Long Beach State University Athletics
Thursday, January 3
Santa Barbara, Calif.
8:00 PM
Long Beach State University
1-0
3
vs
0
Grand Canyon
0-1
1
2
3
F
Grand Canyon
18
21
20
0
Long Beach State
25
25
25
3
Photo by: John Fajardo
No. 1 Long Beach State Opens 2019 Campaign with Sweep of No. 14 Grand Canyon
1/3/2019 11:46:00 PM | Men's Volleyball
Simon Andersen recorded a career-high 11 kills while hitting 1.000 to lead the Beach
Box Score (PDF) | Play-By-Play (PDF)
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – The top-ranked Long Beach State men's volleyball program kicked off the 2019 season with a 3-0 [25-18, 25-21, 25-20] victory over No. 14 Grand Canyon at the UCSB Asics Invitational on Thursday night at Rob Gym.
The Beach (1-0) were solid in their season opener as they hit .507 behind 14 kills from senior opposite Kyle Ensing and a career-high 11 kills from sophomore middle blocker Simon Andersen. Andersen turned in an outstand effort as his 11 kills came on as many swings without committing an attack error for a perfect 1.000 attack percentage.
Senior setter Josh Tuaniga was on point on both sides of the ball as he paced the LBSU offense with 39 assists, while adding a team-high eight digs on the night. He also contributed a pair of kills, one block and an ace.
The LBSU defense kept the Lopes (0-1) off balance limiting GCU to a .188 attack percentage. Grand Canyon's Christian Janke (10 kills) and Will Schwob (9 kills) led the way for the Lopes.
Long Beach State started out hot, hitting .680 (19-2-25) in the first set. Senior outside hitter TJ DeFalco broke a 2-2 tie with his first of five kills to give the Beach a lead it would not relinquish. From there, Long Beach State controlled the frame and kept Grand Canyon at bay as the Beach collected a 25-18 win.
Grand Canyon had its best offensive performance in the second set as the Lopes hit .333 (13-4-27). However, Long Beach State continued to click on the offensive attack as the Beach posted a .478 attack percentage (14-3-23).
Tuaniga got things going in the second set with a kill and an ace as the Beach took an early lead. Long Beach State never trailed in the frame and despite Grand Canyon's efforts, LBSU came away with a four-point win, 25-21, to take a 2-0 set lead into the third set.
The third and final set saw the two teams exchange leads three times before the Beach claimed an 8-7 lead. LBSU led the rest of the way as the Beach's defense forced the Lopes into a negative attack percentage (-.053), while the LBSU offense hit .360 (14-5-25).
Long Beach State would go on to win the final set and complete the sweep with a 25-20 victory.
The Beach will be back in action on Friday, Jan. 4 when they take on No. 12 Concordia at 3 p.m. on day two of the UCSB Asics Invitational.
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@lbsumvb head coach Alan Knipe talks about the team's performance in the season opening sweep of Grand Canyon #GoBeach #LBNation pic.twitter.com/pQEd98oTes
— Long Beach State Men's VB (@lbsumvb) January 4, 2019
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – The top-ranked Long Beach State men's volleyball program kicked off the 2019 season with a 3-0 [25-18, 25-21, 25-20] victory over No. 14 Grand Canyon at the UCSB Asics Invitational on Thursday night at Rob Gym.
The Beach (1-0) were solid in their season opener as they hit .507 behind 14 kills from senior opposite Kyle Ensing and a career-high 11 kills from sophomore middle blocker Simon Andersen. Andersen turned in an outstand effort as his 11 kills came on as many swings without committing an attack error for a perfect 1.000 attack percentage.
Senior setter Josh Tuaniga was on point on both sides of the ball as he paced the LBSU offense with 39 assists, while adding a team-high eight digs on the night. He also contributed a pair of kills, one block and an ace.
The LBSU defense kept the Lopes (0-1) off balance limiting GCU to a .188 attack percentage. Grand Canyon's Christian Janke (10 kills) and Will Schwob (9 kills) led the way for the Lopes.
Long Beach State started out hot, hitting .680 (19-2-25) in the first set. Senior outside hitter TJ DeFalco broke a 2-2 tie with his first of five kills to give the Beach a lead it would not relinquish. From there, Long Beach State controlled the frame and kept Grand Canyon at bay as the Beach collected a 25-18 win.
Grand Canyon had its best offensive performance in the second set as the Lopes hit .333 (13-4-27). However, Long Beach State continued to click on the offensive attack as the Beach posted a .478 attack percentage (14-3-23).
Tuaniga got things going in the second set with a kill and an ace as the Beach took an early lead. Long Beach State never trailed in the frame and despite Grand Canyon's efforts, LBSU came away with a four-point win, 25-21, to take a 2-0 set lead into the third set.
The third and final set saw the two teams exchange leads three times before the Beach claimed an 8-7 lead. LBSU led the rest of the way as the Beach's defense forced the Lopes into a negative attack percentage (-.053), while the LBSU offense hit .360 (14-5-25).
Long Beach State would go on to win the final set and complete the sweep with a 25-20 victory.
The Beach will be back in action on Friday, Jan. 4 when they take on No. 12 Concordia at 3 p.m. on day two of the UCSB Asics Invitational.
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Team Stats
GCU
LBSU
Kills
25
47
Errors
13
10
Attempts
64
73
Hitting %
.188
.507
Points
29.0
54.0
Assists
25
46
Aces
0
5
Blocks
4.0
2.0
Game Leaders
Kills
14
Aces
1
Blocks
0
Kills
11
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Kills
8
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Kills
7
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Players Mentioned
MB
/ Men's Volleyball
OH
/ Men's VolleyballOPP
/ Men's Volleyball
S
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