49ers Wrap-Up Conference Play
Gimmillaro In-Line for Win No. 600
November 13, 2006 PDF VERSION of this RELEASE 20-5, 10-2 Big West
Home: 13-2 • Away: 5-3 • Neutral: 2-0
AVCA Rank: RV (37) Quickly
Long Beach State (20-5, 10-2) plays its final two conference matches on the road at CS Northridge (15-10, 6-6) on Thursday, Nov. 16, and Pacific (7-18, 3-9) on Saturday, Nov. 18. Both matches are slated for 7 pm. In other news, the 17th-ranked Cal Poly Mustangs snapped a 22-year title drought Friday at Mott Gym, after a sweep of Pacific ensured the program's first Big West Conference championship since 1984.
Record Watch: Brian Gimmillaro 2 Wins Away from 600
22nd year head coach Brian Gimmillaro is now 2 wins shy of 600 for his career at Long Beach State after the 49ers collected a 3-0 win over CS Fullerton on Saturday.
Another Team Record
Saturday's win over CS Fullerton marked the 19th time (in the last 20 seasons) that Long Beach State has won 20 or more matches in a season.
Series History
LB leads the all-time series over CS Northridge, 39-16, including a recent win over the Matadors on Oct. 3 in the Walter Pyramid (30-24, 31-29, 30-24). The 49ers have won the last three meetings, and four of the last five since 2004. Long Beach State owns a 28-24 series advantage over Pacific, including a sweep of the Tigers on Oct. 14 (30-13, 30-19, 30-20). LB has won the last four meetings and 10 of the last 11 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. NOTE: The Pacific-Long Beach State match will NOT be available on
longbeachstate.com, but will be available on www.pacifictigers.com
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
Led by another quality performance from Alexis Crimes, and a solid contribution from Mischa Hasalikova, the Long Beach State women's volleyball team toppled CS Fullerton, 3-0, in the Walter Pyramid on Saturday night. Game scores were 30-23, 30-11, 30-28. Long Beach State improved to 20-5, 10-2 Big West, while CS Fullerton fell to 16-11, 5-8 Big West The win marked the 19th time (in the last 20 seasons) that Long Beach State has won 20 or matches in a season. The win also moved Head Coach Brian Gimmillaro just two wins shy of 600 for his career. LBSU has won 48 straight meetings over the Titans dating back to 1982.Crimes finished the contest with 12 kills, while Hasalikova notched a match-bet 13 kills. Heather Hetzer added seven kills and Talaya Whitfield had a match-best 15 digs. Long Beach State hit .312 for the match. Long Beach State cruised to a 3-0 match sweep over UC Riverside at the Walter Pyramid on Friday night. Game scores were 30-13, 30-11, 30-28. The 49ers improved to 19-5, 9-2 Big West, while the Highlanders fell to 2-23, 0-12 Big West. Alexis Crimes paced the 49ers with 14 kills. Nicole Vargas had 39 assists and directed the 49er offense to a .351 hitting clip.
