49ers Look to Finish Strong
Five Conference Matches Remain for LB
October, 30 2006 PDF VERSION of this RELEASE 17-5, 7-2 Big West
Home: 11-2 • Away: 4-3 • Neutral: 2-0
AVCA Rank: rv (25) Quickly
Long Beach State (17-5, 7-2) concludes its five-match road trip this week at UC Irvine (8-14, 3-5) on Saturday, Nov. 4 at 7 pm. The 49ers are still in second place (and technically 1 1/2 games behind conference-leader Cal Poly (17-5, 9-1) after last week's action. CP has four remaining conference matches (2H/2A), while the 49ers have five BWC matches left (2H/3A). If Long Beach State and Cal Poly end the season with the same conference record, both will be declared conference co-champions, but Cal Poly will get the automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. LB will most likely get the at-large berth.
Record Watch: Brian Gimmillaro 5 Wins Away from 600
22nd year head coach Brian Gimmillaro is now 5 wins shy of 600 for his career at Long Beach State after collecting a 3-0 win at UCSB on Saturday, Oct. 28.
Series History
LB leads the all-time series vs. UC Irvine, 53-6, dating back to 1973. The 49ers defeated the Anteaters in four games on Oct. 5 in the Walter Pyramid, and have won the last four meetings since 2004.
Listen Live/Watch Live
Follow the Long Beach State women's volleyball team via the Internet. You can listen live and/or watch all home matches thru a webcast. Home matches will also be archived.
Match Time Changes
The Long Beach State athletic Department implemented new game time changes for home events in the Walter Pyramid. Starting Oct. 1, 2006 all 7:30 matches will be CHANGED to 7 pm. Please refer to www.longbeachstate.com for all time changes.
Last Week Recap
The Long Beach State women's volleyball team did something it hasn't done since 2001: defeat UC Santa Barbara in the Thunderdome. The 49ers did just that with a sweep on Saturday night, behind 19 kills from Alexis Crimes. Game scores were 33-31, 30-17, 30-22. Long Beach State improved to 17-5, 7-2 Big West, while the Gauchos fell to 13-10, 5-5 Big West. Mischa Hasalikova posted 12 kills for a .417 attack percentage as well for LBSU. Dyanne Lawlor and Quincy Verdin checked in with nine and eight kills respectively. Talaya Whitfield had a team-best 17 digs as well. Down 25-19 and 28-24, Long Beach State staged and incredible comeback to steal game one and the momentum from the Gauchos, 33-31. LBSU even fought a game point at 29-28 and tied the set at 29-29 after a Gaucho attack error. The 49ers unlocked the 31-31 tie with two straight Crimes kills. She tallied seven kills in the frame. Long Beach State controlled the tempo of game two and used the offensive firepower from Verdin to come away with a commanding 30-17 victory for the 2-0 match lead. LBSU jumped out to a 10-3 lead after a Verdin kill, and built a 10-point lead (25-15) following another Verdin kill. The 49ers left little doubt the rest of the way and closed out the Gauchos on a UCSB attack error.
The 19th-ranked Cal Poly Mustangs swept the Long Beach State 49ers on Friday night in Mott Gym. Game scores were 30-14,30-19, 31-29 in favor of the Mustangs. Long Beach State had its six-match win streak snapped and fell to 16-5, 6-2 Big West. Mischa Hasalikova posted nine kills in the losing effort for The Beach. Iris Murray recorded a match-high 20 digs as well. Kylie Atherstone paced the Mustangs with a match-best 15 kills.
