Long Beach State University Athletics
Long Beach State University
2-2
James Madison
1-3
49ers open Mizuno Invitational with sweep against James Madison
8/30/2012 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Aug. 30, 2012
Long Beach, Calif. - In the first match of three in three days, the 49ers took care of business, winning in straight sets Thursday night over James Madison 25-14, 25-21, 25-12. Sophomore Chisom Okpala led the 49ers with a career-high 16 kills.
Okpala more than doubled her previous career high, leading the 49ers with 16 kills while hitting .552. The defense also played very well behind her, making 47 digs over three sets, with Janisa Johnson leading the way with 13 digs to go with nine kills. Setter Tara Roenicke also recorded a double-double, her second of the season, handing out 32 assists with 10 digs.
Okpala and the 49ers' night started quickly, as Long Beach State opened up a 4-0 lead behind two kills from the sophomore. With that cushion, the 49ers never trailed, opening up a 16-10 lead behind a kill from Aigner-Swesey, and closing out the set on a 9-2 run to win 25-14.
The second set was much closer, as the Dukes took their first lead at 6-5. The 49ers regained the lead behind a dump from Tara Roenicke, but a pair of aces from James Madison's Megan Niski sparked a run as the Dukes opened up a 14-11 lead in the second set. Long Beach State recovered, tying the set at 17-17 on a JMU error and regained the lead with another Okpala kill at 18-17. Bre Mackie picked up a kill as the 49ers pushed out to a 22-18 lead, and LBSU took the second set 25-21.
Two overpass kills from Okpala got the 49ers off to a good start in the third set with a 3-1 lead, and the 49ers run out of the gate continued, as an ace from Roenicke put the 49ers up 9-1. After taking a 13-3 lead after an ace from Aigner-Swesey, the Dukes took their second timeout, but it didn't stop the 49ers final set dominance as Long Beach State won the set 25-12. Long Beach State hit .882 in the final set, helping bring the team's hitting up to .301 on the match.
Long Beach State returns to action on Friday night, hosting No. 20 San Diego in a rematch of its last two NCAA Tournament appearances. That match will begin in the Walter Pyramid at 7 p.m.
The 49ers will also host two neutral matches on Friday, as Wisconsin plays James Madison at 11 a.m., and then the Badgers face Cal State Northridge prior to the 49ers-Toreros match at 5 p.m.
