The Beach Return Home to Host UC San Diego Before Facing UC Irvine on the Road

Friday, October 15

Long Beach, Calif.

7:00 PM

Long Beach State University

UC San Diego

Tickets

Photo by: John Fajardo

The Beach Return Home to Host UC San Diego Before Facing UC Irvine on the Road

10/14/2021 1:10:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Long Beach State women's volleyball set to play UCSD on Friday and UCI on Saturday

By: Lindy Zamora, Associate Athletic Communications Director

MATCH #18: LONG BEACH STATE vs. UC SAN DIEGO
Date: Friday, October 15
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Location: Long Beach, Calif.
Venue: Walter Pyramid
Live Stats: BeachLiveStats.com
TV: ESPN+
Talent: Matt Brown
Twitter: @LBSU_WVB
Ticket Website: www.LongBeachState.com

MATCH #19: LONG BEACH STATE at UC IRVINE
Date: Saturday, October 16
Time: 5:00 p.m.
Location: Irvine, Calif.
Venue: Bren Events Center
Live Stats: UCIrvineSports.com
TV: ESPN+
Twitter: @LBSU_WVB

COMPLETE LBSU MATCH NOTES (PDF)

The Beach Return Home to Host UC San Diego Before Facing UC Irvine on the Road
After a three-match road swing, the Long Beach State women's volleyball team returns to the Walter Pyramid for the first time since September 28 as the Beach host UC San Diego on Friday, October 15 at 7 p.m. Following the Friday night match against the Tritons, LBSU will face UC Irvine at the Bren Events Center in Irvine, Calif., on Saturday, October 16 at 5 p.m., in the Black and Blue Rivalry. Both matches will be broadcast live on ESPN+.

Catch All The Action
All Long Beach State home matches will be broadcast live on ESPN+. Fans can sign up for ESPN+ for $5.99 per month ($59.99 per year) at ESPN.com, ESPNplus.com, or on the ESPN App. It is also available as part of The Disney Bundle that gives subscribers access to Disney+, ESPN+, and Hulu for $13.99 per month (Hulu with ads) or $19.99 per month (Hulu without ads). Fans can also follow stats updates on BeachLiveStats.com.

Staying Social
Follow Long Beach State women's volleyball on Instagram and Twitter at @LBSUWVB and @LBSU_WVB, respectively. Fans can stay up-to-date on all things Long Beach State by following @LBSUAthletics. Be sure to "like" us on Facebook and follow us on Instagram at @LBSU.

About the Beach
• Long Beach State went 1-1 last week to bring its season record to 8-9, while the Beach move to 2-4 in Big West Conference action.
• Last week, the Beach suffered a three-set sweep at UC Santa Barbara, before bouncing back with a four-set victory at CSUN the following day.
• Kashauna Williams recorded 11 kills last week to bring her career total to 997. She is just three kills away from becoming the 17th player in program history to reach the 1,000 kill milestone.
• Williams is averaging 4.32 kills per set to led the Big West and rank 23rd in the nation. She also averages 1.18 digs per set, 0.50 blocks per set, and is hitting .240 on the year.
• Freshman outside hitter Erykah Lovett has turned in an outstanding rookie season as she is second on the team with 3.05 kills per set, which is good for seventh in the Big West. Her 0.42 aces per set rank her second in the conference, while her 3.60 points per set are good for seventh. On the year, she is averaging 2.61 digs per set, 0.32 assists per set, and 0.24 blocks per set, while hitting .205.
• Sophomore Katie Kennedy has earned the start on the right side for the last eight matches and has done a solid job. On the year, she is averaging 2.30 kills per set, while adding 0.79 digs per set, and 0.40 blocks per set.
• Senior Miranda Canez continues to lead the Beach in hitting with a .329 attack percentage which is good for sixth in the Big West. Additionally, she is second on the squad with 0.67 blocks per set, while also contributing 1.44 kills per set.
• Sophomore Tia Chavira has earned the start at setter in the 11 matches and is currently averaging 9.20 assists per set on the year which puts her fifth in the Big West. Additionally, she has averaged 0.87 kills per set, 0.37 blocks per set, and 0.22 aces per set, while hitting .252.
• Sophomore libero Nicole Hoff has been stout in the back row for the Beach having racked up a total of 232 digs for an average of 3.68 digs per set to rank ninth in the Big West Conference. She also has led the Beach in digs 10 times and has registered double-digit digs in 15 contests.
• At the net freshman middle blocker Kameron Bacon has collected 54 total blocks (6 solo, 48 assists) to lead the team with 0.93 blocks per set to rank in the top 10 in the Big West. She also contributes 1.03 kills per set on the offensive end.
• Off the bench, Dylan Dela Cruz and Jenna Giambi have been productive for the Beach in the back row contributing 1.98 digs per set and 1.64 digs per set, respectively. Meanwhile, senior outside hitter Avery Nelson has contributed 1.37 kills per set and 1.09 digs per set for LBSU.

