49ers Host CS Northridge, UC Santa Barbara
No. 8-Ranked Beach Home for Two Matches
January 22, 2007
PDF VERSION OF THIS RELEASE THE RECORDS
•Beach 4-2 overall, 2-1 in MPSF
Long Beach State split on the road last week as they lost to No.-14 ranked USC in four sets, but bounced back two days later as they defeated then No. 4-ranked Pepperdine in a five-game thriller. The 49ers improved to 4-2 overall and 2-1 in the MPSF, and moved up one spot to No. 8 in the AVCA Coaches Poll. This week, LBSU will play host to No. 10-ranked CS Northridge on Wednesday and No. 4-ranked UC Santa Barbara on Friday with both matches set to start at 7 pm. Last week, CS Northridge (2-5, 1-3 MPSF) dropped two games as they lost to top-ranked UC Irvine in three sets and also lost to then No. 3-ranked UCLA in five sets. UC Santa Barbara (5-2, 3-1 MPSF) started off last week's action with a five-game victory over UCLA. Against UC Irvine, the Gauchos won the first two sets but could not put the Anteaters away as they lost in five games. The Gauchos moved up two spots this week in the AVCA poll. THE COACH
• Alan Knipe enters his seventh year as head coach
Alan Knipe (LBSU, 1992) is 125-67 (.651) overall and 80-50 (.615) in the MPSF in six-plus years as the head coach of Long Beach State. Knipe eclipsed the 100-victory plateau on January 6, 2006 with a win over CS Northridge. Knipe, the 2004 AVCA National Coach of the Year, has led the 49ers to six consecutive trips to the MPSF Tournament, an appearance in the 2004 NCAA Championship match, and three straight MPSF Tournament Finals appearances (2004-2006). In the last three-plus years (2004-2006), Knipe has a 77-29 record for an impressive .726 winning percentage. The 49ers have had at least 22 wins in each of the last three seasons. Knipe was an assistant at LBSU for five years before taking over the program in 2001. THE SERIES
•49ers lead series with CS Northridge, 32-22
•49ers trail series with UC Santa Barbara, 30-40
Long Beach State leads in its series with CS Northridge by a 32-23 count, but have lost the last three meetings. Earlier this year, the 49ers fell to the Matadors in five sets, 37-39, 30-27, 29-31, 30-28, 12-15, at the UCSB/E-Bar Tournament (January 5). Last year the two teams were closely matched as they went five games in each of their three meetings. In 2006, the 49ers won 23-30, 31-29, 30-27, 26-30, 15-8 at the UCSB/E-Bar Tournament, but then later in the season lost 30-32, 28-30, 30-21, 30-17, 12-15 in Northridge and 30-23, 30-20, 24-30, 32-34, 12-15 in Long Beach. LBSU trails in its series with UC Santa Barbara by a 30-40 count, but have won the last three meetings between the two. Last year, the 49ers won 30-26, 30-25, 30-24 in Long Beach, and 23-30, 26-30, 30-19, 30-27, 15-12 in Santa Barbara. 49ERS LOSE TO USC
•Trojans pull out 3-1 win
Long Beach State opened their two game road trip with a 30-24, 19-30, 27-30, 24-30 loss at USC, ending the 49ers 13-game win streak against the Trojans. Norm Hutton led the 49ers with 21 kills and five blocks as he hit .441 for the match. Paul Lotman had 18 kills, hitting for a .371 clip., while Teddy Liles chipped in seven kills and three blocks, hitting .500 on the evening. Conor Eaton had 48 assists and eight digs as he directed the 49er offense to a .278 attack percentage. The 49ers could not stop USC's duo of C.J. Schellenberg and Juan Figueroa as they combined for 44 kills and 14 digs. Jimmy Killian had 65 assists for the Trojans as they hit .324 as a team. 49ERS GET THE BEST OF PEPPERDINE
•49ers win five-game thriller
On Friday night the 49ers bounced back from their loss to USC to defeat then No. 4-ranked Pepperdine 33-35, 30-26, 23-30, 30-24, 15-11. Norm Hutton led the way with his first double-double of the season. Hutton recorded a career-high 29 kills to go along with 10 digs. Paul Lotman had 25 kills and nine digs, as he hit for a .339 clip. Dean Bittner and Teddy Liles combined for 26 kills and seven blocks in the middle. Conor Eaton had a career-high 77 assists as the 49ers hit .359 for the match. Paul Carroll led the Waves with 29 kills in the losing effort. CS NORTHRIDGE FACTS