Long Beach State's Big West Rankings (x) = rank
(1) hitting percentage, .239; (1) assists/g, 14.45; (2) blocks/g, 2.89; (1) kills/g, 15.83; (5) digs/g, 16.22
Returning Player Notes
Mariko Crum (Opp • 6-2 • Sr. • Phoenix, AZ/Horizon HS)
>>Averaging 2.62 Kills per Game in ‘06
• Hit .429 (9-0-21) with four assists and eight digs at UC Riverside on Oct. 21
• Hit .533 (9-1-15) with a career-best four assists vs. Pacific on Oct. 14
• Posted 11 kills with five digs and a season-high six blocks vs. UC Davis on Oct. 13
• Registered eight kills vs. Cal Poly on Sept. 30
• Posted a season-high 13 kills vs. Oregon on Aug. 30
• Saw action vs. Alabama St on Aug. 26 and registered seven kills on eight attempts (one error) for a .750 attack percentage
Robin Miramontes (Opp • 6-1 • Sr. • Upland, CA/Upland HS)
>>Averaging 2.63 Kills and 2.51 Digs per Game in ‘06
• Tied a season-high with 15 kills, while posting 10 digs vs. UCI on Oct. 5
• Tied a career-high with 16 digs and posted a season-high six assists vs. UCSB (9/29)
• Connected for her second double-double of the year (13 kills, 11 digs) vs. UNLV on 9/15
• Hit .391 (12 kills) vs. St. Mary's (Sept. 7)
• Had a season-high seven blocks vs. Middle Tennessee State on Sept. 1
• Posted a double-double vs. St. Mary's on Sept. 2 -- 15 kills, and a career-high 16 digs.
• Registered a double-double on opening night (11 kills and a career-high 15 digs) vs. Mizzou
Alexis Crimes (MB • 6-3 • Jr. • Rancho Cucamonga, CA/Etiwanda HS)
>>Averaging 1.33 Blocks and 3.43 Kills per Game in ‘06
>>AVCA All-America Candidate; Big West Player of the Year Candidate
>>Two-time Big West Player of the Week (Sept. 11, Oct. 16)
>>Ranks No. 2 in the BWC in Blocks per Game; No. 2 in Attack % (.357)
>>Became 13th player in school history have 1,000 or more kills on Oct. 3 vs. CSUN)
• Recorded 19 kills in Long Beach State's 3-0 win at UCSB on Oct. 28
• Hit .442 and averaged 4.00 kills per game in two wins over CSUF/UCR (Oct. 20-21)
• Hit .500 (20-1-38) in two matches vs. Davis an Pacific (Oct. 13-14)
• Posted back-to-back 14 kill efforts vs. CSUN and UCI, Oct. 3 & 5
• Hit .316 with 16 kills vs. Cal Poly on Sept. 30
• Registered a season-high 21 kills to go along with 10 blocks vs. UCSB on Sept. 29
• Posted a season-high 12 blocks vs. UNLV (Sept. 15)
• Averaged 4.33 kills and 1.16 blocks per game in Long Beach State's two wins over St. Mary's and Idaho (Sept. 7-9)
• Selected to the Nebraska Invitational All-Tournament Team
• Posted a season-high 17 kills vs. Middle Tenn. St on Sept. 1
• Had a career-high five aces vs. Alabama St. on Aug. 26
• Hit .750 (13-1-16) vs. Villanova on Aug. 26
• Tallied a season-high eight blocks vs. Oregon on Aug. 30
Heather Hetzer (OH • 6-1 • Jr. • Mukilteo, WA/Kamiak HS)
>>Has 15 Kills this Season
• Saw action in game three at Riverside (Oct. 21) and had two kills
• Had two key kills and two blocks in the five-game win over UCSB on Sept. 29
•Saw action vs. Alabama St. (8/26), and posted eight kills on 13 attempts (no errors) for a .615 attack percentage
Dyanne Lawlor (S • 6-1 • Jr. • Yorba Linda, CA/Esperanza HS)
>>Has played in 35 Games in ‘06 and has Recorded 65 Assists and 75 Kills
• Tied a career-high three service aces at UCSB on Oct. 28
• Registered a match-high 13 kills at Riverside (Oct. 21)
• Hit .556 (11-1-18) with two aces, four digs, and five blocks vs. Pacific on Oct. 14
• Had a season-high 14 kills vs. Cal poly on Sept. 30
• Saw action vs. St. Mary's on 9/7 and recorded 36 assists and four blocks in the 3-0 win
• Tallied 21 assists and two kills vs. Alabama St. on Aug. 26
Iris Murray (DS • 5-5 • Jr. • Artesia, CA/Gahr HS)
