49ers Face Pepperdine in NCAA 1st Round
Gimmillaro is 11-0 vs. The Waves
November 28, 2006 PDF VERSION of this RELEASE 25-5, 12-2 Big West
Home: 16-2 • Away: 7-3 • Neutral: 2-0
AVCA Rank: RV (51) Quickly
The NCAA Division I Women's Volleyball Committee announced Sunday, Nov. 26 the 64-team field for the 2006 NCAA Division I Women's Volleyball Championship, and the Long Beach State 49ers will be hosting first and second round matches on December 1 & 2 at the Walter Pyramid. Joining the 49ers are Pepperdine (16-11), Oregon (17-11) and Hawaii (26-5). On Dec. 1 Hawaii faces Oregon at 5 pm, and at 7 pm, Long Beach State faces Pepperdine. Saturday's second round match time is 7 pm. Long Beach State (25-5) makes its 21st tournament appearance and 20th in a row (1985, 1987-2006). The last time the 49ers hosted a first and second round was in 2001. That season LBSU advanced all the way to the NCAA Championship. The 49ers have posted a 45-17 record in NCAA post-season play.
Tournament Notes and Facts
>>Long Beach State by the Numbers
3 - NCAA Championships (1998, 1993, 1989)
8 - NCAA Final Four Appearances (2001, 1999-98, 1997, 1993-91, 1989)
21- NCAA Tournament Appearances (1985, 1987-2006)
NCAA Record Breakdown
• Overall NCAA Record: 45-17
>>Last NCAA Match: L, 1-3 to San Diego (2005 1st Rd., at UCLA)
• Home NCAA Record: 27-1
>>Last NCAA Home Match: W, 3-0 vs. UCLA (2001 West Region Final in the Walter Pyramid)
>>LBSU won its 1st and 2nd Round Matches and both Regional Matches in 2001 in the Walter Pyramid
• Walter Pyramid NCAA Record: 16-0
>>The 49ers have been playing in the Walter Pyramid since 1994
• NCAA 1st Round Record: 11-5
>>The 49ers are 2-3 in first round matches since 2001
• NCAA 2nd Round Record: 8-2
Tournament Capsules
Long Beach State:
Overall: 25-5
Big West Conference: 2nd place, 12-2
At-Large Selection
21st appearance in NCAA tournament
NCAA Champions: 1989, 1993, 1998
NCAA playoffs record: 45-17
AVCA ranking: Receiving votes
One of five teams (Stanford, Penn State, UC Santa Barbara and Nebraska are the others) to appear in the last 20 NCAA tournaments (1987-2006).
Pepperdine:
Overall: 16-11
West Coast Conference: 2nd place, 11-3
At-Large Selection
18th appearance in NCAA tournament
Highest finish: Regional final (2002)
NCAA playoffs record: 14-17
AVCA ranking: #24
The Waves are 15-15-1 all-time against Long Beach State. The Beach has won 11 in a row vs. Pepperdine; the Waves have not defeated LBSU since 1984. LBSU and Pepperdine have not faced each other in the NCAA playoffs. LBSU traveled to Pepperdine in 2002 and 2003, but did not face the Waves.
Pepperdine is 3-24 overall vs. Hawaii, and 0-3 in the NCAA playoffs vs. the Rainbow Wahine. The Waves are 3-1 all-time vs. Oregon, and have not played the Ducks in the NCAA playoffs.
The Waves defeated #14 Cal Poly, #17 San Diego (split two matches) and #21 Santa Clara (split two matches) this season. Their other losses were to #4 UCLA (in 5 games), #6 USC, #8 Texas, #12 Hawaii (twice in 5 games; 5th game scores were 15-17 and 19-21, respectively), #15 Cal, #22 Purdue, and unranked UC Santa Barbara and Loyola Marymount.
Pepperdine is led by hard-hitting left-side Julie Rubinstein (sophomore, 3.50 kills per game, .220 hitting percentage) and middle blocker Sophia Milo (senior, 3.41 kills per game, .355). Freshman left-side hitter Rachel Lumsden tallied 3.47 kpg this season. The Waves' back-row defense is anchored by libero Kekai Crabbe (senior, 4.88 digs per game) and junior defensive specialist Nina Baltimore. Crabbe was named to the West Coast Conference first team and WCC Defensive Player of the Year. Milo and Rubenstein were also WCC first-team selections. Setter Kiah Fiers was named WCC Freshman of the Year, and joined Rachel Lumsden and Kayla Walker on the all-freshman team. Fiers and Lumsden were also WCC honorable mention honorees. Junior back-up setter Chevon Crum is the sister of LBSU's Mariko Crum.
