Long Beach State University Athletics
Long Beach State University
1-2
UMBC
1-2
49ers coast to 3-0 win over UMBC
9/4/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Sept. 4, 2009
Long Beach, Calif. - Naomi Washington led the 49ers with 14 kills on .722 hitting, adding two aces as Long Beach State cruised to a 25-20, 25-20, 25-21 victory over UMBC in the opening match of the Long Beach State/UC Irvine Invitational. The 49ers hit .321 as a squad, keeping the pressure on the retrievers throughout.
Maryland-Baltimore County got out to a quick 3-0 lead in the first set of the match after back to back aces by outside Ali Loynachan. However, after two kills by Naomi Washington and an overpass by UMBC the 49ers pulled to within 4-3. UMBC stretched their lead to 9-5 after a kill and stuff block by Loynachan, but two attack errors by UMBC and a kill by Jocelyn Neely allowed Long Beach State to take their first lead. After some tough serving by Caitlin Ledoux and a kill by Ashley Lee, the 49ers extended their lead to four points at 15-11 and did not look back, taking the first set 25-20. Washington got out to a quick start to help seal the win, making six kills on seven swings in the initial set.
The 49ers took an early 5-2 lead in the second set sparked by a kill and block by Ledoux. A service ace by libero Lauren Minkel and a kill by Neely off an overpass by UMBC gave the 49ers a commanding 11-3 lead. A stuff block by Lee and Michelle Osunbor allowed the Beach to stretch the margin to 10 at 17-7. UMBC would rally behind the strong play of senior outside Ashley Oscars and consecutive aces by Loynachan to pull within four at 24-20 but a Naomi Washington kill finished the set at 25-20, giving the 49ers a two set lead in the match.
Consecutive kills by setter Ashley Lee gave the 49ers a 4-2 lead. UMBC recovered to take a 11-10 lead, and would eventually stretch their lead to 16-12, the largest Retriever advantage of the match. The 49ers would not be denied, rallying with five consecutive points to retake the lead at 17-16 which led to a UMBC timeout. Back to back aces by Laura Schuck gave Long Beach State match point at 24-19, and an Ashley Lee and Brittney Herzog block closed out the set at 25-21.
Long Beach State continues play tonight, hosting Indiana State at 7 p.m. before playing Northeastern at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 5. The pair of matches is the last for the 49ers at home until October.
