49ers Host Oregon; Travel to No. 1 Nebraska
LB 3-0 on the Young Season
August 28, 2006 PDF VERSION of this RELEASE 3-0, 0-0 Big West
Home: 3-0 • Away: 0-0 • Neutral: 0-0
AVCA Rank: RV (64)
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Long Beach State (3-0) hosts the Oregon Ducks (2-0) on Wednesday at 7:30 pm, before traveling to Nebraska for the Huskers Labor Day Tournament, Sept. 1-3. LB takes on Middle Tennessee State on Friday, St. Mary's on Saturday, and concludes with host and No. 1-ranked Nebraska on Sunday. The last time Long Beach State faced a No. 1-ranked opponent was Nebraska on Sept. 1, 2001 (W, 3-1).
Series History
LB leads the all-time series vs. Oregon, 6-1, including three straight...The 49ers last faced the Ducks on Sept. 9, 1994, and came away with a 3-0 victory...LB has only faced Oregon once at home (1969). as five of the six wins were at neutral sites...The 49ers will face Middle Tennessee State for the first time...LB is 3-0 all-time vs. St. Mary's...The 49ers defeated the Gaels in four last season (Sept. 24)...LB leads the all-time series with Nebraska, 5-3...The 49ers defeated the Huskers in ‘01 in four games (Sept. 1).
Quick Sets from Last Week's Action
The 49ers won their 14th consecutive season opener after a 3-0 triumph over 13th-ranked Missouri on Friday...The 30-7, 30-7, 30-6 victory over Alabama State on Saturday was the largest total margin of victory for a Long Beach State team in the rally scoring era (rally scoring began in 2001)...The opening night attendance of 2,009 on Friday vs. Missouri was the first time since the 2002 season opener that an "opening night" attendance was over 2,000.
Returning Player Notes
Mariko Crum (Opp • 6-2 • Sr. • Phoenix, AZ/Horizon HS)
>>2005 Big West Honorable Mention
• 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)
>>Averaged a career-best 3.18 kills per game in '05
• Registered a double-double on opening night (11 kills and a career-high 15 digs) vs. Mizzou
• Posted 11 kills vs. Villanova on Aug. 26
Alexis Crimes (MB • 6-3 • Jr. • Rancho Cucamonga, CA/Etiwanda HS)
>>First team All-Big West selection… AVCA All-West Region… AVCA All-America Honorable Mention
• Netted seven blocks vs. Missouri (8/25)
• Had a career-high five aces vs. Alabama St. on Aug. 26
• Hit .750 (13-1-16) vs. Villanova on Aug .26
Heather Hetzer (OH • 6-1 • Jr. • Mukilteo, WA/Kamiak HS)
>>Played in 10 games last season
•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)
>>Big West Player of the Week (11/21/05)… Averaged 12.85 assists and 1.81 digs per game in '05
• Tallied 21 assists and two kills vs. Alabama St. on Aug. 26
Iris Murray (DS • 5-5 • Jr. • Artesia, CA/Gahr HS)
>>Played in 22 games… Averaged 2.32 digs per game in ‘05
• 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)
>>Averaged 12.56 assists and 2.80 digs per game in '05
• Opened the season with 37 assists, seven digs, four blocks, three kills, and two aces vs. Missouri
• Directed the 49er offense to a .314 attack percentage vs. Villanova, while registering 43 assists and two aces on Aug. 26.
Quincy Verdin (OH • 6-0 • So. • Morgan City, LA/Central Catholic HS)
>>Played in 27 games in her first season at LBSU and averaged 3.30 kills per game
• Posted a match-high 12 kills vs. Missouri on Aug. 25
Naomi Washington (OH • 6-3 • R-Fr. • New Orleans, LA/Warren Easton HS)
>>Redshirt season in ‘05
• 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...Hasalikova is hitting .380 on the season...Sarah Hudson registered three aces vs. Alabama St. on Aug. 26...Cynthia Buggs posted eight digs vs. Villanova on Aug. 26
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 289-47 (.860), including a combined 132-30 mark (.825) over the last six seasons. Thru the 2006 campaign, Gimmillaro has amassed a striking .811 winning percentage (581-135) over 22 seasons. Against one of the toughest conferences in the the country, the Big West, LBSU has won 78 percent (282-80) 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)
All eight Big West schools are slated to compete in various tournaments around the country this week, including Long Beach State, who heads to Lincoln, Neb., for the Labor Day Tournament to take on 2005 National Runner-Up Nebraska. The 49ers face Oregon at The Walter Pyramid on Thursday, Aug. 30 before hitting the road.
Also heading towards the midwest are the UC Riverside Highlanders who will face Northern Arizona, Bowling Green and Denver at the University of Denver Tournament. Reno, Nev., is set to host the Pacific Tigers this weekend as they take on Montana and host Nevada.
The remaining five schools will scatter throughout the Golden State to participate in a variety of tournaments, three of which are hosted by Big West members. Cal State Fullerton is set to host the Four Points Titan Classic, the Cal State Northridge Matadome is home to the Fremont Investment Invitational and the Anteaters gain home-court advantage with the UC Irvine Classic. Prior to the tournament, UC Irvine kicks-off the home portion of its 2006 schedule on Thursday when they welcome nationally-ranked San Diego to Crawford Court.
Cal Poly, in the midst of a 11-match road trip, heads to Malibu, Calif., to face its toughest competition of the year at the Pepperdine Tournament. In the two-day tournament the Mustangs will face Long Island on Friday, followed by two matches against nationally-ranked teams - Texas and Pepperdine.
San Francisco, Calif., is the site for the USF Powerade/Asics Classic where UC Santa Barbara will face San Jose State and host San Francisco. This marks the first tournament of the season for the Gauchos.
Last Week's Recap
After one week of play, three Big West schools remain undefeated, which includes Long Beach State (3-0) who upset No. 13 Missouri in the 49ers first match of the Long Beach State Tournament. Also remaining undefeated after LBSU's tournament is Cal State Fullerton who went 2-0. At the UNLV Tournament, the Cal Poly Mustangs swept the field to start the season with a 3-0 record.
Cal State Northridge walked away with two wins and one loss after competing at the San Diego State Invitational, while UC Santa Barbara went 1-1 after downing Fresno State and falling to No. 4 Stanford. Still looking for their first victories of the 2006 season are UC Irvine (0-2), Pacific (0-3) and UC Riverside (0-3).
For the week, the conference went 11-10 overall and 1-4 against top 25 teams. Three different Big West players were named to their respective all-tournament teams - Kylie Atherstone, Cal Poly (UNLV Tournament), Harmony Burdine (San Diego State Invitational) and Julie Magud, Pacific (Fresno State Invitational).
2006 49er Season Preview
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.
If the pieces fall into place for Gimmillaro, he hopes that the '06 schedule will provide a healthy challenge for his squad. LBSU opens the season at home versus the Missouri Tigers, a team that went 25-5 last season and made it all the way to an NCAA Regional Final. The Tigers are ranked No. 13 in the AVCA Top 25 poll released in early August. Then the biggest challenge awaits the 49ers on Sept. 3 when they travel to Lincoln to face the pre-season No. 1-ranked Nebraska Cornhuskers. Nebraska was the National Runner-up last season and finished with a 33-2 record.
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.
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