Long Beach State University Athletics
Long Beach State University
Alumni Game
Beach Defeat Alumnae In Opening Exhibition
8/22/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Long Beach, Calif. - Long Beach State welcomed fans to its annual tuneup, the Alumnae Match, which saw the 2015 49ers defeat the alums two sets to one.
Senior transfer Hayley Benson led a number of new faces to join the Beach, as the middle blocker put away some early kills to give the 49ers a 13-7 lead over the alumni in set one. That lead would hold with little trouble for the current squad the rest of the way in the first, as LBSU took a 25-16 win.
Caitlin Ledoux and Janisa Johnson led the alumnae to a rebound win in set two on the pin. Strong hitting from the pair, along with solid setting from setter Ashley Lee and an ace by Libby Fontanilla put the veterans on top 14-10 in the second set. Their lead would grow to as many as six points, and while the current 49ers made a push to tie the set late, the alumnae held on to win the second set 26-24.
Youth carried the day in the third, as the 49ers opened up a big lead, reaching 16-6 on back-to-back aces from Benson. The current team maintained their momentum the rest of the way, and cruised to a 25-17 win in the third and deciding set.
The Beach would like to thank the alumnae that played Saturday: Caitlin Ledoux, Tara Roenicke, Janisa Johnson, Jocelyn Neely, Jillian (Mazarella) Rifkin, Ashley Lee, Alicia (Mills) Polzin, Erika (Chidester) Dillard, Lauren Minkel, Cynthia Buggs, Libby Fontanilla, Chelsea Cabrajac, Mariah Marquis, Donnenhold, and Eva Tcholakova.
Long Beach State opens the regular season proper on Friday, August 28 in the first match of the LBSU/CSUF Baden Invitational against Alabama. The match is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. in the Walter Pyramid.
