49ers Host Gauchos in 1st Round Playoff
LBSU 25-5 on the Season
April 20, 2004 PDF VERSION of this RELEASE 25-5, 18-4 MPSF
Home: 14-2 • Away: 9-2 • Neutral: 2-1
AVCA Rank: #2 / VB Mag Rank: #2 MPSF Tournament Time:
No. 2-ranked and No. 2-seeded Long Beach State (25-5) faces UC Santa Barbara (14-15) in an MPSF 1st Round Playoff match at The Pyramid on Saturday, April 24 at 7:30 p.m. Ticket prices are as follows: $10 for adults, $8 for Seniors and Youth, and $5 for college students. The Pyramid Box Office number is 562.985.4949. Other MPSF 1st Round Matches on Saturday include #1 BYU vs, #8 UC Irvine, #3 UCLA vs. #6 Hawaii, and #4 Pepperdine vs. #5 CS Northridge. The MPSF Semifinals and Finals run from Apr. 29-May 1 at the campus of the highest remaining seed of the quarterfinals (1st rd.). The 49er-Gaucho match can be heard live on: www.BroadcastMonsters.com. Al Epstein will have the call. Please go to this site if you need to download Windows Media Player. If you have the Windows Media Player, you can go directly to the MPSF Official Site to listen to the match as well. www.mpsports.org
Last Week Recap:
Long Beach State capped off the regular season with a 3-0 win over UC San Diego on Apr. 17 in The Pyramid on senior night. Head coach Alan Knipe played all five of his seniors, including setter Rob Kijewski, who poured in a career-high 42 assists, to go along with two aces, four digs, and four blocks. Scott Touzinsky paced The Beach with 17 kills and eight digs, while Jeff Wootton added 12 kills and seven digs, and Clint Coe chipped in with 11 kills and three digs. Despite the 49ers only hitting .274, UC San Diego mustered a .140 attack percentage.
Super Soph:
Last year's AVCA Newcomer of the Year and MPSF Freshman of the Year, Tyler Hildebrand has netted 1,508 assists this season (14.09/gm) and 3,101 for his career. His 3,101 assists are fourth all-time at Long Beach State since 1988. Hildebrand broke the 49er sophomore single-season record for assists (1,508), after her recorded a match-high 64 vs. UC Santa Barbara on Apr. 10. He broke the freshman single season assist total last season as well. Tyler connected for 64 assists, three blocks, and a career-high four kills vs. the Gauchos (4/10). He notched 43 assists and three kills in a 3-0 sweep over CSUN on Apr. 8. For the week (Apr. 8-10), Hildebrand compiled a 15.29 assists per game average and a .636 hitting percentage. At Hawaii (Apr. 2-3), Hildebrand totaled 126 assists, 13 digs, five kills, and eight blocks. He registered 65 assists on 65 TA and no errors for a 1.000 assist percentage vs. UH on 4/2. He averaged 14.86 assists per game on the Pacific-Stanford swing (Mar. 26-27), and directed the offense to a .419 hitting percentage at Stanford on 3/27. Hildebrand was named the Most Outstanding Player of the 2004 Beach Bash (Mar. 19-20) after directing the 49er offense to a .437 attack percentage. He also totaled 98 assists, 10 digs, and six blocks in the two-day tournament. He registered his second double-double of the season at UC Irvine on 3/10 with 56 assists and career-tying high, 10 digs. He was named the AVCA National Player of the Week and MPSF Player of the Week on March 8, after registering 70 assists, three kills, and four blocks in a 3-2 win over Pepperdine (3/5). It was the first AVCA National Player of the Week selection since David McKienzie earned the distinction back on April 9, 2001.Hildebrand netted a season and MPSF season-high 81 assists versus BYU on Jan. 30, while also chipping in a career-high four aces. Hildebrand collected a double-double (65 assists, 10 digs) versus CS Northridge on 1/10. He compiled 68 assists, four digs, and a career-high 2 block solos versus Stanford on Jan. 9. Hildebrand chipped in 36 assists, six digs, three blocks, and three kills at USC on 1/16. Hildebrand poured in three kills, 67 assists, eight digs and one ace versus Stanford on Jan. 23. Hildebrand recorded 48 assists in three games (16.00/gm) at UCLA on Feb. 11. Hildebrand netted 49 assists and three blocks vs. USC on 2/19. During the seven-match winning streak (Feb. 4-Feb. 25), Hildebrand averaged 14.81 assists, 1.29 digs, .76 blocks, and .48 kills per game. He is No. 1 in the nation in total assists (1,508), and No. 2 in the nation for per game average (14.09) as of Apr. 15. Hildebrand also set a career-best 10 digs vs. CS Northridge at the UCSB Tournament in January (1/10).