•Matadors 2-5 overall, 1-3 in MPSF
CS Northridge is 2-5 overall and 1-3 in the MPSF. Last week the Matadors faced two tough opponents in No. 1-ranked UC Irvine and then No. 3-ranked UCLA, and came up short in both matches. CS Northridge fell to UC Irvine in three games (34-36, 21-30, 19-30). Dan Rhodes and Eric Vance led the Matadors with 16 kills apiece. Vance also hit an impressive .577 for the match. Northridge put up a fight against UCLA, but could not pull out the win as they fell to the Bruins in five sets. Rhodes and Vance again led the Matadors as they combined for 35 kills. Isaac Kneubuhl also chipped in 14 kills. On the season, Rhodes is averaging a team-high 4.12 kills per game, while Vance is averaging 3.36 kills per game and a team-leading 2.07 digs per game. UC SANTA BARBARA FACTS
•Gauchos 5-2 overall, 3-1 in MPSF
Currently one of the hot teams in the MPSF, UC Santa Barbara is 5-2 overall and 3-1 in the MPSF. In last week's action, the Gauchos came back after losing the first two games against UCLA to win 31-33, 27-30, 30-28, 30-27, 15-6. Evan Patak pounded down 31 kills in the victory, while Aaron Richman and Bryan Berman combined for 27 kills. UC Santa Barbara saw their four-match win streak come to an end as UC Irvine pulled out a comeback victory against the Gauchos. Game scores were 25-30, 28-30, 30-22, 30-25, 15-10. Patak led UC Santa Barbara with his second consecutive 30+ kill match as he recorded a match-high 36 kills. The Gauchos moved up two spots to No. 4 in the AVCA Coaches Poll this week. HOME COURT ADVANTAGE
•49ers tough to beat at Walter Pyramid
This season, the 49ers are 1-0 at home. In 2006, Long Beach State posted a 12-3 record at the Walter Pyramid. Over the last three years (2004-2006) the 49ers have a 40-7 home record for an impressive .851 winning percentage. Overall since 1995, the 49ers are 140-35 (.800) at home. 49ERS STRONG ON OFFENSE
•Team averaging 15.75 kpg
The 49ers have been impressive on offense this year as they are hitting .344 and averaging 15.75 kills per game. Four attackers are hitting .300 or better, led by Teddy Liles (.440). Four players are also averaging more than 2.00 kpg, led by Paul Lotman (5.04 kpg).
HUTTON HAS STELLAR WEEK
•Records career-high 29 kills vs. Pepperdine
Junior Norm Hutton (Huntington Beach), recorded his first double-double of the season as he led the 49ers to a win over Pepperdine. Hutton pounded down a career-high 29 kills to go along with 10 digs. He also had a team-high 21 kills in LBSU's loss to USC earlier in the week. On the season, Hutton has 99 kills, is averaging 4.30 kills per game, and is hitting .255 (99-48-200). He also leads the team with six aces. In the 49ers conference opener, Hutton recorded 13 kills as he hit .455 against UC San Diego. Last season, Hutton was named the Sports Import/AVCA National Player of the Week on April 24, 2006. LOTMAN LEADS IN KILLS
•Leads team with 126 kills
Junior Paul Lotman (Lakewood) had another solid week for the 49ers as he had 18 kills against USC, hitting for a .371 (18-5-35) clip. Against Pepperdine, Lotman recorded 25 kills and a .339 (25-5-59) hitting percentage. He has hit double-digits in kills in all six matches played thus far, with a career-high 29 kills against Stanford on January 5. On the season, Lotman is averaging a team-high 5.04 kills per game, and is hitting .385. He is also second on the team with 1.64 digs per game. LILES A FORCE IN THE MIDDLE
•Liles has 27 blocks
Senior Teddy Liles (Tucson, AZ) is currently second on the team in blocking (1.08 bpg). Liles has also amassed 53 kills, is averaging 2.12 kills per game, and is hitting .440 (53-16-84) on the year. Last week, Liles hit .500 in both matches as he had seven kills against USC and 11 kills against Pepperdine. He had only three hitting errors in nine games played. After his impressive showing last week, Liles moved up to No. 2 on the career charts with a .445 hitting percentage. He also ranks 15th in career blocks with 306. Liles was a 2006 All-MPSF Honorable Mention selection. EATON DIRECTS 49ER OFFENSE
