UCSB and Cal Poly Invade Walter Pyramid
Mustangs Ranked No. 20 in the Country
September 25, 2006 PDF VERSION of this RELEASE 9-3, 0-0 Big West
Home: 6-1 • Away: 1-2 • Neutral: 2-0
AVCA Rank: RV (26) Quickly
Long Beach State (9-3) opens conference play this weekend vs. UC Santa Barbara (6-6) and nationally ranked Cal Poly (9-4) from the Walter Pyramid on Friday and Saturday respectively. The 49ers were a pre-season favorite to repeat as conference champions according to the coaches poll released in August. LBSU has won nine conference titles in program history. The 49ers did drop out of this week's AVCA Top 25 poll, but did collect 26 "Receiving Votes".
Series History
Long Beach State and UC Santa Barbara renew their rivalry on Friday, with the 49ers owning a 50-33 series advantage dating back to 1965. LB snapped its seven-match losing streak to the Gauchos on Oct. 29 last season. Long Beach State has a 31-11 series edge over Cal poly dating back to 1966. The Mustangs split their series with the 49ers last season, after claiming a five-game win at the Walter Pyramid on Oct. 28. LB has won five of the last six meetings vs. CP.
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's Highlights
Long Beach State struggled at Sacramento State with a 3-0 loss to the Hornets on Thursday. Quincy Verdin led Long Beach State with 10 kills in the losing The 49ers committed 27 attack errors and hit just .088 for the match. Sacramento State hit just .205 for the match, but patrolled the net with a decisive 19-9 advantage in blocks. The 49ers rebounded with a 3-0 win at Davis on Saturday night, as Alexis Crimes led a trio of 49ers in double-figure scoring with 14 kills on 23 swings (three errors) for a .478 attack percentage. Mischa Hasalikova posted 11 kills on 16 swings for a .562 hitting percentage, and Quincy Verdin chipped in with 11 kills as well to highlight the top kill leaders. Nicole Vargas missed her seventh double-double of the season, but did record 44 assists and nine digs, while directing the 49er offense to a .314 attack percentage.
Returning Player Notes
Mariko Crum (Opp • 6-2 • Sr. • Phoenix, AZ/Horizon HS)
>>Averaging 2.80 Kills per Game in ‘06
• Saw action vs. Alabama St on Aug. 26 and registered seven kills on eight attempts (one error) for a .750 attack percentage
• Posted a season-high 13 kills vs. Oregon on Aug. 30
Robin Miramontes (Opp • 6-1 • Sr. • Upland, CA/Upland HS)
>>Averaging 2.82 Kills and 2.61 Digs per Game in ‘06
• Registered a double-double on opening night (11 kills and a career-high 15 digs) vs. Mizzou
• Posted a double-double vs. St. Mary's on Sept. 2 -- 15 kills, and a career-high 16 digs.
• Had a season-high seven blocks vs. Middle Tennessee State on Sept. 1
• Hit .391 (12 kills) vs. St. Mary's (Sept. 7)
• Connected for her second double-double of the year (13 kills, 11 digs) vs. UNLV on 9/15
Alexis Crimes (MB • 6-3 • Jr. • Rancho Cucamonga, CA/Etiwanda HS)
>>Averaging 1.46 Blocks and 3.07 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. 1 in the BWC in Blocks per Game; No. 6 in Attack % (.307)
>>Has 951 Career Kills (49 kills away from 1,000; Only 12 players in school history have 1,000 or more kills)
• 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
• Posted a season-high 17 kills vs. Middle Tenn. St on Sept. 1
• Selected to the Nebraska Invitational All-Tournament Team
• 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)
• Posted a season-high 12 blocks vs. UNLV (Sept. 15)
Heather Hetzer (OH • 6-1 • Jr. • Mukilteo, WA/Kamiak HS)
>>Has Nine Kills this 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)
>>Has played in Seven Games in ‘06 and has Recorded 57 Assists
• Tallied 21 assists and two kills vs. Alabama St. on Aug. 26
• Saw action vs. St. Mary's on 9/7 and recorded 36 assists and four blocks in the 3-0 win
Iris Murray (DS • 5-5 • Jr. • Artesia, CA/Gahr HS)
>>Averaging 4.10 Digs Per Game in ‘06
>>Ranks No. 6 in the BWC in Digs per Game
>>Has four matches with 15+ Digs
>>longbeachstate.com "Athlete of the Week" (9/4)
• 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
• Registered a career-high 29 digs vs.St. Mary's on Sept. 2
• Selected to the Nebraska Invitational All-Tournament Team
Nicole Vargas (S • 5-8 • So. • Seal Beach, CA/St. Joseph HS)
>>Averaging 11.95 Assists, 2.59 Digs, and 0.92 Blocks per Game in ‘06
>>Ranks No. 4 in the BWC in Assists per Game
• 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.