Scouting UC San Diego
• UC San Diego comes into the Walter Pyramid with a 6-11 overall record. The Tritons are 3-3 in the Big West.
• Last week, the Tritons dropped a pair of contests to UC Irvine (3-2) and Hawaii (3-1) in San Diego, Calif.
• UCSD brings an average of 12.22 kills per set on 11.24 assists per set, while adding 15.72 digs per set, and 1.64 blocks per set.
• Sabire Karacaova leads the Tritons with 2.95 kills per set, while Ava McInnes adds 2.83 kills per set. The pair also contribute 2.07 and 1.73 digs per set, respectively.
• At setter, Isabela Dobra leads the way with 9.87 assists per set to rank second in the Big West. Dobra also adds 3.43 digs per set, which is good for second on the squad.
• Defensively, Naya Dong paces the back row with 4.22 digs per set.
• The Tritons have a pair of players who patrol the net in Juliette Bokor (0.75 blocks per set) and Emily McDaniel (0.72 blocks per set). The duo also contribute on the offensive end with 1.48 and 2.49 kills per set, respectively.

The Series: The Beach vs. The Tritons
Long Beach State and UC San Diego will meet for just the second time in program history and for the first time since 1977. In their one prior meeting, the Beach defeated the Tritons 16-14, 15-1 in a neutral site match at Northridge, Calif.

Scouting UC Irvine
• UC Irvine comes into the week with an 11-5 overall record, while owning a 4-2 Big West Conference mark.
• The Anteaters are looking to bounce back after a four-set loss to Hawaii last weekend in Irvine, Calif.
• Prior to their loss to Hawaii, UC Irvine had won seven of their last eight matches.
• As a team, UCI is hitting .241 which ranks second in the conference. Additionally, the Anteaters are averaging 13.00 kills per set, 12.08 assists per set, 1.22 aces per set, 13.27 digs per set, and 2.33 blocks per set.
• The Anteaters have two players who are averaging more than 3.00 kills per set in Joy Umeh (3.54 kills per set) and Onye Ofoegbu (3.14 kills per set). Ofoegbu also leads the team with a .417 attack percentage to rank second in the league, while her 1.37 blocks per set average is tops in the conference.
• UC Irvine platoons its setters as Kelly Negron (5.88 assists per set), Caitlin Kikta (4.52 assists per set), and Indy DeSmet (3.86) have all seen action at setter.
• Carly Richter has logged 150 digs in the back row to average 3.26 digs per set to lead the Anteaters.

The Series: The Beach vs. The Anteaters
Long Beach State and UC Irvine will face off for the 87th time in program history in the historic Black and Blue Rivalry contest. Overall, the Beach lead the all-time series 73-13 and have won the last two meetings.

Countdown to 1,000
Long Beach State junior outside hitter Kashauna Williams has accumulated 997 kills thus far during her collegiate career. This season, she is averaging 4.32 kills per set and just three kills shy of become the 17th player in Long Beach State women's volleyball program history to reach that milestone, joining the likes of Tara Cross, Danielle Scott, and Tayyiba Haneef.

