Long Beach State Hosts UC Riverside, UC Davis at the Walter Pyramid

Friday, October 22

Long Beach, Calif.

7:00 PM

Long Beach State University

UC Riverside

Tickets

Photo by: John Fajardo

Long Beach State Hosts UC Riverside, UC Davis at the Walter Pyramid

10/21/2021 3:39:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

The Beach welcome a pair of conference foes on Friday and Saturday

By: Lindy Zamora, Associate Athletic Communications Director

MATCH #20: LONG BEACH STATE vs. UC RIVERSIDE
Date: Friday, October 22
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 #21: LONG BEACH STATE vs. UC DAVIS
Date: Saturday, October 23
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

Complete LBSU Match Notes (PDF)

Long Beach State Hosts UC Riverside, UC Davis at the Walter Pyramid
The Long Beach State women's volleyball team is set to host a pair of Big West Conference foes this weekend at the Walter Pyramid. The Beach will play UC Riverside on Friday, October 22 at 7 p.m., before welcoming UC Davis on Saturday, October 23 at 7 p.m. Both matches will be broadcast live on ESPN+ with Matt Brown on the call.

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 9-10, while the Beach move to 3-5 in Big West Conference action.
• Last week, the Beach defeated UC San Diego at home in four sets, before losing to UC Irvine, 3-2, on the road.
• Kashauna Williams recorded 23 kills against UC San Diego en route to becoming the 17th player in LBSU program history to reach 1,000 career-kills. She currently sits in 15th place all-time with 1,028 career kills.
• Williams is averaging 4.21 kills per set to led the Big West and rank 30th in the nation. She also averages 1.07 digs per set, 0.50 blocks per set, and is hitting .241 on the year.
• Freshman outside hitter Erykah Lovett has turned in an outstanding rookie season as she is second on the team with 2.90 kills per set, while her 0.41 aces per set lead the Big West. 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 settled in on the right side and is third on the team with 2.38 kills per set on a .222 hitting percentage. The Hood River, Ore., native also contributes 0.79 digs per set and 0.43 blocks per set.
• Senior Miranda Canez continues to lead the Beach in hitting with a .328 attack percentage which is good for sixth in the Big West. Additionally, she is second on the squad with 0.68 blocks per set, while also contributing 1.40 kills per set.
• Sophomore Tia Chavira has earned the start at setter in the 13 matches and is currently averaging 8.67 assists per set on the year which puts her seventh in the Big West. Additionally, she has averaged 1.04 kills per set, 0.35 blocks per set, and 0.27 aces per set, while hitting .304.
• Sophomore libero Nicole Hoff has been stout in the back row for the Beach having racked up a total of 262 digs for an average of 3.64 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 16 contests.
• At the net freshman middle blocker Kameron Bacon has collected 64 total blocks (6 solo, 58 assists) to lead the team with 0.96 blocks per set to rank in the top 10 in the Big West. She also contributes 1.04 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 2.08 digs per set and 2.03 digs per set, respectively. Meanwhile, senior outside hitter Avery Nelson has contributed 1.37 kills per set and 1.04 digs per set for LBSU.

Scouting UC Riverside
• UC Riverside is looking for its first Big West Conference win of the season as the Highlanders are 4-14 on the year and 0-8 in league action.
• The Highlanders are on a nine-match losing streak dating back to Sept. 18 when they dropped a 3-0 contest to San Diego State. Their last win came on Sept. 17 against Texas Southern, 3-1.
• As a team, UCR is hitting .145 and averaging 10.83 kills per set, while dishing out 14.48 digs per set and 1.26 blocks per set.
• Amarachi Osuji leads the team with 2.67 kills per set, while also adding 2.63 digs per set and 0..34 blocks per set.
• Zoey Seput is the Highlanders' setter as she averages 7.02 assists per set. She also posts 2.33 digs per set and 0.44 kills per set.
• In the back row, Mia Christensen leads the way with 2.84 digs per set.
• At the net, Isabella Scarlett has accumulated 36 total blocks to average 0.55 blocks per set.

The Series: The Beach vs. The Highlanders
Long Beach State and UC Riverside will face off for the 55th time in program history. The Beach leads the all-time series 50-4 and has won the last 17 meetings. When playing UCR in Long Beach, LBSU owns an impressive 19-0 record.