Long Beach State's Big West Rankings (x) = rank
(1) hitting percentage, .248; (1) assists/g, 14.55; (2) blocks/g, 2.96; (1) kills/g, 15.94; (1) opponent hitting percentage, .147; (5) digs/g, 16.18
Returning Player Notes
Mariko Crum (Opp • 6-2 • Sr. • Phoenix, AZ/Horizon HS)
>>Averaging 2.66 Kills per Game in ‘06
• Had seven kills and six blocks vs. Riverside on Nov. 10
• Hit .714 (11-1-14) with a career-high five assists at UC Irvine on Nov. 4
• Hit .429 (9-0-21) with four assists and eight digs at UC Riverside on Oct. 21
• Hit .533 (9-1-15) 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 2.58 Kills and 2.48 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 15 digs) vs. Mizzou
Alexis Crimes (MB • 6-3 • Jr. • Rancho Cucamonga, CA/Etiwanda HS)
>>Averaging 1.35 Blocks and 3.53 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. 3 in the BWC in Blocks per Game; No. 2 in Attack % (.365)
>>Became 13th player in school history have 1,000 or more kills on Oct. 3 vs. CSUN) -- Has 1,125
• Hit .449 and averaged 4.33 kills per game in LB's two wins over UCR and CSUF (Nov. 10-11)
• Tallied a match-high 13 kills with six blocks (3 solo) at UCI on Nov. 4
• 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 eight blocks vs. Oregon on Aug. 30
Heather Hetzer (OH • 6-1 • Jr. • Mukilteo, WA/Kamiak HS)
>>Has 35 Kills this Season
• Had seven kills vs. CS Fullerton on Nov. 11
• Chipped in seven kills with season-highs in digs (2) and blocks (3) at UC Irvine on Nov. 4
• 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 (OH/S • 6-1 • Jr. • Yorba Linda, CA/Esperanza HS)
>>Has played in 44 Games in ‘06 and has Recorded 65 Assists and 98 Kills
• Posted a career-best four aces and a season-high 10 digs vs. CS Fullerton on Nov. 11
• Had 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 3.92 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 12.37 Assists, 2.47 Digs per Game in ‘06
>>Ranks No. 2 in the BWC in Assists per Game
>>Team-High 27 Aces
• Tied a career-best four aces vs. Riverside on Nov. 10
• Had a career-best eight kills (8-0-13) and three aces, while directing the 49er offense to a .346 attack % at UC Irvine on Nov. 4
• 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 2.96 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 .314 on the season (No. 5 Big West), and ranks No. 10 in the Big West in blocks per game (1.15)...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 (25 aces this season) 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. 8 in the Big West in digs per game (3.22) in 63 games played...Whitfield has 203 total digs...Whitfield has recorded double figures in digs in 11 matches
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 306-52, including a combined 149-35 mark over the last six seasons. Thru the 2006 campaign, Gimmillaro has amassed a striking .810 winning percentage (598-140) over 22 seasons. Against one of the toughest conferences in the the country, the Big West, LBSU has won 78 percent (292-82) of their matches, including nine conference crowns. In 19 of the last 20 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.
Around the Big West (Provided by the League Office, As of 11/13)
With an impressive 13-1 Big West record, the 16th-ranked Cal Poly Mustangs captured their first conference title in 22 years and received the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. The last time Cal Poly qualified for postseason play was in 2002 when the Mustangs received an at-large berth. The Mustangs, who have won 14 of the past 15 contests, travel to UC Davis on Saturday night for their final matchup of the regular season. Cal Poly now awaits for the NCAA to announce the 64-team field on Sunday, Nov. 26 at 11:30 a.m. (PST).
Dethroned by the Mustangs are Long Beach State and UC Santa Barbara. The 49ers, who have two more matches against conference foes Cal State Northridge and Pacific, dropped both matches to Cal Poly and fell out of the running for the conference title. Winning at least a share of the Big West title over the past four seasons, UC Santa Barbara (8-6) finishes in third place for the first time since the 2001 season. Like Cal Poly, the Gauchos travel to UC Davis for their lone match of the week.
Sitting in fourth place with a 6-6 record are the Cal State Northridge Matadors. With two conference matches remaining, CSUN has the potential to tie UCSB for third place. This week the Matadors welcome Long Beach State (11/16) and UC Irvine (11/18) to The Matadome for their final home contests of the season.
Also eyeing the third place spot is UC Irvine (6-6), who exploded on the scene late in the year with five conference wins over the past six contests. The Anteaters travel to Pacific and Cal State Northridge in hopes of adding two more wins to tie for third in the conference, their best finish since the 2003 season where they finished in a tie for second at 12-6.
Cal State Fullerton (5-8) and UC Riverside face off at the Student Recreation Center on Friday, Nov. 17 for their final Big West match of the season. The Highlanders are still searching for their first conference win of the season.
The Tigers return home this week for a four-match homestand that will close-out the 2006 season. This week Pacific will entertain UC Irvine and Long Beach State in the Alex G. Spanos center before hosting the 28th Annual Bankers Classic over the Thanksgiving holiday.
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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