>>Averaging 4.04 Digs Per Game in ‘06
>>Ranks No. 7 in the BWC in Digs per Game
>>Has nine matches with 15+ Digs
>>longbeachstate.com "Athlete of the Week" (9/4)
• Post 20 digs at Cal Poly on Oct. 27
• Registered a combined 37 digs (5.28/g) vs. UCI & CSUN Oct. 3&5
• Tallied 24 digs vs. UCSB on Sept. 29
• Selected to the Nebraska Invitational All-Tournament Team
• Registered a career-high 29 digs vs.St. Mary's on Sept. 2
• Posted a three match total 24 digs Aug. 25-26, for a 2.67 digs per game average, including nine digs vs. Missouri on Aug. 25
Nicole Vargas (S • 5-8 • So. • Seal Beach, CA/St. Joseph HS)
>>Averaging 12.39 Assists, 2.51 Digs per Game in ‘06
>>Ranks No. 2 in the BWC in Assists per Game
• Posted her 10th double-double with 38 assists and 11 digs at CS Fullerton on Oct. 20
• Directed the 49er offense to a .393 attack % vs. Pacific on Oct. 14
• Posted her team-best ninth double-double with 41 assists, 13 digs vs. CSUN on Oct. 3
• Had a season-high 69 assists to go along with 13 digs vs. CP (9/30)
• Posted a career-high eight blocks vs. Mid. Tenn St on Sept. 1
• Recorded three consecutive double-doubles at the Nebraska Labor Day Invitational...Had season-highs in assists (69) and digs (13) vs. St. Mary's (9/2)
• Opened the season with 37 assists, seven digs, four blocks, three kills, and two aces vs. Missouri
Quincy Verdin (OH • 6-0 • So. • Morgan City, LA/Central Catholic HS)
>>Averaging 3.00 Kills per Game in ‘06
• Had 12 kills (.333) vs. Pacific on Oct. 14
• Hit .435 vs. St. Mary's (14 kills on 23 attempts, four errors) on Sept. 7, and hit .364 vs. Idaho (10 kills on 22 attempts, two errors) on Sept. 9
• Team-high 11 kills vs. Nebraska on Sept. 3
• Notched a season-best 16 kills vs. St. Mary's (.313 attack %) on Sept. 2
• Recorded 11 kills vs. Oregon on Aug. 30
• Posted a match-high 12 kills vs. Missouri on Aug. 25
Naomi Washington (OH • 6-3 • R-Fr. • New Orleans, LA/Warren Easton HS)
>>Averaging 2.30 Kills per Game in ‘06
• Notched 12 kills vs. CS Northridge on Oct. 3
• Posted 12 kills vs. UNLV on Sept. 15
• Did not commit an attack error vs. Nebraska (8-0-20) on Sept. 3
• Posted a career-high 20 kills on a career-high 57 attempts vs. St. Mary's on Sept. 2
• Had career-highs in blocks (5) and digs (5) vs. SMC on Sept. 2
• Averaged 2.11 kills and 0.89 blocks per game, including seven kill performance vs. Mizzou on Aug. 25
Newcomer Notables
Michaela "Mischa" Hasalikova made her 49er debut vs. Missouri with six kills, and followed that up with an 11 kill performance vs. Alabama St. on Aug. 26...Mischa registered a career-high nine blocks vs. Middle Tenn St. on Sept. 1...She registered a career-best 21 kills vs. UCSB on Sept. 15...Hasalikova is hitting .317 on the season (No. 6 Big West), and ranks No. 8 in the Big West in blocks per game (1.18)...Sarah Hudson registered three aces vs. Alabama St. on Aug. 26, and recorded a career-high 11 digs vs. St. Mary's on Sept. 2...Cynthia Buggs (team-best 23 aces) recorded a personal-best four aces vs. Pacific on Oct. 14...Had three aces vs. Oregon on Aug. 30, and posted 14 digs vs. St. Mary's on Sept. 2...Talaya Whitfield posted career-highs in digs (22) and kills (9) vs. Cal Poly on Sept. 30...she ranks No. 10 in the Big West in digs per game (3.11) in 54 games played...Whitfield has 168 total digs.
49ers on CSTV
CSTV (College Sports Television) released its 2006 women's volleyball television schedule, and it featured Long Beach State at UC Santa Barbara on October 28. The match officially aired on a tape-delay basis on Sunday, Oct. 29 at 5 pm (PST). The 49ers defeated the Gauchos, 3-0.
