Long Beach State University Athletics
Women's Volleyball Preps For 2014 With Alumni Match
8/21/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
LONG BEACH, Calif. - The 2014 season is nearly here for the Long Beach State women's volleyball team. In fact, it begins this Saturday when the current team takes on some former 49ers in an exhibition match in the Gold Mine at 7 p.m. LBSU hopes the exhibition against some of its young alumnae will mark the first step toward December volleyball.
For the last two years, Long Beach State has missed out on the NCAA postseason. It is the first time in Brian Gimmillaro's 29 years that the Beach has been left out of the postseason tournament in back-to-back years but Gimmillaro thinks his team for his 30th year at the helm is more than capable of getting back.
"The team is progressing because of their work ethic and determination. I am enjoying watching them grow as a team," Gimmillaro said. "Their desire to continue getting better is obvious and we are taking the steps to continue on that path."
It all starts with Saturday night's exhibition match against the program's alumni. The young alumni team features 10 former 49ers, who will pose a nice challenge to the current team as the Beach prepares for a tough opening weekend. The alumni team currently consists of pro beach volleyball players Caitlyn Ledoux and Jenn Snyder as well as Jocelyn Neely, Lauren Minkel, Cynthia Buggs, Janisa Johnson, Libby Fontanilla, Raimi Mitchell-Young, Delainey Aigner-Swesey and professional indoor player Ashley Lee.
Tickets for the exhibition match are on sale online at LongBeachState.com and will be available for purchase at the event.
Learn more about your 2014 Long Beach State women's volleyball team below.
Senior Chisom Okpala will lead the Beach into the 2014 season after back-to-back All-Region campaigns. She was a an All-Region first team selection as a sophomore and All-American Honorable Mention. Last year, she again was a first team All-Big West middle blocker and made the All-Region team for the second year in a row, leading LBSU with a .351 hitting percentage and averaging 1.15 blocks per set.
Okpala returns alongside three more seniors that will play a large role in the rotation this year. Tyler Jackson will start for the third year in a row at libero and will be joined in the back row by fellow senior Chelsea Cabrajac. The pair combined to average 5.39 digs per set. Bre Mackie will hold her starting spot at right-side hitter after pounding down 232 kills in 2013.
Junior Alex Reid's 2.90 kills per set return to the left side, where she'll be joined by sophomore Joy Miley and newcomer Sophie Bukovec. Miley played sparingly for the Beach last season and Bukovec was standout left side in Canada last year. She's also a world champion on the Beach after winning the U21 World Championships this summer.
More newcomers will figure into the rotation right away. Junior setter Jenelle Hudson led Iowa State into the first round of the NCAA Tournament last year and will take over the setting duties in 2014 at the Beach. Junior Lindsey Lawmaster will contribute right away in the back row after helping Minnesota into the NCAA Tournament Regionals last year.
Sherridan Atkinson and Ashley Murray are two freshmen that could see immediate playing time in the middle. Anete Brinke could also find some time there or on the right side.
The team faces a tough challenge right out of the gates with nationally-ranked Illinois and North Carolina for its first two matches on Aug. 29 and Aug. 30. Long Beach State's home-opener will be on Sep. 4 at 7 p.m. against Idaho.