Hawaii:
Overall: 26-5
Western Athletic Conference: 1st place, 15-1
Won Conference Tournament—received automatic bid
25th appearance in NCAA tournament (not selected in 1992)
NCAA Champions: 1982, 1983, 1987
NCAA playoffs record: 58-21
AVCA ranking: #12
National Seed: #12
The Rainbow Wahine are 6-1 all-time against Oregon, and 0-1 in the NCAA playoffs (1984). The 1984 match vs. Oregon is the Ducks' sole win in the NCAA tournament.
Hawaii is 22-15-11 all-time vs. Long Beach State, but 6-15 since December 1989. The Rainbow Wahine are 1-5 in the playoffs vs. Long Beach State; Hawaii's only post-season win vs. The Beach was in the regional seminal at Honolulu in 2000. Hawaii is winless (0-4) in the Walter Pyramid. Hawaii lost to Long Beach State in the regular season in 1997 and 2000 in Long Beach; the Rainbow Wahine also lost to Loyola Marymount (1997) and UCLA (2001) in the Walter Pyramid. Hawaii is 24-3 (3-0 in the NCAA tourney) all-time vs. Pepperdine.
The Rainbow Wahine defeated #14 Cal Poly (split two 5-game matches), #19 New Mexico State (split two matches), and #24 Pepperdine (won two 5-game matches). Hawaii's other losses were to #2 Stanford, #4 UCLA and #7 Florida.
Seven Hawaii players garnered WAC All-Conference honors. Senior setter Kanoe Kamana`o is a three-time WAC Player of the Year. She is only the second player to win the WAC POY three times (the other was the Rainbow Wahine's Kim Willoughby). So. Jamie Houston, Jr. Sarah Mason, Jr. Juliana Sanders and Kamana`o were named to the WAC All-Conference First Team. Libero Jayme Lee and Amber Kaufman were named to the All-Freshman team. Jamie Houston is averaging 5.50 kills per game and is hitting .249 for the season. Sarah Mason is hitting .261 and averaging 4.00 kills per game this year.
Oregon:
Overall: 17-11
Pacific-10 Conference: 6th place, 7-11
At-large selection
5th appearance in NCAA tournament (last selected in 1989)
Highest finish: Round of 16 (1984—28 teams in tourney)
NCAA playoffs record: 1-4
AVCA ranking: Receiving votes
The Ducks are 1-6 all-time against Hawaii, and 1-0 in the NCAA playoffs (1984). The 1984 match vs. Hawaii is the Ducks' sole win in the NCAA tournament.
Oregon is 2-6 all-time vs. Long Beach State, including a victory earlier this season at Walter Pyramid. The Ducks have not played LBSU in the post-season. Oregon is 1-3 all-time vs. Pepperdine; all of those matches were in the regular season.
Oregon split two matches with #15 Cal, and lost to #2 Stanford (twice), #3 Washington (twice), #4 UCLA (twice), #6 USC (twice), and unranked Arizona (split two matches) and Arizona State (split two matches).
The Ducks have five foreign players on their roster. Oregon is coached by Jim Moore, a Long Beach State alum (1980). Sophomore outside hitter Mira Djuric is hitting .255 and averaging 3.38 kills per game. Djuric was voted best server in Europe at Under-18 European championships in Croatia. Sonja Newcombe, a freshman from Lake Arrowhead, is averaging 3.60 kills per game and is hitting .212 on the season.
Jim Moore was named Pac 10 Coach of the Year for 2006, guiding the Ducks to their best season since 1989. Sonja Newcombe received honorable mention honors on the All-Pac-10 team this season. She was also named to the all-freshman team for the Pac-10. Nevena Djordjevic and Neticia Enesi were honorable mention all-freshman honorees for the Pac-10.
Crimes Earns Fourth BWC Player of the Week Honor
Alexis Crimes of the Long Beach State women's volleyball team earned her second straight (and fourth overall) Big West Player of the Week honor as announced by the league office on Nov. 27. Crimes becomes the first player since UC Irvine's Kelly Wing in 2003 to earn four Player of the Week honors in a season. Crimes (Rancho Cucamonga) helped guide Long Beach State to three wins over Virginia Commonwealth, Albany, and Western Michigan last weekend in the Baden Thanksgiving Classic, by averaging 5.11 kills and 2.11 blocks per game, while hitting .521. Crimes posted 15 kills and six blocks vs. Va. Commonwealth on Nov. 24 and hit .720 (19-1-25) vs. Albany on Nov. 25. In the regular season finale the 6-3 middle blocker registered 12 kills and nine blocks vs. Western Michigan.
Crimes Earns Player of the Year Honors; 49ers Land Four on All-Conference
Junior Alexis Crimes of the Long Beach State women's volleyball team was selected as the 2006 Big West Conference co-Player of the Year as announced by the league office on Tuesday. Crimes also landed a spot on the first team all-conference ballot as well, shared the Player of the Year honor with Cal Poly's Kylie Atherstone. This is the third straight year that Crimes has been a first team all-conference performer.
