Long Beach State University Athletics
Long Beach State University
20-5, 10-2BWC
Cal State Fullerton
0-22, 0-10BWC
Long Beach State Thumps Fullerton Ahead Of Hawai'i Showdown
11/4/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Long Beach, Calif. - There would be no trap game on Wednesday night as Long Beach State (20-5, 10-2, Big West) put away Cal State Fullerton (0-22, 0-10 Big West) in dominant fashion Wednesday night, 25-13, 25-18, 25-17. Nele Barber and Peyton Grahovac both reached double-figures in kills with 12 and 11, respectively, highlighting an offense that hit .340 for the match.
Jenelle Hudson gets a lot of credit for that production as the senior setter dished out 39 assists in the three-set sweep, while also recording eight digs and three service aces. Nele Barber posted eight digs against the Titans to fall just shy of her 20th double-double of the season. Barber had accomplished the feat six times over her previous seven matches entering Wednesday.
Long Beach recorded eight service aces as a team, the most recorded by the 49ers since they served up 10 to Central Arkansas on Sep. 12.
Kyra Hill was the biggest weapon offensively for the Titans, recording a match-high 16 kills on .306 hitting.
An 11-0 run was the defining moment of the opening set, as Hudson served a run that turned a 10-9 deficit into a 20-10 lead. Hudson had three aces in that run, primarily serving at Hill. The Beach finished the first set with five aces, getting one apiece from Sarah Miller and Missy Owens. Grahovac was dominant in the first frame, recording six kills on eight error-free swings to hit .750 and push LBSU to a 25-13 win.
Barber got her turn to shine in the second set, which was much closer throughout. The junior outside hitter had eight kills in the second set, one which featured nine ties and five lead changes. A pair of key 4-0 Beach runs at 14-14, then again at 21-18 helped the visitors close the set strong. A block and a kill from Hayley Benson put the Beach up 2-0 following the 25-18 win.
Long Beach State took early control of the final set with a 6-1 run leading to a 9-4 lead. At one stretch, with the 49ers leading 13-9, Hudson made a pair of nice plays--one of her perfectly executed dumps followed by a great read to let a Hill attack sail just wide. Tiara Wallace recorded the final kill of the night, her second, as the redshirt junior played the final two sets. Sherridan Atkinson also got some playing time in set three, recording a pair of kills on four big swings.
Now the Beach can prepare in earnest for Friday night's showdown with No. 6 Hawai'i. The Rainbow Wahine come in at 20-1 and a perfect 10-0 in big west play, including a thrilling five-set win over Long Beach back on Oct. 11 on the islands. The match starts at 7 p.m. and will be streamed live by ESPN3.
