCA Rank: No. 16
Quickly: Long Beach State returns to the court quickly, after defeating both Texas-Arlington and #23 Texas over the weekend, to face the Nevada Wolf Pack (2-2) on Monday, Sept. 1 at 2:00 p.m. at The Pyramid. LBSU rounds out the week versus Eastern Washington (0-3) on Thursday, Sept. 4 at 7:30 p.m. Both matches will be broadcasted live at www.longbeachstate.com
Head-to-Head: Long Beach State holds a 15-0 series advantage over Nevada, dating back to the 1983 season. LBSU last faced Nevada in Sept. 16, 2000 at home, with a 3-0 victory (15-7, 15-12, 15-4). In fact seven of the last eight meetings between LBSU and Nevada have all been 3-0 victories by the 49ers. LB State holds a 2-0 series advantage over Eastern Washington, dating back to the 1987. The Niners last faced the Eagles in 1990 on a neutral site, and came away with a 3-1 win (10-15, 15-8, 15-11, 15-10).
Last Week: Long Beach State improved to 2-0 on the season after defeating both Texas-Arlington and #23 Texas at The Pyramid. Junior Erika Chidester had a record-breaking weekend, totaling career-highs in kills (21) and digs (8) versus UTA in the season opener on Friday night. The following night vs. Texas, she registered a career-high five aces. LBSU improved to 17-2 in season openers.
What a Start: Junior Erika Chidester wasted no time in establishing new career-highs for the 2003 season. Chidester registered career-highs in kills (21), digs (8). and TA (45) versus UT-Arlington in the season opener on Friday (8/29). Chidester didn't stop there, as she posted a new career-best five service aces versus Texas on Saturday, and a new career-high 58 total attempts as well. Already Chidester is averaging 5.71 kills and 2.14 digs per game this season.
Welcome Back Robin! After a knee injury sidelined Robin Miramontes last September, she was inserted back in the line-up on opening night and quickly tallied a career-tying high 11 kills versus UT-Arlington on opening night.
Dig It: There is a reason why the LBSU coaching staff, and several others consider Heather Laudato one of the best backrow players in the country. Laudato tallied a combined 39 digs last weekend, including a career-tying high 22, versus Texas on Saturday. Her two match average stands at 5.57 per game. In addition to Laudato, Sara Kroneberger posted a new career-best 12 digs vs. Texas on Sat.
Dig It II: Long Beach State had four players record double-digits in digs versus Texas on Saturday: (Hudson, 10; Mazzarella, 10; Kroneberger, 12; and Laudato, 22). The last time that the 49ers had four players record 10 or more digs was last season vs. South Carolina (9/14/02).
Fab Fresh: Brian Gimmillaro is starting two freshman this season (Mariko Crum and Natalie Uhart), both of whom are making quick impacts on the court. Crum (Phoenix, AZ) is averaging 2.57 kills per game and already leads the team with 1.43 blocks per game, including seven block assists and three block solos. Crum hit for a .615 clip versus UTA (8-0-13) in her 49er debut. Uhart (Lansing, KS) has totaled nine kills thru two matches, including seven versus Texas on Saturday night. She also has contributed four block assists. Uhart registered a .545 attack pct. versus Texas (7-1-11).
Double Your Pleasure: Senior transfer Liz Hudson (San Jose State) has also made a quick impact with The Beach this season. She has already registered two double-doubles -- 10 kills, 11 digs vs. UTA, and 16 kills, 10 digs vs. Texas.
Running the Offense: Junior transfer Jillian Mazzarella (Baylor) is averaging 12.86 assists per game for LBSU thus far. She matched a career-high 47 assists (that she set at Baylor) on opening night versus UTA. She recorded a double-double versus Texas with 43 assists and 10 digs.
LBSU in Season Openers: After the LBSU 3-0 victory over Texas-Arlington on Friday, the 49ers improved to 17-2 in season openers since 1985, including 11 straight season opening victories, dating back to 1993.
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 history of the poll. 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: Three teams have racked up 900-plus all-time wins, and two other schools may join the elite club this season according to research conducted by both Illinois State and Southwest Missouri State University sports information offices. UCLA leads with 940 program victories, followed by Southwest Missouri (904) and BYU (903). Long Beach State (882) needs 18 wins to reach 900 victories, while Nebraska is 22 wins shy of 900. According to the release, other teams with 800 or more wins include Texas-Arlington (824), Penn State (824), and Texas (821).
The Gimmillaro File: Over the past seven seasons, Gimmillaro has led LBSU to a National title (1998), with four Final Four appearances and six regional tournaments. Over that time, the team record is an impressive 220-22 (.909), including a combined 63-5 mark (.926) over the last three seasons. Overall, Gimmillaro has amassed a striking .823 winning percentage (512-110) over 18 seasons. Against one of the toughest conferences in the the country, the Big West, The Beach has won 78.5 percent (245-67) of their matches, including eight conference crowns. In 16 consecutive seasons, Gimmillaro's teams have won at least 20 matches, and in eight of the last 12 years, the team has won at least 30 matches. He is tied for the highest NCAA Tournament winning percentage of any coach (More than 5 Appearances, since 1981), and has coached 16 AVCA All-Americans (29 Certificates).
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. Gimmillaro has decided to redshirt four of the 2003 freshman class: Dyanne Lawlor, Makini Thompson, Heather Hetzer, and Kristen Voyson.
16 Years of 20: Long Beach State has won 20 or more matches 16 years in a row.
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 was 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.
On the Air: Follow all 49er volleyball matches on www.longbeachstate.com. Home matches will feature the commentary of Ray Baker and former 49er stars, Tracy Bulquerin and Brandy Barratt. |