She joins Nichelle Burton, Tara Cross, Misty May, Danielle Scott, Cheryl Weaver, and Antoinnette White as the other previous 49ers to earn the distinction of Player of the Year. Joining Crimes on the all-conference list were Nicole Vargas, Mariko Crum and Mischa Hasalikova. Crimes, Vargas and Hasalikova were named to the first team while Crum earned honorable mention honors.
Crimes (Rancho Cucamonga) had one of her best seasons in a 49er uniform, posting 3.66 kills and 1.34 blocks per game. The three-time Big West Player of the Week selection also posted a .379 attack percentage and 14 service aces. Crimes became the 13th player in school history to record 1,000 or more kills when she accomplished that feat on Oct. 3 vs. CS Northridge. Crimes registered a season-high 21 kills to go along with 10 blocks vs. UC Santa Barbara on Sept. 29, and posted a season-high 12 blocks vs. UNLV on Sept. 15.
Vargas (Seal Beach) averaged 12.51 assists, 2.38 digs, and 1.02 kills per game this season. The 5-8 sophomore has recorded a team-high 28 aces, including a career-best four aces vs. UC Riverside on Nov. 10. Vargas had a career-best eight kills and three aces, while directing the 49er offense to a .346 attack % at UC Irvine on Nov. 4. She recorded three consecutive double-doubles at the Nebraska Labor Day Invitational, and had season-highs in assists (69) and digs (13) vs. Cal Poly on Oct. 30.
Crum, a senior from Phoenix, AZ, is averaging 2.73 kills per game this season, and recently posted back-to-back double-doubles at CS Northridge (11 kills, 10 digs) on Nov. 16 and 11 kills and 11 digs at Pacific on Nov. 18. Crum hit .714 (11-1-14) with a career-high five assists at UC Irvine on Nov. 4, and hit .429 (9-0-21) with four assists and eight digs at UC Riverside on Oct. 21. Crum was a Big West Honorable Mention in 2005.
Hasalikova's first season at The Beach has proved successful after averaging 2.93 kills and 1.16 blocks per game. Hasalikova (Vsetin, Czech Republic) made her 49er debut vs. Missouri with six kills, and followed that up with an 11 kill performance vs. Alabama State on Aug. 26. The junior registered a career-high nine blocks vs. Middle Tennessee State on Sept. 1, and had a career-best 21 kills vs. UC Santa Barbara on Sept. 15.
Gimmillaro Gets No. 600
22nd year head coach Brian Gimmillaro earned career victory No. 600 on Saturday, Nov. 18, after the 49ers dispatched the Pacific Tigers in three games. "It's an honor to get No. 600," said Gimmillaro. "I wish we could have done it at home. But it makes me think back to the thousands of memories over the years and the great players that have come through this program, and the great support I've received from the university. It's a nice feeling."
Gimmillaro Milestone Wins
1st Win: Sept. 7, 1985
100th Win: Oct. 24, 1989
200th Win: Oct. 30, 1992
300th Win: Sept. 14, 1996
400th Win: Sept. 10, 1999
500th Win: Oct. 19, 2002
600th Win: Nov. 18, 2006
Another 49er Team Record
Long Beach State's 3-0 win over CS Fullerton on Nov. 11 marked the 19th time (in the last 20 seasons) that Long Beach State has won 20 or more matches in a season.
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.
Long Beach State's Big West Rankings (x) = rank
(1) hitting percentage, .259; (1) assists/g, 14.68; (2) blocks/g, 3.04; (1) kills/g, 16.10; (1) opponent hitting percentage, .149; (5) digs/g, 16.34
Returning Player Notes
Mariko Crum (Opp • 6-2 • Sr. • Phoenix, AZ/Horizon HS)
>>Averaging 2.74 Kills per Game in ‘06
>>Big West Honorable Mention
>>Ranks 7th in the Big West in Hitting % (.311)
• Averaged 2.78 kills and 1.56 blocks per game in the Baden Thanksgiving Tournament (Nov. 24-25)
• Posted back-to-back double-doubles at CSUN (11 kills, 10 digs) on Nov. 16 and 11 kills and 11 digs at Pacific on Nov. 18
• Had seven kills and six blocks vs. Riverside on Nov. 10
• Hit .714 (11-1-14) 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 2.49 Kills and 2.16 Digs per Game in ‘06
• Had 10 kills at CS Northridge on Nov. 16
• 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 (Aug. 25)
Alexis Crimes (MB • 6-3 • Jr. • Rancho Cucamonga, CA/Etiwanda HS)
>>Averaging 1.41 Blocks and 3.79 Kills per Game in ‘06
>>AVCA All-America Candidate
>>2006 Co-Big West Player of the Year; 1st Team All-Big West
>>Four-time Big West Player of the Week (Sept. 11, Oct. 16, Nov. 20, Nov. 27)
>>Ranks No. 2 in the BWC in Blocks per Game; No. 2 in Attack % (.393)
>>Became 13th player in school history have 1,000 or more kills on Oct. 3 vs. CSUN) -- Has 1,208
• Averaged 5.11 kills (.521 attack %) and 2.11 blocks per game in the Baden Thanksgiving Tournament (Nov. 24-25)
• Hit .508 and averaged 5.29 kills per game while committing only four errors vs. CSUN and Pacific (Nov. 16-18)
