Long Beach State University Athletics
Beach Kicks Off 2016 Season at UCSB Asics Invitational
1/7/2016 12:00:00 AM | Men's Volleyball
UCSB Asics Invitational
No. 4 Long Beach State (0-0) vs.
Lindenwood (0-0)
Date: Friday, Jan. 8
Time: 10 a.m. (PST)
Location: The Thunderdome - Santa Barbara, Calif.
No. 4 Long Beach State (0-0) vs.
Sacred Heart (0-0)
Date: Friday, Jan. 8
Time: 7 p.m. (PST)
Location: The Thunderdome - Santa Barbara, Calif.
No. 4 Long Beach State (0-0) vs.
Quincy (0-0)
Date: Saturday, Jan. 9
Time: 4 p.m. (PST)
Location: Rob Gym - Santa Barbara, Calif.
Match Notes: Long Beach State 
The fourth-ranked Long Beach State men's volleyball team will open the 2016 season with three non-conference matches at the UCSB Asics Invitational this weekend. The 49ers are set to face Lindenwood (10 a.m.) and Sacred Heart (7 p.m.) at the Thunderdome on Friday, Jan. 8. The Beach then wraps up the tournament with a 4 p.m. showdown against Quincy at Rob Gym on Saturday, Jan. 9.
UCSB ASICS INVITATIONAL FIELD
Long Beach State is one of eight teams set to compete in the UCSB Asics Invitational. The 49ers will be joined by fellow MPSF members CSUN, Cal Baptist and host UC Santa Barbara, along with non-conference foes Quincy (MIVA), Lindenwood (MIVA), NJIT (EIVA) and Sacred Heart (EIVA).
Lindenwood is coming off a 13-12 season and was predicted to finish eighth in the MIVA Preseason Poll. The Lions welcome back 10 letterwinners, but only one starter in junior outside hitter Jake Duckworth. Duckworth is the team's top returner after averaging 2.22 kills and 1.27 digs per set in 2015.
Sacred Heart was picked to finish seventh in the EIVA. The Pioneers return 10 letterwinners from last year's team that went 12-13 overall. SHU welcomes back junior setter Eduardo Zardo (9.98 assists/set) and senior outside hitter Austin Arcala (2.58 kills per set). Arcala prepped at Los Alamitos High School and played one year at Long Beach City College.
Quincy, which was selected ninth in the MIVA Preseason Poll, returns 14 letterwinners and five starters from last year's squad that went 13-15 overall. Senior opposite Jack Gamache was named to the preseason all-conference team after earning second-team All-MIVA honors in 2015. He led the Hawks with 2.38 kills and 1.99 digs per set.
SERIES RECORDS
This will mark the first meeting between Long Beach State and all three of its opponents this weekend.
IN THE RANKINGS
Long Beach State was ranked fourth in the AVCA Division I-II Men's Preseason Poll. The Beach jumped seven spots after finishing the 2015 campaign at No. 11 in the nation. Fellow MPSF members BYU and UC Irvine claimed the No. 1 and 2 spots, respectively, while two-time defending national champion Loyola-Chicago was third.
FAMILIAR TERRITORY
This marks the 14th consecutive year that Long Beach State will kick off the new season at UCSB's annual tournament. The 49ers have participated in the event since 2003, compiling a 20-12 record and winning the title three times (2006, 2008 and 2014) over the 13-year stretch. The tournament switched to a set schedule with no team champion in 2015.
FOR OPENERS
Long Beach State will be looking for its ninth-straight season-opening win this weekend. Since the rally scoring era began in 2001, the 49ers are 13-2 in season openers.
OH, CANADA
The Beach traveled to Edmonton, Alberta, for a pair of exhibition matches last week. The 49ers faced the University of Alberta, which was ranked second in Canada. LBSU edged the Golden Bears, 3-2 (25-22, 20-25, 22-25, 25-21, 15-10), in the first meeting on Thursday, Dec. 31. TJ DeFalco (24) and Kyle Ensing (20) combined for 44 of Long Beach State's 65 kills. Amir Lugo-Rodriguez contributed nine kills, while Taylor Gregory had six kills and a team-best three aces.
Two days later, the Beach swept Alberta, 25-19, 25-21, 35-33. Cody Martin led the way with 14 kills on .520 hitting. DeFalco added 13 kills, while Ensing had 10.
BEACH PICKED FOURTH IN MPSF PRESEASON POLL
LBSU was picked to finish fourth in the 2016 MPSF Preseason Coaches' Poll. BYU was selected as the preseason favorite with eight first-place votes and 112 total points. Defending MPSF champion UC Irvine wasn't far behind with 106 points (two first-place votes), and was followed by UCLA, which received one first-place nod and 95 points. Long Beach State edged UC Santa Barbara for the fourth spot as they racked up 89 and 86 points, respectively. The Gauchos claimed the final first-place vote.
AT FIRST GLANCE
The Beach returns 15 letterwinners and all six starters from last year. Leading the group are seniors and 2015 All-MPSF selections Taylor Gregory (MB) and John La Rusch (OPP). LBSU also welcomes back its top-two outside hitters in seniors Cody Martin and Dan Glamack.
In addition, the 49ers will see the return of redshirt juniors Andrew Sato (L) and Amir Lugo-Rodriguez (MB), while bringing in three freshmen and two junior college transfers.
200 AND COUNTING
In his 12 years at the helm of the Long Beach State men's volleyball program, head coach Alan Knipe has compiled an impressive 226-134 (.628) overall record. During his tenure, LBSU has earned two NCAA Championship berths and made 11 MPSF Tournament appearances, including four trips to the conference finals. Since his return to the Beach in 2013, after a leave of absence to coach the U.S. Men's National Team, Knipe has led the 49ers to a winning record each season and a mark of 57-31 over the three-year span.
UP NEXT
Long Beach State begins MPSF action next week when it hosts Cal Baptist (Jan. 15) and USC (Jan. 16). Both matches are set for a 7 p.m. start at the Walter Pyramid.
