Long Beach State University Athletics
Long Beach State University
8-3
Middle Tennessee
9-4
Beach loses heartbreaker in five sets
9/18/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Sept. 18, 2010
Denver, Colo. - Losses in the first two sets set the stage for a 49er loss to Middle Tennessee State in a Saturday afternoon neutral site match, as Long Beach State ultimately fell to the Blue Raiders in five sets 25-23, 25-9, 20-25, 20-25, 17-15.
Caitlin Ledoux made a valiant effort in the loss, making 17 kills and nine digs, leading the team in both areas despite an anemic offensive effort that saw the 49ers hit a season-low .145.
A big 49er block helped the 49ers spark a comeback, winning the third and fourth sets behind 16 total blocks on the match, but the poor hitting combined with eight aces from Middle Tennessee State proved to be the difference.
Long Beach State took a quick early lead against Middle Tennessee early in the first set, grabbing a 7-2 lead. The Blue Raiders recovered later, tying the set at 17-17 on a Maria Szivos kill before taking the lead at 19-18 on an error by the 49ers. The set stayed close, but Long Beach State never again recovered the lead in a 25-23 first set loss.
The second set was controlled throughout by Middle Tennessee State, as the Blue Raiders hit .579 while forcing Long Beach State into negative hitting. The Blue Raiders made just two errors in the whole set, and pushed a 6-4 lead into an eight point lead on the way to a 25-9 blowout.
After the break, the 49ers responded for their best set of the match, taking control early with two errors from MTSU setter Angela Peyton and an ace by Libby Fontanilla to move out to a 10-5 lead. The Blue Raiders cut the 49er lead to two at 14-12, but Long Beach State quickly regained a five-point cushion and won set three 25-20.
Long Beach State's struggles returned early in the fourth set, and a kill by Izabela Kozon opened up a 17-12 lead for MTSU. Long Beach State rallied though, scoring a sideout with a kill from Haleigh Hampton, and back-to-back blocks brought the 49ers back even at 17-17. The 49ers then took their first lead since 4-3 at 19-18 on an Ashley Adams attack error, and moved to a 25-20 win.
In the fifth, Long Beach State reached the switch with a three point lead at 8-5, but a service error gave MTSU a sideout and the Blue Raiders pushed into the lead at 10-9 on an error from Janisa Johnson. Long Beach State held close, forcing Middle Tennessee State into a third match point, but never regained the lead to force the Blue Raiders to defend, finally falling 17-15.
The 49ers return to Hamilton Gym later on Saturday, facing host Denver in their final match of four on their Colorado road trip.