•Averaging 13.04 apg
Freshman Conor Eaton (Dana Point) is averaging 13.04 assists per game and 1.17 digs per game. Last week, Eaton had 48 assists in LBSU's loss to USC. Against Pepperdine, Eaton dished out a career-high 77 assists as he directed the 49er offense to a .359 hitting percentage. On the year, Eaton has recorded 300 assists and is averaging 13.04 assists per game. WATTEN LEADS IN DIGS
•Leads team with 2.08 dpg
Sophomore Dustin Watten (Long Beach) posted seven digs against USC, and 11 digs in the 49ers win over Pepperdine last week. Earlier this year, Watten recorded a career-high 16 digs against Stanford (January 5). He currently leads the 49ers with 50 total digs and 2.08 digs per game. BITTNER ADDS THREAT IN MIDDLE
•Leads team with 1.36 bpg
Redshirt freshman Dean Bittner (Lakewood) leads the 49ers in blocking with 30 total blocks. Bittner had possibly his best game of the season against Pepperdine last week as he pounded down a career-high 15 kills, hitting for a .538 (15-1-26) clip. He also put up solid numbers in the 49ers opening weekend of play as he hit .360 (24-6-50) and had 16 blocks in three matches played at the UCSB/E-Bar Tournament. Bittner is averaging 2.32 kills per game, a team leading 1.36 blocks per game, and is hitting .398 on the year. CALDWELL PROVIDES SUPPORT
•Averaging 0.68 dpg
Senior Tyler Caldwell (Hermosa Beach) has played a supporting role in the back row thus far. Caldwell had two digs in eight games played last week. Earlier this year, he had a season-high 10 digs against CS Northridge (January 5). On the season, he has 13 digs and is averaging 0.68 digs per game. Last year, Caldwell patrolled the back row with 239 digs and a 2.03 digs per game average. CHRISTENSEN CONTRIBUTES
•Career-high eight kills vs. Pacific
Sophomore Gavin Christensen (Long Beach), who saw limited action as a freshman in 2006, recorded eight kills and 12 digs in two matches played last week. He also had 15 kills and eight digs in two matches played at the UCSB/E-Bar Tournament. He recorded a career-high eight kills against Pacific for an impressive .538 (8-1-13) hitting percentage. On the year, Christensen is averaging 1.30 kills per game, and 1.45 digs per game. FABRY SEES ACTION
•Averaging 1.31 kpg
Sophomore Daniel Fabry (Parkridge, IL) recorded a career-high 13 kills in the 49ers victory over Stanford on January 5. In two games played against CS Northridge (January 5), Fabry had four kills and a .333 (4-1-9) hitting percentage. Fabry is averaging 1.31 kills per game and is hitting .233. LAST SEASON
•49ers finish 2006 campaign at 23-10
The 49ers had a strong run in the MPSF Tournament last season as they made it to the finals, only to lose to eventual NCAA Champion UCLA. The 49ers defeated BYU in the quarterfinals 30-21, 30-23, 25-30, 30-25. Then, in the semifinals, Long Beach defeated No. 1-ranked UC Irvine in three sets 30-26, 30-20, 30-23. In the MPSF finals, the 49ers lost to UCLA in four games (24-30, 30-28, 30-23, 30-24). Long Beach finished the season at 23-10 overall and 14-8 in the MPSF, good enough for a fourth place finish. The 49ers finished the season ranked third by the AVCA. 2006 HONORS
•Beach loses three All-Americans
Long Beach State saw three players earn All-America honors in 2006. Tyler Hildebrand and Robert Tarr were both selected to the first team. Hildebrand was a three-time first team All-American while Tarr was a two-time first team selection. Duncan Budinger was named second team All-America in 2006 as well. On the All-MPSF team, Hildebrand earned first team honors for the third consecutive season. Tarr was also named first team all-conference and Budinger was second team all-conference. Teddy Liles earned honorable mention honors, his first time earning such an award.
2007 Schedule/Results
2007 Roster
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