The Gimmillaro File
Regarded as one of the top volleyball minds in the country, Brian Gimmillaro is in his 22nd season with The Beach. The Long Beach State graduate has continually taken the 49ers to new heights as one of the winningest and most successful volleyball programs over the past two decades. Because of Gimmillaro, Long Beach State has earned a place among the nation's elite. With three National Championships, eight Final Fours, 13 NCAA Regionals and 20 NCAA Tournaments to his credit, it is no wonder that Long Beach State enters every season as a national contender. Over the past 11 seasons, LBSU has won a National title, and has appeared in four Final Fours and six NCAA Regionals. Over that time, the team record is an impressive 303-52, including a combined 146-35 mark over the last six seasons. Thru the 2006 campaign, Gimmillaro has amassed a striking .810 winning percentage (595-140) over 22 seasons. Against one of the toughest conferences in the the country, the Big West, LBSU has won 78 percent (289-82) of their matches, including nine conference crowns. In 18 of the last 19 seasons, Gimmillaro's teams have won at least 20 matches, and in eight of the last 15 years, the team has won at least 30 matches. The 2005 squad won the Big West Conference Championship (co) and produced five all-conference selections (four first-team honors). Gimmillaro was selected as the Co-Coach of the Year. LBSU advanced to its 19th straight NCAA Playoff as well.
LB Picked to Repeat
The Long Beach State women's volleyball team earned six first-place votes and a total of 61 points to become the favorite to win the Big West Conference title, according to the pre-season coaches poll, released in early August. The 49ers will look to defend their Big West crown, when they enter the 2006 campaign with four returning starters from a squad that went 25-7 (12-2 in conference) and an appearance in the NCAA Tournament last season. Junior Alexis Crimes (Rancho Cucamonga) headlines the returnees, as the 6-3 middle blocker earned her second straight first-team All-Big West selection last season. She averaged 3.62 kills and 1.44 blocks per game as a sophomore. The 2006 roster features just two seniors, Mariko Crum (Phoenix, AZ) and Robin Miramontes (Upland). Crum was a Big West Honorable Mention last year, while Miramontes averaged over three kills per game in '05. Long Beach State has won nine conference titles since 1991. Finishing second in the pre-season coaches poll was Cal Poly, followed by UC Santa Barbara, Pacific, CS Fullerton, UC Irvine, CS Northridge, and UC Riverside.
Around the Big West (Provided by the League Office, As of 10/30)
While No. 19 Cal Poly (9-1) sits in the driver's seat for the 2006 Big West Volleyball Title, three other schools are still in the hunt for the top honor - Long Beach State (7-2), Cal State Northridge (6-3) and UC Santa Barbara (5-5).
After UC Irvine handed Cal Poly its first conference loss of the season last week, the Mustangs hit the road for matchups against Cal State Fullerton and UC Riverside. The Titans entertain Cal Poly on Friday evening, followed by a Highlander-Mustang showdown Saturday night with both contests scheduled for 7:00 p.m. Earlier this year Cal Poly swept both teams.
Holding on to the second spot in the league are the Long Beach State 49ers, who have a lighter load this week with just one scheduled matchup. The 49ers conclude their five-match road trip at UC Irvine on Saturday, Nov. 4 at 7:00 p.m. Back on Oct. 5, Long Beach State defeated the Anteaters with scores of 30-16, 25-30, 30-19, 30-19.
UC Irvine is coming on strong late in the year, winning three of its past four conference matches to improve to 3-5. The Anteaters' wins include five-game upsets over UC Santa Barbara and No. 19 Cal Poly. This week UC Irvine returns to Crawford Court to welcome Cal State Northridge (11/2) and Long Beach State (11/4). Thursday night's contest will be the first meeting between the Anteaters and Matadors, while UC Irvine fell to Long Beach State, 3-1, earlier this season.
Along with the Anteater showdown, Cal State Northridge, currently in third place in the league, takes a break from Big West action as they travel to UC Davis for a Saturday-night meeting with the Aggies. On Oct. 7, CSUN swept UC Davis with scores of 30-23, 30-23, 30-28.
UC Santa Barbara's fifth consecutive conference title is in jeopardy this week as they travel to UC Riverside (11/3) and Cal State Fullerton (11/4). The Gauchos, who are 2-0 this season against this weeks opponents, must win both contests and have Cal Poly suffer a loss to keep their Big West title dreams alive.