Scouting UC Davis
• UC Davis brings a 6-13 overall record into the week and the Aggies are 2-6 in Big West Conference action.
• Last week, the Aggies went 1-1 with a five-set loss to CSUN, before bouncing back with a 3-1 win against UC Santa Barbara.
• As a team, UC Davis is hitting .217 and averaging 11.60 kills per set. The Aggies' defense owns 12.43 digs per set and 2.17 blocks per set.
• Amara Aimufua leads the way with 2.91 kills per set on a .205 attack percentage. She also adds 0.91 digs per set and 0.46 blocks per set.
• At setter, the Aggies split time between Casi Newman and Jane Seslar as Newman averages 5.77 assists per set and Seslar registers 5.13.
• On the defensive end, Shira Lahav is the team's libero with 3.54 digs per set, while Josephine Ough leads the league with 1.35 blocks per set at the net.

The Series: The Beach vs. The Aggies
Long Beach State and UC Davis will meet for the 32nd time in program history. The Beach leads the series 26-5, however, the Aggies have won the last three meetings as LBSU is looking for its first win over UC Davis since Oct. 6, 2018 when LBSU defeated the Aggies in four sets inside the Walter Pyramid. When playing each other in Long Beach, the Beach leads the series 14-2.

A Grand time
Long Beach State junior outside hitter Kashauna Williams joined elite company last weekend as she became the 17th player in program history to reach the 1,000 career kills. Williams tallied 23 kills against UC San Diego in her sixth 20-plus kill showing of the season en route to the milestone. She now has 1,028 career kills and ranks 15th all-time at the Beach. Williams is 54 kills away from 14th place all-time as she now ranks among Long Beach State legends 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 2.90 kills per set. Additionally, Lovett is leading the Big West in aces per set with 0.41 after serving up a total of 29 this season so far. Lovett contributes on both sides of the ball as she adds 2.68 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 262 digs to average 3.64 digs per set which ranks her ninth in the Big West. Hoff has led Long Beach State in digs in 10 matches and has recorded double-digit digs in 16 contests this season. Joining Hoff in solid defensive performances this are junior Dylan Dela Cruz (2.08 digs per set), sophomore Tia Chavira (2.56 digs per set), and freshman Jenna Giambi (2.03 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 13 starts and has averaged 8.67 assists per set. Chavira's average is good for seventh in the Big West as she has helped LBSU to a .228 attack percentage this season which ranks the Beach third 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 64 total blocks (6 solo, 58 block assists) to average 0.96 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 49 total blocks (4 solo, 45 block assists) to average 0.68 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 10 matches and is now third on the squad with 2.38 kills per set. In addition, Kennedy also owns a 0.79 digs per set average to go along with 0.43 blocks per set.

Double-Double Toil And Trouble
Long Beach State has had several solid performances this season including 17 double-doubles by five different players in 19 matches. Leading the way is freshman Erykah Lovett who has logged eight double-doubles in her rookie season. Sophomore Tia Chavira has posted five double-doubles this season, while Kashauna Williams has recorded two. Lastly, Nicole Hoff and Kasia Partyka each have tallied one double-double so far.

On a National Scale
In the nation, Long Beach State has two players who rank in the top 100. Junior outside hitter Kashauna Williams' 4.21 kills per set are good for 30th in the nation, while her 4.60 points per set rank her 47th. Additionally, freshman outside hitter Erykah Lovett's 0.41 aces per set rank her 72nd in the country.

Family Connections
Freshman outside hitter Jaylen Jordan and freshman defensive specialist Jenna Giambi have some strong family connections. Jordan is the daughter of Kevin Jordan who played football at UCLA, while her mother, Jenny Johnson Jordan played volleyball. Her mother went on to play on the 2000 Beach Volleyball Olympic Team, while her father played in the NFL with both the Cardinals and the Bengals. If that weren't enough, her grandfather was 1960 Olympic Gold Medalist and UCLA track & field and basketball star, Rafer Johnson. Giambi, meanwhile, comes from a strong pedigree of athletes as well. Her mother, Julie Giambi, played softball at Cal State Fullerton, and her uncles, Jason and Jeremy, are former Major League Baseball players. Her Uncle Jason played for the Dirtbags from 1990-92. Another descendant of a Dirtbag is freshman Kailia Lopez. She is the daughter of Derek Lopez who played for the Dirtbags in 1989.

Next Up
Long Beach State hits the road to central California as the Beach face CSU Bakersfield on Friday, Oct. 29 at 5 p.m., before taking on Cal Poly on Saturday, Oct. 30 at 7 p.m. Both matches will be broadcast on ESPN+.