49ers Look to End Three-Match Skid at Home
No. 14-Ranked Beach Hosts No. 5 UCLA and No. 2 UC Irvine
February 26, 2007 PDF VERSION OF THIS RELEASE THE RECORDS
•Beach 6-8 overall, 3-7 MPSF
Long Beach State fell to 6-8 overall and 3-7 in the MPSF after being upset by UC San Diego on Saturday evening, dropping the 49ers one spot to No. 14 in the AVCA Coaches Poll. This week, Long Beach State will return home to host No. 5-ranked UCLA on Wednesday, February 28 at 7 pm in the Walter Pyramid. The 49ers will then take on No. 2-ranked UC Irvine on Saturday, March 3 at 7 pm in the Gold Mine. The Bruins improved to 10-7 overall and 8-6 in the MPSF after sweeping then-No. 10 ranked CS Northridge, and upseting then No. 3-ranked UC Santa Barbara 3-1. UC Irvine continued its winning ways as the Anteaters defeated UC Santa Barbara (3-1) and CS Northridge (3-1) to improve to 17-3 overall and 11-3 in the MPSF.
THE COACH
• Alan Knipe enters his seventh year as head coach
Alan Knipe (LBSU, 1992) is 127-73 (.635) overall and 81-56 (.591) 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, Knipe has a 79-35 record for an impressive .693 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 trail series with UCLA, 26-71
•49ers lead series with UCI, 31-6
Long Beach State trails in its series with UCLA by a 26-71 count, and the Bruins hold a two-match win streak against the 49ers. The last meeting between the two teams came in the 2006 MPSF Finals where the Bruins advanced to the NCAA Final Four with a 24-30, 30-28, 30-23, 30-24 victory, and eventually went on to win the national championship. Long Beach State leads in its series with UC Irvine by a 31-6 count. After losing their two conference matches to the Anteaters in 2006, the 49ers came back to defeat the No. 1-seed in the semi-finals of the MPSF tournament 30-26, 30-20, 30-23 in Irvine.
49ERS UPSET BY TRITONS
•UCSD snaps 10-match losing streak to 49ers
Three Tritons combined for 65 kills to lead UC San Diego to a 3-2 upset over Long Beach State, snapping the 49ers 10-match win streak that dated back to the 2002 season. Game scores were 25-30, 30-23, 20-30, 30-27, 15-9. Paul Lotman and Norm Hutton led the 49ers with 16 kills apiece, while Teddy Liles matched his season-high with 12 kills, hitting for a .526 clip. Dean Bittner chipped in nine kills as he hit .500 on the evening. Dustin Watten posted 12 digs while Conor Eaton and Michael Iandolo combined for 56 assists as they directed the 49er offense to a .339 hitting percentage. The freshman trio of Jason Spangler (26 kills), Frank Fritsch (20 kills), and Will Ehrman (19 kills) led the Tritons in the victory. Brooks Dierdorff dished out 68 assists as UCSD hit .362 on the evening, and an impressive .667 (9-1-12) in the decisive fifth game. The Tritons out-blocked the 49ers 12.5 to 9.0.
UCLA FACTS
•Bruins 10-7 overall, 8-6 in MPSF
The Bruins will bring a three-match win streak into Long Beach as they defeated CS Northridge 30-16, 30-23, 30-26 and UC Santa Barbara 30-28, 30-24, 30-32, 30-19 in the Pauley Pavilion last week. Steve Klosterman pounded down 31 kills in UCLA's sweep over Northridge as the Bruins hit an impressive .537 for the match. Klosterman again led the Bruins against UC Santa Barbara as he notched 23 kills, while Paul George chipped in 16 kills. On the season, Klosterman leads UCLA with 3.65 kpg. George is averaging 3.25 kpg and 1.46 dpg, while Garrett Muagututia has chipped in with 3.22 kpg and 1.53 dpg. Matt Wade leads the Bruins with 11.00 assists per game, but Kevin Ker has been the one directing the offense recently averaging 5.43 assists per game.
UC IRVINE FACTS
•Anteaters 17-3 overall, 11-3 MPSF
The Anteaters have yet to fall out of the top-three in the AVCA Coaches Poll, and were ranked No. 1 for three straight weeks to start the season. Led by 2006 national Player of the Year Jayson Jablonsky, UC Irvine brings a five-match winning streak into Long Beach. The Anteaters defeated then No. 3-ranked UCSB 22-30, 30-27, 30-18, 30-25 in Santa Barbara. UCI had four players with double-digit kills, led by Matt Webber who tallied 16. The Anteaters hit an impressive .504 for the match, and out-blocked the Gauchos 10.0 to 4.5. Jablonsky and Webber combined for 34 kills to lead UCI to a 30-25, 30-24, 24-30, 30-18 win over Northridge. On the season, Jayson Jablonsky is averaging 3.99 kpg (ninth in the MPSF), and 1.97 dpg, while Matt Weber is averaging 3.91 kpg and 1.49 dpg. The Anteaters rank second in the MPSF with a .359 hitting percentage, led by David Smith who ranks third in the nation with a .552 (163-19-261) hitting percentage.
WHERE THE 49ERS RANK...
•Watten and Lotman rank in top-10 nationally
Dustin Watten currently ranks ninth in the nation in digs with a season average of 2.47 dpg, while Paul Lotman also ranks ninth in the nation in kills with 4.76 kpg on the season. Conor Eaton is 11th in the nation in assists with 12.49 apg.