Last week Cal State Fullerton picked up its 15th win of the season with a sweep over Pacific on Saturday evening, solidifying the Titans' third winning season in school history. The Titans look to continue their success this week when they host Cal Poly (11/3) and UC Santa Barbara (11/4) at the Titan Gym. Both matches are slated for 7:00 p.m.
Pacific, 3-7 in Big West action, host non-conference UC Davis on Thursday, Nov. 2 for its lone match of the week.
Searching for their first league win of the season are the UC Riverside Highlanders. This week they welcome UC Santa Barbara and Cal Poly to the Student Recreation Center.
The 2006 49ers
Anchoring the middle blocker position will be junior Alexis Crimes. "Alexis is certainly one of the premier middles in the country in terms of physical ability and attitude," stated Gimmillaro. Last season, Crimes earned first team All-Big West, AVCA All-West Region, and AVCA All-America Honorable Mention selections. She averaged 3.62 kills and 1.44 blocks per game (No. 1 in the Big West), with a .378 attack percentage (No. 1 in the Big West). Crimes exploded on the national scene in 2004 when she was selected as a third team AVCA All-American (one of three freshman in the country to garner All-America honors). the AVCA West Region Freshman of the Year, AVCA All-West Region. Crimes dominated the league that year as well, earning Big West Conference Freshman of the Year honors (she joined Misty May as the second 49er to earn that distinction), and first team all-conference honors (she was the only freshman on the first team ballot). Crimes averaged 3.88 kills and 1.25 blocks per game with a .374 attack percentage in her first season in a 49er uniform.
A new face joins Crimes at the middle blocker position – the 6-4 Michaela Hasalikova. "Mischa (nickname) is a great player and a perfect compliment to Alexis as our other middle," noted Gimmillaro. "Mischa brings experience and a nice athletic ability to the position." Hasalikova earned championships with Masaryks University (located in Brno) in the Women's 1st Liga in 2003-04 and 2005-06, and was a juniors champion in 2001-02.
Gimmillaro will look to platoon sophomore Quincy Verdin, junior Heather Hetzer, and redshirt freshman Naomi Washington on the left side in '06. "Although lacking playing experience, all three bring great physical ability to the offense," stated Gimmillaro. Verdin played in 27 games in her first season at LBSU and averaged 3.30 kills per game, while Hetzer has shown to be a formidable option, averaging nearly 2.50 kills per game in her career. Washington showed signs of great improvement during spring workouts after her redshirt season in '05.
Securing the right side will be seniors Mariko Crum and Robin Miramontes, both of whom Gimmillaro described as skilled and experienced. Crum was a 2005 Big West Honorable selection, and averaged 2.22 kills and 1.01 blocks (No. 8 in the Big West) per game in '05. Her .298 attack percentage ranked ninth in the league as well. Miramontes, meanwhile, averaged a career-best 3.18 kills per game in 2005.
Just like last season, both setters, Dyanne Lawlor and Nicole Vargas, may play extensively. "Both of them greatly improved in skill level and strength in the off-season workouts," said Gimmillaro. Lawlor was a Big West Player of the Week (11/21) and averaged 12.85 assists and 1.81 digs per game last season. Her 12.85 assists per game was the ninth highest per-game average for a single season in school history. Vargas averaged 12.56 assists and 2.80 digs per game in her first season as a 49er, and finished 2005 with seven double-doubles.
The 49ers will try to replace an experienced back row (Heather Laudato, Sara Kroneberger, and Taylor Peyton) with junior veterans Iris Murray, Cynthia Buggs, and Sarah Hudson. "Iris will anchor the back row," explained Gimmillaro. "She will receive excellent support from Sarah and Cynthia." Murray played in 22 games last season and averaged 2.32 digs per game. Buggs transferred from Tennessee and averaged 3.09 digs per game with the Volunteers in '04, and also tallied 31 aces that season (UT went 32-3 in 2004). Hudson, meanwhile, transferred from Golden West College where she was on two state championship teams (2003 and 2004), and she earned first-team all-conference and all-state tournament team selections in 2004.
Long Beach State will look to defend its Big West title with a ninth overall in program history when conference play begins Sept. 29 vs. UC Santa Barbara. The 49ers were the Big West Conference pre-season favorites to repeat as champions.
As always, there is a sense of excitement before every season arrives, and for Gimmillaro and company, this team has the potential to keep fans smiling as they make another NCAA post-season run.
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