You Lovett to See it
Freshman outside hitter Erykah Lovett has been having a very solid rookie season. The Newnan, Ga., native is second on the squad with 3.05 kills per set, which ranks her seventh in the Big West Conference. Additionally, Lovett is second in the Big West in aces per set with 0.42 after serving up a total of 26 this season so far. Lovett contributes on both sides of the ball as she adds 2.61 digs per set and 0.24 blocks per set. Lovett kicked off her collegiate career with a double-double en route to being named Big West Freshman of the Week.

Can You Dig It?
Sophomore libero Nicole Hoff has been solid in the back row for the Beach racking up 232 digs to average 3.68 digs per set which ranks her ninth in the Big West. Hoff has led Long Beach State in digs in 10-of-17 matches and has recorded double-digit digs in 15 contests this season. Joining Hoff in solid defensive performances this are junior Dylan Dela Cruz (1.98 digs per set), sophomore Tia Chavira (2.76 digs per set), and freshman Jenna Giambi (1.64 digs per set).

Helping Hands
Long Beach State has platooned both freshman Kasia Partyka and sophomore Tia Chavira at setter this season. Partyka got the start in the first six matches and has averaged 8.73 assists per set, while Chavira has earned the next 11 starts and has averaged 9.20 assists per set. Chavira's average is good for fifth in the Big West as she has helped LBSU to a .225 attack percentage this season which ranks the Beach fourth in the conference.

Block Party
Freshman middle blocker Kameron Bacon continues to set the standard for the Beach at the net. The product out of Fontana, Calif., leads Long Beach State with 54 total blocks (6 solo, 48 block assists) to average 0.93 blocks per set. She recorded a career-high eight blocks against Cal State Fullerton on September 28. Coming in behind Bacon is senior middle blocker Miranda Canez who has recorded 42 total blocks (3 solo, 39 block assists) to average 0.67 blocks per set.

Kennedy Kills It
Sophomore outside hitter/opposite Katie Kennedy has been killing it as of late. The Hood River, Ore., native has earned the start at opposite in the last eight matches and is now third on the squad with 2.30 kills per set. In addition, Kennedy also owns a 0.79 digs per set average to go along with 0.40 blocks per set.

Kashing In
Kashauna Williams has continued her hot hitting as the Los Angeles, Calif., native leads both the Beach and the Big West with 4.32 kills per set, a mark that ranks her 23rd in the nation. She has racked up 268 kills in 62 sets and has reached double-figures in 16-of-17 matches this season. She has also led LBSU in kills in 15-of-17 contests thus far. Additionally, Williams has recorded five 20-plus kill performances including her most recent 20-kill showing against No. 21 San Diego to close out the preseason.

Double-Double Toil And Trouble
Long Beach State has had several solid performances this season including 13 double-doubles by five different players in 13 matches. Leading the way is freshman Erykah Lovett who has logged six double-doubles in her rookie season. Sophomore Tia Chavira has posted three double-doubles this season, while Kashauna Williams has recorded two. Lastly, Nicole Hoff and Kasia Partyka each have tallied one double-double so far.

Among the Big West
Long Beach State has six players who rank in the top 10 in the Big West. Leading the way is junior outside hitter Kashauna Williams who leads the league in kills per set with 4.32. Williams is also second in the league in points per set with 4.68. Joining Williams in the kills per set and points per set categories is freshman Erykah Lovett who is seventh in both categories with 3.05 kills per set and 3.60 points per set. Lovett is also second in the Big West in aces per set with 0.42. Sophomore setter Tia Chavira's 9.30 assists per set is good for fifth in the conference, while senior Miranda Canez's .329 attack percentage ranks per sixth. Sophomore libero Nicole Hoff ranks eighth in digs per set with 3.68, while freshman Kameron Bacon is ninth in blocks per set with 0.93.

On a National Scale
In the nation, Long Beach State has two players who rank in the top 75. Junior outside hitter Kashauna Williams' 4.32 kills per set are good for 23rd in the nation, while her 4.68 points per set rank her 39th. Additionally, freshman outside hitter Erykah Lovett's 0.42 aces per set rank her 66th in the country.

Next Up
Long Beach State hosts UC Riverside and UC Davis at the Walter Pyramid on Friday, October 22 and Saturday, October 23, respectively. First serve for both matches is set for 7 p.m.