HOME COURT ADVANTAGE
•49ers 3-3 at home this year
The 49ers are still tough to beat at home as they posted a 12-3 record at the Walter Pyramid in 2006. 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 142-38 (.789) at home.
YOUNG GUNS
•13 underclassmen on roster
After losing three All-Americans from last year, a young Long Beach State squad is still trying to find the right mix. The 49ers have three seniors, five juniors, four sophomores, six redshirt freshman, and three true freshman on their roster.
OFFENSIVE NUMBERS
•Team averaging 14.87 kpg
The 49ers are hitting .281 on the season and are averaging 14.87 kpg. Three attackers are hitting .300 or better, led by Dean Bittner (.387). Three players are also averaging at least 2.00 kills per game, led by Paul Lotman (4.76 kpg).
DEFENSE STEPS UP
•49ers out-dig opponents
The 49ers have been out-playing their opponents on defense as they are averaging 8.07 dpg compared to a 6.59 dpg average for their opponents. Dustin Watten leads the 49ers with 2.47 dpg, followed by Paul Lotman with 1.54 dpg.
LOTMAN LEADS THE WAY
•Has team-high 4.76 kpg
Junior Paul Lotman (Lakewood) has posted four 20+ kill matches and has hit at least .300 in eight matches. Lotman tallied 16 kills and six digs in the 49ers loss to UC San Diego last week. Lotman has hit double-figures in kills in all 14 matches played thus far, with a career-high 29 kills against Stanford on January 5. On the season, Lotman is averaging a team-high 4.76 kpg, and is hitting .327 (257-81-538). He also leads the team with 14 aces, and is second on the team with 1.54 dpg.
BITTNER BRINGS IT ON
•Leads team with 1.06 bpg
Redshirt freshman Dean Bittner (Lakewood) has been a consistent force in the middle for the 49ers this year, as he has hit over .300 on 11 different occasions. Last week, Bittner notched nine kills hitting .500 against UC San Diego. On January 19, Bittner had possibly his best game of the season against Pepperdine as he pounded down a career-high 15 kills, hitting .538 (15-1-26). On the season, Bittner is averaging 2.14 kills per game, a team leading 1.06 blocks per game, and is hitting .387 (109-27-212).
LILES WATCH
•Moves up to No. 12 in total blocks
Senior Teddy Liles (Tucson, AZ) notched four blocks against UC San Diego last week moving him up one spot to No. 12 on the career charts with 324 total blocks. He is also tied for eighth with a .412 hitting percentage. On the season, Liles is second on the team in blocking with 45 total blocks and 0.92 blocks per game. Liles has also amassed 93 kills, is averaging 1.90 kpg, and is hitting .373 (93-34-158) on the year. Liles has hit .500 or better on six separate occasions this season, last against UCSD on February 24 as he hit for a .538 (12-2-19) clip. He also matched his season-high with 12 kills against the Tritons. Liles was a 2006 All-MPSF Honorable Mention selection.
HUTTON ADDS PUNCH
•Averaging 3.89 kpg
Junior Norm Hutton (Huntington Beach) led The Beach last week as he posted 16 kills with only three errors for a .448 hitting percentage against UC San Diego. On January 19, Hutton recorded his first double-double of the season as he led the 49ers to a win over Pepperdine with a career-high 29 kills and 10 digs. He has had three 20+ kill matches and has hit .300 or better on seven occassions. On the season, Hutton has tallied 183 kills, is averaging 3.89 kpg, and is hitting .254 (183-87-378). He is also second on the team with 12 aces.
WATTEN LEADS IN DIGS
•Leads team with 2.47 dpg
Sophomore Dustin Watten (Long Beach) leads the 49ers defensively with 131 total digs and 2.47 dpg. Watten has posted double-figures in digs in seven matches, recording a career-high 17 digs against CS Northridge on February 15.
THREE SEE ACTION AT SETTER
•Trio directs 49er offense to .281 hitting percentage
Redshirt freshman Michael Iandolo (Orlando, FL) has seen court action recently and is averaging 12.14 apg, tallying a season-high 64 assists against CS Northridge on February 15. Freshman Conor Eaton (Dana Point) has also seen significant playing time as he leads the 49ers with 12.49 apg. On January 19, Eaton dished out a season-high 77 assists as he directed the 49er offense to a .359 hitting percentage in the 49ers victory over Pepperdine. Junior Adam Schlesinger (Newport Beach) has also seen action in three matches and is averaging 7.78 assists per game.
49ER BENCH STEPS UP
•Alexander, Anderson, and Fabry see action
Redshirt freshman Dan Alexander (Arcadia) is averaging 1.61 kills per game on the season. He posted nine kills and three blocks against Northridge on February 15, and tallied a season-high 11 kills while hitting .769 against Cal Baptist on February 9. Transfer junior Fletcher Anderson (Los Gatos) is averaging 1.75 kills per game, as he came in to record seven kills, hitting for a .400 (7-1-15) clip against UC Santa Barbara on February 17. Sophomore Daniel Fabry (Parkridge, IL) tied his season-high with 13 kills against Cal Baptist on February 9 while hitting .524 on the evening. Fabry is averaging 1.33 kills per game.
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 wasnamed 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 Roster
2007 Schedule/Results
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