Touzinsky: Clears 1,500:
Last season, Scott Touzinsky became just the 12th player in school history to record 1,000 career kills. Now Touzinsky stands No. 5 all-time at the Beach with 1,563 career kills. Touzinsky has passed Matt Prosser (1,147 kills), Geoff Cryst (1,167 kills), Zack Small (1,169 kills), Tom Hoff (1,230), Gaby Amar (1,308 kills), and recently Jim Polster (1,360 kills) for No. 5 all-time on the 49er career kill chart with 1,563. This season Touzinsky has recorded 20 or more kills 10 times, including a new career-high and 2004 MPSF season-high, 40 kills established versus BYU on Jan. 30. In fact Touzinsky posted his first double-double of the season in that 40 kill match, adding a season-high 15 digs versus the Cougars (1/31). Touzinsky collected 71 kills at the UCSB E-Bar Tournament (Jan. 9-10), including 29 versus Stanford (1/9) and 30 versus CS Northridge (1/10). He was named as the MPSF Player of the Week for the period ending Feb. 10 when he notched 25 kills in a 3-1 road win a Pepperdine on Feb. 4. The win helped snap LBSU's six-match losing streak to the Waves. Touzinsky connected for his second double-double of the season with 12 kills and 11 digs at UCLA on Feb. 11. He posted a team-best 18 kills, with six digs and five blocks in a 3-0 win a CS Northridge on Feb. 25. He turned in a team-high 21 kills in a 3-2 win over Pepperdine on Mar. 5. He netted a match-high 28 kills at UCI (3/10), and a match-high 19 kills vs. UCLA on Mar. 12. He recorded a two-match per game kill average of 6.71. He reached double-digits in kills for the 17th time this season with 16 versus IPFW on 3/20. In that same match vs. IPFW, Touzinsky recorded a match and single-season team-high, five aces. Touzinsky was the hero in the come-from-behind rally at Hawaii (4/3) with 22 kills, nine digs, five blocks, and one ace. It was his lone ace that ended the match. He reached double-digits in kills for the 21st time this season when he poured in a match-high 23 in a 3-1 win vs. UC Santa Barbara (4/10). On senior night, Scott poured in a match-high 17 kills in a 3-0 victory over UC San Diego on Apr. 17. Touzinsky has recorded a team-best 473 kills this season for a 4.50 per game average (No. 11 in the nation as of Apr. 15). Touzinsky ranks in the top half of the conference in kills per game at 4.56.
Wootton's Way:
Senior Jeff Wootton recorded his 1,000th career kill with a team-high 17 in a 3-1 win over IPFW on Mar. 20. Wootton is the 13th player in Long Beach State history to compile 1,000 or more kills in a career . He was named to the All-Tournament Team for the 2004 Beach Bash. Wootton registered his 900th career kill at Pepperdine on February 4, after posting 20. Wootton slammed home 15 kills (.571 attack percentage) at USC on Jan. 16 in the MPSF opener. Wootton recorded a season and match-high 21 kills in a 3-1 victory over Stanford on Jan. 23. He recorded a team-high 18 kills versus BYU on Jan. 28, and recorded his first double-double of the season with 17 kills and career-high 13 digs versus BYU on Jan. 30. Wootton paved the way with a team-high 15 kills to defeat No. 1-ranked UCLA, 3-0 on Feb. 11. Wootton recorded 12 kills and seven digs versus USC on 2/19. He posted 14 kills in a 3-2 win over Pepperdine on March 5. He registered 15 kills in a 3-0 victory over UCLA (3/12). Wootton averaged 6.86 kills and 1.29 digs per game over the Pacific-Stanford weekend (Mar. 26-27), including a season-high 25 kills and a career-high 4 aces at Stanford on Mar. 27. Wootton posted his second double-double of the season with 21 kills and 12 digs at Hawaii on Apr. 2. He notched 14 kills , six digs, and three blocks the following night in the come-from-behind victory over the Warriors (4/3). He contributed with 13 kills and nine digs vs. CSUN (4/8), and 14 kills and five digs vs. UCSB on 4/10. Turned in 12 kills, seven digs, and five blocks on senior night vs. UC San Diego (4/17).
