Long Beach State Women’s Volleyball Sweeps UC Santa Barbara

Friday, November 15

Long Beach, Calif.

7:00 PM

Long Beach State University

11-15,8-6Big West

UC Santa Barbara

19-5,9-4Big West

UC Santa Barbara

Long Beach State

Photo by: John Fajardo

Long Beach State Women’s Volleyball Sweeps UC Santa Barbara

11/15/2019 10:25:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

Tia Chavira led the Beach with a double-double (14 kills, 10 digs)

By: Lindy Zamora, Associate Athletic Communications Director

Hear what @LBSU_WVB head coach Joy McKienzie-Fuerbringer and freshman Tia Chavira had to say about the team's 3-0 sweep of UC Santa Barbara #GoBeach https://t.co/vDjG25GRWL via @LBSUAthletics
— LBSU W. Volleyball (@LBSU_WVB) November 16, 2019

Box Score (PDF)

LONG BEACH, Calif. – A solid team effort lifted Long Beach State over UC Santa Barbara in straight sets [25-22, 25-29, 25-18] Friday night at the Walter Pyramid.

Long Beach State (11-15, 8-6 Big West) downed UC Santa Barbara (19-5, 9-4 Big West) behind a strong defensive effort as the Beach out-blocked the Gauchos 11-2, holding UCSB to just .126 hitting in the contest.

The defensive effort was led by middle blockers YiZhi Xue and Erin McFarland who each put up five blocks, while Kashauna Williams and Katie Kennedy added three block assists apiece. Meanwhile, senior libero Hailey Harward paced the backrow with 14 digs for her 22nd double-figure dig performance of the season.

The Beach offense got a boost from freshman Tia Chavira who played outside hitter tonight instead of her usual setter. Chavira did not disappoint as she knocked down a career-high 14 kills to go along with 10 digs for her third double-double of the season. The product out of San Bernardino, Calif., hit .375 (14-2-32), while also contributing two blocks and a pair of assists.

Chavira led a trio of double-figure scorers for the Beach as Kennedy finished with 12 kills, and Williams concluded the match with 11.

Long Beach State started the match off in control as the Beach jumped out in front of the Gauchos 5-2 after rattling off four-straight points. LBSU used a 5-0 scoring run to break the game open (15-8), but UC Santa Barbara would not go quietly as the Gauchos whittled the Beach's lead down to two (24-22). It took LBSU three set points, before Chavira gave them the win with a kill, 25-22.

The second set was close to start off, but Long Beach State tallied three-straight points to take a 13-9 lead that it would never relinquish. UCSB battled and managed to close the gap (14-13), but the Beach pulled away after another 3-0 run put them up 17-13. From there, LBSU extended its lead to six (21-15) after a 4-0 en route to taking a 2-0 set lead with a 25-19 victory.

UC Santa Barbara looked to avoid the sweep as the Gauchos began the third set with a 6-2 lead forcing an early timeout by the Beach. However, Long Beach State fought back and went on a 5-1 to turn a 10-7 deficit in to a 12-11 lead highlighted by a solo block by Xue. The Beach took control of the set as they went on a 7-0 run to take a 20-13 lead before completing the sweep with a 25-18 win.

BE/\CH WIN!!! Long Beach State completes the sweep of UC Santa Barbara with a 25-18 set 3 victory! #GoBeach pic.twitter.com/xtFKgX7gyb
— LBSU W. Volleyball (@LBSU_WVB) November 16, 2019

Lindsey Ruddins was the lone double-figure scorer for the Gauchos with 10 kills as she would finish with a double-double after collecting 11 digs. UCSB played well in the back court as the Gauchos had three players in double-digits. In addition to Ruddins, libero Zoe Fleck led the squad with 15 digs, while Torre Glasker added 10.

Long Beach State hosts Cal Poly in the final home game of the regular season on Saturday, Nov. 16 at 7 p.m. The three Beach seniors in Hailey Harward, Kjersti Norveel and YiZhi Xue will be honored in a pre-game senior ceremony.