• 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)
• Posted a career-high eight blocks vs. Mid. Tenn St on Sept. 1
• Had her fourth double-double of the season (38 assists, 10 digs) vs. Idaho on Sept. 9
• Recorded 5th double-double (50 assists, 13 digs) vs. UNLV (9/15)
Quincy Verdin (OH • 6-0 • So. • Morgan City, LA/Central Catholic HS)
>>Averaging a team-best 3.23 Kills per Game in ‘06
• Posted a match-high 12 kills vs. Missouri on Aug. 25
• Recorded 11 kills vs. Oregon on Aug. 30
• Notched a season-best 16 kills vs. St. Mary's (.313 attack %) on Sept. 2
• Team-high 11 kills vs. Nebraska on Sept. 3
• 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.
Naomi Washington (OH • 6-3 • R-Fr. • New Orleans, LA/Warren Easton HS)
>>Averaging 2.35 Kills per Game in ‘06
• Averaged 2.11 kills and 0.89 blocks per game, including seven kill performance vs. Mizzou on Aug. 25.
• Had six kills and three blocks vs. Oregon on Aug. 30
• 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
• Did not commit an attack error vs. Nebraska (8-0-20) on Sept. 3
• Posted 12 kills vs. UNLV on Sept. 15
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 13 kills vs. St. Mary's on Sept. 2, and a career-high nine blocks vs. Middle Tenn St. on Sept. 1...She registered a career-best 15 kills vs. UNLV on Sept. 15...Hasalikova is hitting .342 on the season (No. 4 Big West), and ranks No. 6 in the Big West in blocks per game (1.27)...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 had a service ace and four digs vs. UNLV on Sept. 15.
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 295-50, including a combined 138-33 mark over the last six seasons. Thru the 2006 campaign, Gimmillaro has amassed a striking .810 winning percentage (587-138) 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, As of 9/25)
This week showcases an exciting mix of matchups, which includes a clash of the 2005 Big West defending co-champions Long Beach State and UC Santa Barbara. UCSB has dominated the series in recent years by winning seven of the last eight contests, while LBSU owns the overall series with a 50-33 record. The 49er-Gaucho showdown takes place on Friday evening at the Walter Pyramid, where LBSU went 12-2 just a season ago.
Adding to the 49ers' tough week ahead is a matchup against No. 20 Cal Poly the following evening. Long Beach State, who recently fell out of the top 25, has claimed 24 of the previous 27 meetings with the Mustangs and holds the overall series record at 31-11.
Cal Poly, who has proven to be a force to be reckoned with, holds an impressive 9-4 record. Three of the four Mustangs' losses came from top 25 teams, including national runner-up Nebraska. The Mustangs, who continue their climb up the national rankings, opened conference play last weekend with a 3-1 win over defending co-champion UC Santa Barbara.
UC Irvine is looking to post its first victory at home this week when they emulate Long Beach State's schedule by welcoming UC Santa Barbara and No. 20 Cal Poly to Crawford Court. While UCSB and Cal Poly have already begun conference play, Friday night's showdown between the Anteaters and the Mustangs marks the first Big West contest of the season for UCI. The Gauchos visit Irvine, Calif., on Saturday.
Sitting on top of the leaderboard with a 2-0 conference record are the Cal State Northridge Matadors (8-4), who play in only one contest this week at Pacific. The Tigers, who lead the overall series 9-5, have found their winning ways by taking two of their last three contests. This is also the lone match of the week for Pacific.
UC Riverside (1-12) and Cal State Fullerton (12-2) battle it out on Tuesday night at Titan Gym in Fullerton, Calif., before they both take on UC Davis on alternating days. The Titans, who have already posted one of the best records in school history, host the Aggies on Friday night, while the Matadors host a Saturday-night showdown with UCD. Saturday's match is only the second home contest of the season for UC Riverside.
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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