The Block is Hot:
Middle Blocker David Lee ranks No. 1 in the MPSF and No. 4 in the country in blocks per game at 1.46 (13 BS, 139 BA) as of Apr. 15. Lee averages 1.49 blocks per game in the MPSF. Entering the 2004 season David Lee compiled a career attack percentage of .415, 4th highest all-time at Long Beach State. This season Lee has 270 kills (64 errors) on 491 total attempts for a .420 attack percentage. Currently Lee's career hitting percentage stands at .416 (5th highest in program history). Lee connected for his 700th career kill in the season opener vs. La Verne (1/6), and slammed career kill No. 800 at UCLA on Feb. 11. This season Lee has registered double-digits in kills 15 times, and posted back-to-back double digit kill performances versus Pacific (10) and Stanford (11), and versus BYU on Jan. 28 with 18 and Jan. 30 with 13. In fact Lee tallied a .645 attack percentage in two victories over Pacific an Stanford (Jan. 22-23) (21-1-31). Lee went error-free in back-to-back matches against UCLA and UC Irvine, recording 16 kills on 29 swings for a .552 attack percentage. He registered 13 kills and seven blocks in a 3-2 win over Pepperdine on March 5. He registered 10 blocks versus UCLA on Mar. 10. He posted 13 kills and six blocks vs. IPFW on Mar. 20. Lee recorded his 900th career kill at Pacific (3/26) after registering 12 kills. He had back-to-back double-digit kill totals at Hawaii (Apr. 3-4) when he recorded a season-high 19 on 4/2 and 11 on 4/3. He hit .692 at UH on Apr. 2 and connected for eight blocks on Apr. 3.
This Bud's For You:
Sophomore middle blocker, Duncan Budinger has compiled a .483 attack percentage this season, registering 175 kills (34 errors) on 292 total attempts. If he keeps his current pace, he will tie teammate David lee for the second highest attack percentage for a single season in program history. Budinger is also on pace to break the sophomore single season hitting percentage (.446), held by Dustin McCappin in 2001. Budinger holds the freshman single season hitting percentage record at. 469. His .475 attack percentage is No. 1 all-time at The Beach (min. 400 attempts). Budinger recorded his 400th career kill vs. UC Santa Barbara on Apr. 10.
Exclusive Company:
Scott Touzinsky became the third player in NCAA men's volleyball history, since rally scoring was introduced in 2001, to record 40 or more kills in a single match. In fact Touzinsky tied former LBSU great Dave McKienzie who had 40 kills against UCLA on January 26, 2001. The record for most kills (in rally scoring) is 43 by Jeff Ptak of IPFW on March 21, 2003. Touzinsky's 40 kills have been the most since Ptak set the record. Furthermore, Touzinsky became the eighth player in Long Beach State history to record 40 or more kills in a single match. Brent Hilliard registered 40 or more kills 13 times in his career.
Nice Ace:
Touzinsky, as mentioned earlier, broke the school record for career aces with his 133rd versus Stanford (1/23). Touzinsky broke the 11 year mark held by Brent Hilliard who had 132 career aces from 1990-93. Currently Touzinsky, who has 35 aces this season, holds the school record with 151.
Patrolling the Backrow:
Junior Paul Munoz has recorded a team-best 219 digs (2.09 per game average), including back-to-back 12 dig performances versus Stanford (1/9) and CS Northridge on 1/10. Munoz connected for a season-high 18 digs in a 3-1 victory over Pepperdine on Feb. 4. He reached 12 digs for the third time this season vs. UCI on Feb. 13. He notched 13 digs in a win over Pepperdine on Mar. 5. He tallied a match-high 10 digs in a 3-1 victory over UCSB (4/10). Munoz has eight double-digit dig performances this season. Munoz ranks in the top-10 in the MPSF in digs per game this season, and No. 16 in the country as of Apr. 15.
