Long Beach State University Athletics
Long Beach State University
20-8
UNLV
8-18
Beach defeats UNLV with mix of old, new players
11/27/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Nov. 27, 2009
Long Beach, Calif. - Showcasing a lineup with four players that had played in less than 10 sets during the season, Long Beach State nonetheless came away with the win in a 25-19, 25-21, 25-27, 25-23 victory Friday evening.
Ashley Lee had a career-high tying four aces to go with five kills, 49 assists and a team-high 16 digs, and the 49ers were led offensively by Naomi Washington and Caitlin Ledoux respectively with 24 and 19 kills. However, the 49ers utilized Taylor Cook, Sarah Clause and Jessica Thomas in the starting lineup and had Janisa Johnson play in the back row in a shift from the usual rotation. Clause finished with nine kills and a pair of aces to lead the newcomers, while Jessica Thomas finished with 12 digs.
The 49ers took an early 7-5 lead after a pair of aces from Lee and Sarah Clause. A second ace from Lee, a third in the set put the 49ers ahead 13-8, and The Beach held that lead through most of the set. The Rebels scored three straight point to take cut the lead to 22-19, but Long Beach State answered with three straight points its own, finishing the set on a second Clause ace at 25-19.
A Ledoux kill put the 49ers in front 8-7 after UNLV opened an early lead in the second set. Long Beach State continued to push, taking a 15-12 lead after another Ledoux kill, and moved out by four points after a Washington kill. Lee's third ace of the mtach put the 49ers ahead by five at 21-16 and led to a UNLV timeout. The Rebels scored four straight points, to cut the 49er lead to one, ending with an ace by Kela Lau Hee, but the 49ers answered back with a pair of blocks from Clause and Jessica Thomas, taking the second set by a 25-21 score.
Two early kills from Naomi Washington paced the 49ers to a 5-3 lead in set three, but UNLV rallied to tie the set at 6-6 and took an 8-7 lead after a Kelsey Keeler kill. UNLV continued to push, taking a 12-9 lead after another Keeler kill in the Rebels largest lead of the match to that point. The 49ers rallied to tie the set at 14-14 after a Washington kill, and retook the lead following a Rebel attack error. Another UNLV error put the 49ers on top 23-21. UNLV held off two match points to tie the score at 24-24, and after another LBSU match point, an Erin Greenwood and Samantha Noland block gave UNLV a 26-25 lead, and an ace by Amanda Alles closed out the comeback third set win for the Rebels.
In the fourth set, both teams traded points through the first half of the set, with neither team gaining any advantage through a 13-13 tie. Tied 16-16, UNLV got a point off of a Maurer ace and a Keeler kill to take an 18-16 lead. With a 21-18 UNLV edge, Long Beach State rallied to tie the set at 21-21 with a Clause kill, and The Beach took the lead after a Ledoux back-row kill at 23-22. Clause then closed out the match with her ninth kill in a 25-23 win.
The Mizuno Thanksgiving Classic continues Saturday, as Long Beach State plays two matches and hosts two more. Action in the Walter Pyramid will start at Noon, when the 49ers host the Lions of LMU, and finishes with Senior Night in the evening, as Long Beach State honors its two senior, Naomi Washington and Brittney Herzog.
