49ers Host Riverside, Fullerton
LB Still Has Chance to Claim a Share of BWC Title
November 6, 2006 PDF VERSION of this RELEASE 18-5, 8-2 Big West
Home: 11-2 • Away: 5-3 • Neutral: 2-0
AVCA Rank: RV (19)
Quickly
Long Beach State (18-5, 8-2) returns home from its five-match road trip to face UC Riverside (2-22, 0-12) on Friday, Nov. 10 at 7 pm, and CS Fullerton (16-9, 5-6) on Saturday, Nov. 11 at 7 pm. The 49ers are still in second place behind conference-leader Cal Poly (19-5, 11-1) after last week's action. CP has two remaining conference matches (2H/0A), while the 49ers have four BWC matches left (2H/2A). 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 4 Wins Away from 600
22nd year head coach Brian Gimmillaro is now 4 wins shy of 600 for his career at Long Beach State after the 49ers collected a 3-0 win at UCI on Saturday, Nov. 4.
Series History
LB leads the all-time series vs. UC Riverside, 24-3 dating back to 1964. Long Beach State swept the Highlanders on Oct. 21 (30-15, 30-24, 30-24). The 49ers in fact have won the last six meetings (all sweeps) and 11 of the last 12. CS Fullerton defeated Long Beach State 3-2 on Oct. 19, 1982. Since then, LB has won 47 straight meetings over the Titans, including a recent sweep on Oct. 20 (30-27, 30-26, 30-24). The 49ers lead the all-time series, 70-4.
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 cruised a sweep over UC Irvine on Saturday night in Crawford Hall. Game scores were 30-27, 30-25, 30-10. The 49ers improved to 18-5, 8-2 Big West. Alexis Crimes paced the 49ers with a match-best 13 kills, to go along with six blocks (three solo, three assists). Mariko Crum notched 11 kills on 14 swings (one error) for a .714 attack percentage, and Dyanne Lawlor chipped in with 10 kills. Nicole Vargas directed the 49er offense to a .346 attack percentage, while registering a career-high eight kills on 13 swings (no errors), with 34 assists, three aces, and six digs. Heather Hetzer had seven kills and a season-high three blocks. Long Beach State came on strong late and earned a 30-27 game one victory over UCI. The 49ers rallied from a 22-18 deficit with a 5-1 run to tie the score at 23-23 after a McCall Miller attack error. The 49ers scored the next five points and took a 28-23 lead after another UCI attack error, and eventually closed out the Anteaters on a UCI service error. Crum was stellar offensively, registering six kills (.857 attack percentage). The 49ers took command early in game two and came away with a 30-25 victory. LB built an early 11-7 lead after a Hetzer kill, before the Anteaters trimmed the deficit to 13-12 on a Miller service ace. Long Beach State kept its composure and went up by six points (24-18) after a Crimes kill, and won the stanza on a Vargas kill. The Beach opened game three with an 11-0 run and never looked back for the easy 30-10 victory.
Long Beach State's Big West Rankings (x) = rank
(1) hitting percentage, .243; (1) assists/g, 14.48; (2) blocks/g, 2.94; (1) kills/g, 15.87; (5) digs/g, 16.22
Returning Player Notes
Mariko Crum (Opp • 6-2 • Sr. • Phoenix, AZ/Horizon HS)
>>Averaging 2.71 Kills per Game in ‘06
• 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) 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 1.35 Blocks and 3.47 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 % (.358)
>>Became 13th player in school history have 1,000 or more kills on Oct. 3 vs. CSUN) -- Has 1,099
• 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 a season-high eight blocks vs. Oregon on Aug. 30
Heather Hetzer (OH • 6-1 • Jr. • Mukilteo, WA/Kamiak HS)
>>Has 22 Kills this Season
• 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 (S • 6-1 • Jr. • Yorba Linda, CA/Esperanza HS)
>>Has played in 38 Games in ‘06 and has Recorded 65 Assists and 85 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 4.01 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 12.35 Assists, 2.49 Digs per Game in ‘06
>>Ranks No. 2 in the BWC in Assists per Game
>>Team-High 23 Aces
• Had a career-best eight kills (8-0-13) and a season-high 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 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 .305 on the season (No. 7 Big West), and ranks No. 8 in the Big West in blocks per game (1.16)...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 (tied for 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. 8 in the Big West in digs per game (3.18) in 57 games played...Whitfield has 181 total digs...Whitfield has recorded double figures in digs in 10 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 304-52, including a combined 147-35 mark over the last six seasons. Thru the 2006 campaign, Gimmillaro has amassed a striking .810 winning percentage (596-140) over 22 seasons. Against one of the toughest conferences in the the country, the Big West, LBSU has won 78 percent (290-82) 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 11/6)
With a league-leading 11-1 record in Big West play, Cal Poly has the opportunity to claim their first conference championship since 1984 this week. If the Mustangs sweep their contests against Cal State Northridge (11/10) and Pacific (11/11), Cal Poly will beat out Long Beach State, Big West Defending Co-Champion, for the crown. If Cal Poly were to drop one of its final two league matches, the 49ers will remain in the conference title race.
In order for Long Beach State to capture back-to-back championships, the 49ers would need to win their final four conference matchups and hope for a Cal Poly loss. This week Long Beach State welcomes UC Riverside and Cal State Fullerton to The Walter Pyramid.
While the race for the crown enters the final stretch, their is another milestone on the horizon as Cal State Fullerton's Vanessa Vella inches her way into the Big West record books. When the Titans hit the road to face UC Irvine and Long Beach State, Vella, who is averaging 19.2 digs per match, is looking to break into the league's top 10 in career digs. At 1,524 career digs, she is jut 32 scoops away from cracking the top ten. With four matches left in the season, the junior libero will likely flirt with the top spot (1,711). As a team, Cal State Fullerton set their own milestone last week when they snapped a 25-year, 52-match losing streak to UC Santa Barbara, with a 3-2 victory.
With a preseason pick of seventh place in the Big West, Cal State Northridge seems to be fighting all odds as they securely hold the third place spot with a 6-4 record. Just three wins shy of posting their highest total since joining the conference, the Matadors face No. 17 Cal Poly (11/10) and UC Santa Barbara (11/10) for their final two conference road matches.
One of the hottest teams in the conference right now are the UC Irvine Anteaters. Winning three of their last four conference showdowns, the Anteaters conclude their four-match homestand this week when they entertain Cal State Fullerton and UC Riverside at Crawford Court. Earlier this season UC Irvine defeated UCR, but fell to the Titans.
Sitting at .500 (6-6) in the conference are the Gauchos of UC Santa Barbara. After suffering a 3-2 loss to Cal State Fullerton, UCSB returns home for its final two league contests against Pacific and Cal State Northridge.
UC Riverside, the lone team in the league that has been unable to collect a conference win, visits the 49ers and Anteaters.
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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