Long Beach State Falls in Four to No. 12 Cal Poly

Saturday, October 20

Long Beach, Calif.

7:00 PM

Long Beach State University

13-10(5-5Big West)

Cal Poly

19-1 (9-0Big West)

Cal Poly

Long Beach State

Photo by: John Fajardo

10/20/2018 9:54:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

Four LBSU players reach double-figures in setback

By: Lindy Zamora, Associate Athletic Communications Director

WATCH: Hear what @LBSU_WVB head coach Joy McKienzie-Fuerbringer and senior Emma Kirst had to say about tonight's match vs. Cal Poly #GoBeach #LBNation https://t.co/PxHwJPII7d via @LBSUAthletics
— LBSU W. Volleyball (@LBSU_WVB) October 21, 2018

Box Score (PDF)

LONG BEACH – The Long Beach State women's volleyball team turned in a solid performance and managed to take one set from No. 12 Cal Poly, but eventually dropped a 3-1 [19-25, 25-20, 16-25, 16-25] decision on Saturday night inside the Walter Pyramid.

Heading into the match against the Beach (13-10, 5-5 Big West), the Mustangs (19-1, 9-0 Big West) had only lost one set in Big West action. Long Beach State came out swinging as the Beach hit .345 in the opening frame and held the Mustangs to just .167 hitting in the second set as LBSU took set two by a score of 25-20.

The Beach saw four players reach double-figures led by senior Tyler Spriggs' 12 kills on .300 hitting (12-3-30). Emma Kirst tied her career-high with 11 kills while hitting .348 (11-3-23), while YiZhi Xue and Kashauna Williams each added 10 kills Xue led the Beach offense with a .429 attack percentage (10-1-21).

Freshman setter Carly Aigner-Swesey tallied her second double-double in as many games and her fifth of the season as she dished out 38 assists and 10 digs. Joining Aigner-Swesey in double-figure digs were Hailey Harward and Dylan Dela Cruz. Harward, who played libero, led the way with 16 digs, while Dela Cruz contributed 12.

While Kirst had a solid night offensively, the senior also performed on defense as she posted a team-best four blocks with two solo stops and a pair of block assists.

Long Beach State started the match strong as the Beach traded points early on with the nationally-ranked Mustangs. Cal Poly, however, used a 5-0 run to take a 10-6 lead that it would not surrender. The Beach chipped away and pulled within one (12-11), but the Mustangs surged ahead once again and took a six-point lead (19-13) before winning the first set, 25-19.

Despite the loss in the opening frame, Long Beach State was unfazed. The Beach bounded back in the second and rattled off four-straight points to take a 4-1 lead. LBSU would hold the lead for the remainder of the set. The Mustangs cut the Beach's lead down to one (10-9), but a well-utilized timeout reenergized LBSU as the Beach emerged from the break in action and went on a 4-1 run. Long Beach State hit .286 in the frame and won the set on a kill by Williams.

Tied one set apiece, Cal Poly started the third set on a 9-1 run and never looked back. The Mustangs hit .306 and limited the Beach to just .030 hitting as the visitors cruised to a 25-16 win.

The fourth set was much like the third as the Mustangs led the entire set. Cal Poly hit .333 in the fourth, while Long Beach State posted a .048 clip. The Mustangs kept the Beach off balance and went on to claim the fourth set, 25-16.

Cal Poly's Adlee Van Winden led the team with 20 kills, while her sister Torrey Van Winden added 18. Both Van Winden sisters recorded a double-double as Adlee had 20 kills and 13 digs, while Torrey posted 18 kills and 14 digs.

Long Beach State looks to get back on the winning track next week when the Beach travels north to take on UC Davis on Thursday, Oct. 25 at 7 p.m.