Depth Not an Issue at The Beach:
One of the luxuries head coach Alan Knipe has this season is his bench. Knipe has inserted in the rotations this season, Robert Tarr (2.04 kills/gm, 16 aces), Clint Coe (.86 kills/gm), and Nate Hagstrom (1.29 kills/gm, 1.14 digs/gm, 23 aces). Tarr and Hagstrom were both named to the All-Tournament Team in the 2004 Beach Bash. Tarr poured in 13 kills and five digs in a 3-1 win over UCSB (4/10). I was the 8th time this season he notched double-digits in kills. Tarr turned in 12 kills, five digs, three blocks, and one ace at Hawaii (4/3). He registered his first double-double of the season with a match-high 11 kills and 10 digs in a 3-0 victory over Rutgers-Newark on Mar. 19. Tarr also celebrated his birthday earlier this season with 17 kills versus Stanford at the UCSB Tournament (1/9), and recorded a career-high four aces versus Pacific on Jan. 22. Tarr also reached double-digits in kills with a team-high 15 at UCSB on Feb. 27. During the seven-match win streak (Feb. 4-Feb. 25), Hagstrom averaged 1.48 kills and 1.43 digs per game, including a team-high 13 service aces. Hagstrom established a career-high 12 kills vs. USC on Feb. 19, and a career-high 11 digs at Pepperdine on Feb. 4. He recorded his second double-double of the season with 10 kills and career-high 12 digs vs. Pepperdine (3/5). Hagstrom tallied a career-best five block assists at UCI on Mar. 10. Hagstrom turned in two aces, six digs, and four blocks at UH on Apr. 2. On senior night, Clint Coe recorded 11 kills, three digs, and a block vs. UC San Diego on Apr. 17. And Rob Kijewski enjoyed senior night vs. the Tritons, pouring in a career-high 42 assists, two aces, six digs, and four blocks. Other reserves saw playing time versus UC Santa Cruz on Feb. 6, including Teddy Liles (10 kills), Kevin Cape (4 kills), and Kijewski (16 assists). Knipe inserted his reserves once more versus Rutgers-Newark on Mar. 19. Liles posted five kills and two aces on 3/19. In fact Liles ended the match with his second service ace. Tyler Caldwell netted four digs vs. Rut-Newark (3/19). Cape registered his first career service ace vs. IPFW on Mar. 20. Redshirt freshman transfer Thiago Barbosa made his 49er debut at Pepperdine on Feb. 4. Barbosa got more playing time versus UC Santa Cruz on Feb. 6, recording seven kills on nine swings. He recorded his first service ace at UC San Diego on Feb. 21.
LBSU Nets High Percentage:
Long Beach State has hit for a .352 attack percentage this season (No. 4 in the nation as of Apr. 8), while limiting its opponents to just a .251 clip. The 49ers have compiled 1769 kills for a 15.34 per game average. In fact LBSU owns the MPSF high for kills in a match with 86 versus BYU on Jan. 30. Moreover, Long Beach State ranks in the No. 2 in the MPSF in kills per game (15.71) and No. 3 in attack percentage (.340) as of Apr. 7. Long Beach State has hit over .350 13 times this season including a .514 hitting percentage vs. Rutgers-Newark, a .553 attack percentage versus UC Santa Cruz on Feb. 6 (60-8-94), a .454 clip (75-16-130) vs. Stanford on Jan. 9 and a .395 clip at USC on Jan. 16 (50-16-86). The all-time best hitting percentage in program history was set by the 1992 squad (.377).
Steady at No. 2:
Long Beach State (25-5, 18-4) remained at No. 2 in the latest AVCA Top-15 Poll released on April 20. It is the eighth time that LBSU has been ranked at the No. 2 slot this season. LBSU has not been below No. 6 all season in the AVCA poll. LBSU is also #2 in Volleyball Magazine (released on Mar. 22).
Best Win Total for Knipe:
Head coach Alan Knipe already surpassed his 2000 single season win total of 18, with his 25th win of the season vs. UCSD on April 17. |
