49ers Host Aggies and Tigers
Gimmillaro 10 Wins Away from 600
October 9, 2006 PDF VERSION of this RELEASE 12-4, 3-1 Big West
Home: 9-2 • Away: 1-2 • Neutral: 2-0
AVCA Rank: RV (16) Quickly
Long Beach State (12-4, 3-1) returns to action when it hosts UC Davis (2-16) on Friday, Oct. 13 at 7 pm, and Pacific (5-11, 2-2) on Saturday, Oct. 14 at 7 pm. The LB-CSUN match, played on Oct. 3, will air on Charter Communications on a tape-delay broadcast later in the week. Charter can be found on Channel 3 in the Long Beach/Signal Hill areas. Details on when the match will air will be released later.
Record Watch: Brian Gimmillaro 10 Wins Away from 600
22nd year head coach Brian Gimmillaro is now 10 wins shy of 600 for his career at Long Beach State
Series History
LB leads the all-time series vs. UC Davis, 4-0, dating back to 2004. The 49ers swept the Aggies in Davis, back on Sept. 23. In fact all four victories over UC Davis have all been sweeps. The 49ers hold a 27-24 series advantage over Pacific dating back to 1978. Long Beach State has won three straight meetings over the Tigers, and 9 of the last 10 since 2001.
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
Thanks to a season-high 15 kills from Robin Miramontes, the Long Beach State women's volleyball defeated UC Irvine, 3-1, from the Walter Pyramid on Thursday night (10/5). Game scores were 30-16, 25-30, 30-19, 30-19. Long Beach State improved to 12-4, 3-1 Big West. Mischa Hasalikova recorded 17 kills, and Alexis Crimes had 14 kills to highlight the top 49er scoring leaders. Iris Murray registered a match-best 18 digs as well. LB hit .301 for the match. Alexis Crimes became the 13th player in program history to record 1,000 or more kills, as the Long Beach State women's volleyball team toppled CS Northridge, 3-0 from the Walter Pyramid on Tuesday night (10/3). Game scores were 30-24, 31-29, 30-24. The win snapped the Matador win streak at six. Crimes finished the contest with 14 kills. The junior also posted four blocks. Naomi Washington chipped in with 12 kills as well. Nicole Vargas posted her ninth double-double with 41 assists and 13 digs. Iris Murray led everyone with 19 digs.
Long Beach State's Big West Rankings (x) = Rank
(1) hitting percentage, .233; (2) assists/g, 14.29; (2) blocks/g, 2.97; (2) kills/g, 15.62; (4) digs/g, 16.26
Returning Player Notes
Mariko Crum (Opp • 6-2 • Sr. • Phoenix, AZ/Horizon HS)
>>Averaging 2.57 Kills per Game in ‘06
• 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 2.77 Kills and 2.64 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 1.40 Blocks and 3.29 Kills per Game in ‘06
>>AVCA All-America Candidate; Big West Player of the Year Candidate
>>Big West Player of the Week (Sept. 11)
>>Ranks No. 2 in the BWC in Blocks per Game; No. 3 in Attack % (.341)
>>Became 13th player in school history have 1,000 or more kills on Oct. 3 vs. CSUN
• 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 13 Kills this Season
• 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 17 Games in ‘06 and has Recorded 63 Assists and 22 Kills
• 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 4.22 Digs Per Game in ‘06
>>Ranks No. 6 in the BWC in Digs per Game
>>Has eight matches with 15+ Digs
>>longbeachstate.com "Athlete of the Week" (9/4)
• 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 12.35 Assists, 2.67 Digs, and 0.78 Blocks per Game in ‘06
>>Ranks No. 3 in the BWC in Assists per Game
• 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 3.04 Kills per Game in ‘06
• 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 2.32 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 .323 on the season (No. 7 Big West), and ranks No. 7 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 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 49ers on CSTV
CSTV (College Sports Television) released its 2006 women's volleyball television schedule, and it features Long Beach State at UC Santa Barbara on October 28.
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 298-51, including a combined 141-34 mark over the last six seasons. Thru the 2006 campaign, Gimmillaro has amassed a striking .809 winning percentage (590-139) over 22 seasons. Against one of the toughest conferences in the the country, the Big West, LBSU has won 78 percent (285-81) 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 10/9)
With three weeks of Big West play in the record books, the nationally-ranked Cal Poly Mustangs sit on top of the leaderboard with an unblemished 5-0 record. This week the Mustangs, riding a six-match win streak, conclude a three-match home stand when they host Big West Defending Co-Champions UC Santa Barbara on Saturday night for their lone match of the week. Earlier this season Cal Poly knocked off UCSB, 3-1, and defending co-champions Long Beach State, 3-2.
Prior to the Mustang-Gaucho matchup, UC Santa Barbara (10-7/3-2 Big West) entertains Pepperdine, who just recently feel out of the polls, at The Thunderdome on Tuesday evening. The Gauchos, who are 1-3 against top 25 teams this season, carry a three-match win streak into this weekís contests.
Tied for second in the conference with a 3-1 record are the Long Beach State 49ers and the Cal State Northridge Matadors. LBSU wraps-up a six-match home stand when they welcome UC Davis and Pacific to The Walter Pyramid this weekend, where the 49ers are 9-2 this year. While this will be the first meeting of the year for Long Beach State and Pacific, the 49ers defeated the Aggies, 3-0, back in September.
The Matadors (10-5) hit the road this week when they visit Cal State Fullerton Friday evening, followed by a Saturday-night meeting with UC Riverside. Cal State Northridge has already notched a win against both teams this year.
After posting back-to-back victories for the first time this season and improving their conference record to 2-2, the Pacific Tigers hold steady in fifth place. This week the Tigers travel south for matchups against UC Riverside and Long Beach State. Pacific is undefeated against the Highlanders with an all-time record of 11-0, while the 49ers hold a 27-24 edge over the Tigers.
In search of their first Big West wins are the UC Irvine Anteaters and UC Riverside Highlanders. While the Anteaters take a break from league play with a nonconference matchup with UC Davis, UC Riverside hosts both Pacific and Cal State Northridge this weekend. Earlier this season the Highlanders dropped both contests to the Tigers and Matadors.
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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