LBSU Women’s Volleyball Drops Competitive Contest to UCLA

Saturday, September 7

Long Beach, Calif.

7:00 PM

Long Beach State University

2-4

UCLA

3-2

UCLA

Long Beach State

Photo by: John Fajardo

9/7/2019 10:42:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

Hailey Harward was named to the Mizuno Classic All-Tournament Team

By: Lindy Zamora, Associate Athletic Communications Director

@LBSU_WVB head coach Joy McKienzie-Fuerbring, senior libero Hailey Harward, and sophomore outside hitter Kashauna Williams talk to the media about the team's loss to UCLA #GoBeach https://t.co/UiCUHcF09m via @LBSUAthletics
— LBSU W. Volleyball (@LBSU_WVB) September 8, 2019

Box Score (PDF) | Photo Gallery

LONG BEACH, Calif. – Despite suffering a sweep at the hands of UCLA to close out the Mizuno Classic, Long Beach State turned in a gritty performance that sent each set in a 3-0 [31-29, 27-25, 27-25] sweep to the Bruins into overtime.

The Beach (2-4) went 0-3 in the Mizuno Classic, but senior libero Hailey Harward shined for LBSU as she was named to the All-Tournament Team. Harward finished the tournament with 60 digs to average an impressive 5.00 digs per set to pace the Beach defense. She also added 13 assists and three aces.

Harward tied her season-high with a 25-dig performance against UCLA (3-2). The 20-dig effort was her fourth such match of the season.

Sophomore outside hitters Kashauna Williams and Allison Martinez led the offense against the Bruins with 16 and 11 kills, respectively, while freshman setter Tia Chavira distributed 35 assists as the Beach hit .235 on the night.

Senior middles Kjersti Norveel and YiZhi Xue each added four blocks at the net, while freshman opposite Katie Kennedy contributed three.

The Beach and the Bruins battled each other throughout as the match saw a total of 31 ties and 14 lead changes. However, UCLA managed to come away with the victory as the Bruins hit .297 thanks to all-tournament team selections Mac May (14 kills) and Savvy Simo (13 kills). Libero Kelli Barry was also named to the all-tournament team as she collected 20 digs. May was named MVP of the Mizuno Classic.

The opening set kicked off the first of three competitive games as the Beach and Bruins exchanged leads on seven occasions and sent it to set point as many times. With the match in Long Beach State's favor, 29-28, UCLA used back-to-back kills from Simo and May to take it to set point, before capitalizing on a Beach error to claim the first set, 31-29.

The second set was much like the first as the two teams went overtime once again. It seemed UCLA had broken the game open when it went on an 8-0 run to jump out in front, 23-19. However, Long Beach State showed its determination as the Beach countered using a 5-1 run of their own to make it a one-point (24-23) game. From there, LBSU and UCLA exchanged points until they were knotted at 25-all. With the game tied up, UCLA got a pair of kills from Emily Ryan and Simo to win the set, 27-25, and take a 2-0 set lead into the third.

The battle continued into the third set as the Beach and Bruins exchanged leads four times and broke eight different ties. UCLA went ahead in the middle of the game, 18-13, but Long Beach State refused to quit as the Beach chipped away and whittled the Bruins' lead down to one (23-22). The Beach rattled off three-straight points to turn a 24-23 deficit into a 25-24 lead and set point, however, UCLA would end the match with three consecutive points of their own to win, 27-25, and complete the sweep.

Long Beach State looks to get back on the winning track when it heads to Gainesville, Fla., next week for the Florida Tournament. The Beach open the tournament on Friday, Sept. 13 against James Madison and USF, before closing out the tournament against the host Gators on Saturday, Sept. 14.