A Look Back at 1999

A Look Back at 1999

On Saturday, March 9 during its match against Saint Francis (Pa.), top-ranked Long Beach State will welcome the 1999 team back to the Walter Pyramid as the 2019 season marks the 20th anniversary of the '99 squad's prolific run to the NCAA National Championship match.

In 1999, the Beach kicked off the season with a 10-match winning streak en route to completing the year with a 22-4 overall record and a 17-2 mark in MPSF action as they finished first in the Pacific Division.

That year, Long Beach State boasted three AVCA All-Americans in David McKienzie, Matt Prosser, and Chris Seiffert. McKienzie and Seiffert went on to be named to the NCAA All-Tournament Team for their outstanding performances in the Finals.

The 1999 Long Beach State men's volleyball team, which was coached by Ray Ratelle, went on to produce five professional men's volleyball players in both the indoor and beach circuit, three U.S. Men's National Team members, three World University Games members, and one Olympian.

Matt Prosser

Read below to see what some of the members of the 1999 team are doing now.

Jeremy Blain (Class of 2002)

Majored in Business Management Information Systems
Currently works as Manager for DepuySynthes
Favorite LBSU Memory: "Either winning the Santa Barbara Tournament, Canada Tournament, or beating Pepperdine, and getting Player of the Week."

Curtis Jackson (Class of 2000)

Majored in Kinesiology
Married with three kids and is living in Whitefish, Montana
Owns and operates Jackson Strength
Favorite LBSU Memory: "Beating IPFW in five at the 1999 Semifinals in a three-plus hour match, and punching our ticket to the championship game."

Tim May (Class of 2002)

Majored in Anthropology
Currently coaching and working as a personal trainer in Hermosa Beach
Played professional volleyball in Europe
Favorite LBSU Memory: "The daily grind in the practice gym and weight room. Getting better and stronger with teammates in the best volleyball venue in the world, THE PYRAMID!"

David McKienzie (Class of 2001)

2012 Olympian
Played professionally in Russia, Puerto Rico, UAE, and Kuwait, and played AVP Beach Volleyball
Set the NCAA Division I single-match record with 58 kills versus BYU (3/19/99)
Two-Time AVCA All-American
Named to the NCAA All-Tournament Team
Member of the U.S. Men's National Team
Won the NORCECA Zone Championships in 2003
Earned Gold Medals at America's Cup, the NORCECA Continental Championship and FIVB World Grand Champions Cup

Corey Peters (Class of 2000)

Earned a Bachelor's of Science in Business and an MBA from Pepperdine (2008)
Worked with Boeing for 17 years at the Satellite Development Center as a Program Manager, now works at Bigelow Aerospace in Las Vegas as a Senior Manager
Married with two kids
Favorite LBSU Memory: "I don't have a favorite moment, necessarily for the 49er team, but rather really appreciate the whole journey: the bonds/friendships with a great group of guys and coaches – grinding it out six days a week in practice, the weight room, training room, home games, traveling to away games, school, parties, competing and trying to be great in all we do with a common goal of upholding a great tradition of players, coaches, and winning. Making it to the Finals in '99 was great, but as I reflect back on LBSU, I am grateful for the players, coaches, faculty, and being part of the best volleyball program in the nation."

Jim Polster

Currently coaching and finishing school
Married and living in Seal Beach
Member of the U.S. Men's National Team from 2002-07
Won a Gold Medal at the World University Games in 2001
Played professionally in Russia and Puerto Rico
Was an AVCA All-American and MPSF All-Conference selection
Favorite LBSU Memory: "Beating BYU in the Gold Mine in the 1998 MPSF playoffs."

Matt Prosser (Class of 2006)

Majored in Broadcast Journalism with a Minor in Geography
Currently working in Pharmaceutical Sales for Pacira BioSciences
Married with two sons and living in Hermosa Beach
Played AVP Beach Volleyball for 14 seasons, won the 2011 Champion AVP Championships in Huntington Beach
Favorite LBSU Memory: "Too difficult to pick just one…beating USC in five at the North Gym in 1999 and BYU in Provo in 1999."

Matt Taras (Class of 1999)

Majored in Business Finance
Currently working as an Engineer for Redondo Beach Fire Department
Engaged and living in Manhattan Beach

Ray Ratelle (Head Coach 1982-2000)

Two-Time National Coach of the Year (1990, 1991)
Led LBSU to the 1991 National Championship
Guided the Beach to three NCAA Finals appearances (1990, 1991, 1999)
Directed Long Beach State to three conference titles
Compiled a 385-190 (.670) overall record

1999 LONG BEACH STATE MEN'S VOLLEYBALL ROSTER

No.	Name	Pos.	Ht.	Yr.	Hometown / Previous School
2	Curtis Jackson	OH	6-3	Jr.	Tustin, Calif. / Tustin HS / Golden West College
3	Bjorn Dahl	MB	6-6	So.	San Diego, Calif. / San Dieguito HS
4	Mark Ekins	S	6-5	Fr.	Fresno, Calif. / Bullard HS
5	Tim May	MB	6-8	So.	Fort Worth, Texas / Trinity Valley HS / Cal State San Bernardino
6	Matt Prosser	MB	6-7	So.	Ventura, Calif. / Buena HS
8	David McKienzie	OH	6-3	So.	Littleton, Colo. / Huntington Beach HS
9	Chris Seiffert	S	6-4	Jr.	Laguna Niguel, Calif. / Capistrano Valley HS
10	Steve Talbot	OH/MB	6-6	Jr.	Altadena, Calif. / LaSalle HS / BYU
11	Scott Faber	OH	6-5	Jr.	San Diego, Calif. / Rancho Bernardo HS
12	Sean Callahan	MB	6-6	Jr.	El Toro, Calif. / El Toro HS / CSUN
13	Neil Mason	OH	6-5	Jr.	Scarborough, Canada / Pope John Paul II HS
14	Jeremy Blain	S	6-0	Fr.	Huntington Beach, Calif. / Marina HS
15	Adam Sorenson	MB	6-7	Fr.	Downey, Calif. / Downey HS
16	Corey Peters	OH	6-4	So.	Huntington Beach, Calif. / Marina HS
17	Matt Taras	OH/MB	6-3	Sr.	La Crescenta, Calif. / Crescenta Valley HS / Pierce College
18	Jim Polster	OH	6-6	So.	Laguna Niguel, Calif. / Dana Hills HS

Head Coach: Ray Ratelle
Assistant Coaches: Alan Knipe, Andy Read
Administrative Assistant: Marcel Doumerc

Long Beach State University Athletics

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