Long Beach State University Athletics
Long Beach State University
25-4, 15-0Big West
UC Irvine
18-12, 8-7Big West
The Beach Sweep Streak Continues With Sweep Of UCI
11/26/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
LONG BEACH, Calif. - For the fifth match in a row, the No. 16 Long Beach State women's volleyball team swept through its opponent. On Wednesday, the Beach (25-4, 15-0 Big West) swept UC Irvine 25-19, 25-20, 25-17 and came one match away from a perfect Big West season.
Chisom Okpala led the Beach with nine kills on .467 hitting and was one of three 49ers with at least five total blocks. As a team, the Beach put up double digit blocks for the third match in a row - all of which have been sweeps. LBSU blocked UCI (18-12, 8-7 Big West) 12 times on Wednesday night.
Ashley Murray had seven total blocks to go along with seven kills on .500 hitting. Alex Reid also had five blocks and 10 digs. Tyler Jackson and Chelsea Cabrajac had 13 digs each to limit UCI to just .070 hitting on the night.
The Beach controlled the first set from start to finish and pulled away early in the third set to complete the sweep. UCI did not help its own cause, missing eight serves in the three sets and committing 29 attacking errors.
The Beach won the first set easily but UCI came out on a mission in the second and seemed destined to tie up the match. The Eaters built a 12-6 lead early on, capped by a couple of Shelley Anderson aces. The Beach made a quick run back and rattled off five points to close the gap to one at 12-11.
The two traded points with UCI fighting to stay out in front until the Beach finally tied at 19-19 when Jenelle Hudson dumped it over the net. Arielle Manz put the Eaters back out in front but that would be the last point for the visitors.
A Beach block earned the sideout and a UCI attack error gave the Beach its first lead of the set. Tyler Jackson's service run continued with an ace and then she rolled her next serve off the tape for back-to-back aces. Jackson's run continued as the Beach finished off the set without surrendering another point.
After trading a few points early in the third, the Beach pulled away with a 14-9 advantage and never let UCI come closer than two points the rest of the way.
LBSU has now swept eight of its 15 conference matches and has its first 15-match win streak since 2001. The regular season wraps up on Saturday back in the Pyramid when Long Beach State hosts Cal State Fullerton for Senior Day.
The Big West champion women's volleyball team also invites fans to join them in the Pyramid on Selection Sunday to watch the NCAA Selection Show, which airs live on ESPNU at 5:30 p.m. Doors open at 5 p.m.