• 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 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 43 Kills this Season
• Registered eight kills on 20 swings (one error) vs. WMU on Nov. 25
• 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 57 Games in ‘06 and has Recorded 65 Assists and 126 Kills
>>Ranks 4th in the Big West in Service Aces per Game (0.33/g)
• Tied a career-high four aces with 10 kills at CSUN on Nov. 16
• 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 3.82 Digs Per Game in ‘06
>>Ranks No. 7 in the BWC in Digs per Game
>>Has 10 matches with 15+ Digs
>>longbeachstate.com "Athlete of the Week" (9/4)
• Had 19 digs at CS Northridge on Nov. 16
• 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 12.54 Assists, 2.40 Digs per Game in ‘06
>>1st Team All-Big West
>>Ranks No. 3 in the BWC in Assists per Game
>>Ranks No. 6 in the BWC in Service Aces per Game (0.32/g)
>>Team-High 31 Aces
• Averaged 12.78 assists, 2.67 digs, and 1.00 blocks per game in the Baden Thanksgiving Tournament (Nov. 24-25)
• Had five kills on 13 swings, no errors, for a .385 attack percentage with 58 assists at CS Northridge on Nov. 16
• 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 (Aug. 25)
Quincy Verdin (OH • 6-0 • So. • Morgan City, LA/Central Catholic HS)
>>Averaging 2.94 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 was selected to the first team All-Big West...She 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...Mischa hit .550 (12-1-20) at CS Northridge on Nov. 16...Hasalikova is hitting .332 on the season (No. 3 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 (30 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 a career-high in kills (9) vs. Cal Poly on Sept. 30 and a career-high 23 digs vs. Western Michigan on Nov. 25...She ranks No. 8 in the Big West in digs per game (3.56) in 79 games played...Whitfield has 281 total digs...Whitfield has recorded double figures in digs in 16 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. 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 21 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 311-52, including a combined 154-35 mark over the last six seasons. Thru the 2006 campaign, Gimmillaro has amassed a striking .811 winning percentage (603-140) over 22 seasons. Against one of the toughest conferences in the the country, the Big West, LBSU has won 78 percent (294-82) 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 11/27)
The Big West Conference received three bids to the 2006 NCAA Tournament as the NCAA announced the 64-team field for the 2006 Women's Volleyball Tournament. Cal Poly (22-5) earned the conference's automatic qualifier after winning the Big West title, while Long Beach State (25-5) and UC Santa Barbara (19-11) received at-large berths.
The Mustangs, making their first appearance in the tournament since 2002, are seeded 15th and will host the first two rounds as they welcome Michigan (21-12), California (20-9) and LSU (26-5) to Mott Gym. In the first round the Golden Bears take on the Tigers Friday at 6:00 p.m., followed by a Mustang-Wolverine matchup at 8:00 p.m. The winner of the two matches will meet on Saturday at 7:00 p.m. with the winner advancing to the Texas Regional. Cal Poly holds an overall NCAA record of 10-12, but boasts a 6-2 (.750) record when playing at home.
Joining the Mustangs as one of 16 host institutions is Long Beach State. The 49ers are making their 20th consecutive tournament appearance this season as they entertain Pepperdine (16-11), Oregon (17-11) and 12-seeded Hawaii (26-5) Dec. 1-2. The 49ers host the Waves at 7:00 p.m. with an earlier matchup between the Ducks and the Rainbow Warriors in round one. The winning teams continue to the second round on Saturday at 7:00 p.m. for a chance to move on to the Hawaii Regional. The 49ers, who have won three National Championships, hold an impressive 27-2 (.726) NCAA home record. The last time LBSU hosted a first and second round was in 2001 when the 49ers advanced all the way to the NCAA Championship. Tickets for LBSU's first and second rounds go on sale Monday, Nov. 27 at 10:00 a.m. The Walter Pyramid Box Office can be reached at (562) 985-4949.
UC Santa Barbara keeps its NCAA-record 26th consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance alive as they travel to USC (25-4) for a showdown with BYU (24-5) in the first round of competition. The Cougars and Gauchos will play at 5:00 p.m. before the Women of Troy face the Mississippi (19-12) at 7:00 p.m. The winners of both matches will face each other in a second-round contest on Friday at 7 p.m. for a trip to the Hawaii Regional.
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.
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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