Friday, March 26
Long Beach, Calif.
4:00 PM
Long Beach State University
vs
UC Irvine
Photo by: John Fajardo
No. 7 Long Beach State Takes on No. 13 UC Irvine in Black and Blue Rivalry
3/25/2021 12:49:00 PM | Men's Volleyball
The Beach and the Anteaters will face off at 4 p.m. on Friday and Saturday
MATCH #3: No. 13 UC Irvine at No. 7 Long Beach State
Date: Friday, March 26
Time: 4:00 p.m.
Location: Long Beach, Calif.
Venue: Walter Pyramid
Live Stats: BeachLiveStats.com
Live Stream: BeachVision
Radio: 22WestMedia.com
Talent: Matt Brown & Matt Prosser
MATCH #4: No. 7 Long Beach State at No. 13 UC Irvine
Date: Saturday, March 27
Time: 4:00 p.m.
Location: Irvine, Calif.
Venue: Bren Events Center
Live Stats: UCIrvineSports.com
TV: ESPN3
COMPLETE LBSU MATCH NOTES (PDF)
No. 7 Long Beach State Takes on No. 13 UC Irvine in Black and Blue Rivalry
Following a season-opening split against No. 3 UC Santa Barbara, No. 7 Long Beach State will take on No. 13 UC Irvine in a pair of matches on Friday, March 26 and Saturday, March 27. First serve for both contests is set for 4 p.m. Friday's match will take place in the Walter Pyramid, while Saturday's contest will be played at the Bren Events Center.
Catch All The Action
All Long Beach State home matches will be broadcast live on 22 West Radio and streamed live on Beach Vision. Fans can also follow stats updates on BeachLiveStats.com. Matt Brown and Long Beach State alumni, Matt Prosser, will be on the call for Friday's match. Saturday's contest will be broadcast on ESPN3.
Staying Social
Follow Long Beach State Men's Volleyball on Instagram and Twitter at @LBSUMVB. Be sure to "like" us on Facebook (Long Beach State Men's Volleyball).
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.
And don't forget our hashtags #GoBeach #LBNation.
In the Rankings
Long Beach State moved up three spots in the NVA/AVCA National Rankings after the Beach's opening weekend series split with No. 3 UCSB. UC Irvine, meanwhile, dropped one spot this week to No. 13 after splitting last weekend with unranked CSUN.
About The Beach
• Long Beach State comes into the matches against UC Irvine with a 1-1 overall and Big West Conference record.
• The Beach dropped their season opener, 3-1, at No. 3 UC Santa Barbara, before bouncing back with a 3-1 win over the Gauchos inside the Walter Pyramid.
• With the four-set win over UCSB on Sunday at home, LBSU extended its home conference winning streak to 20 matches which is good for second in the Long Beach State record book.
• Following an excellent showing in his collegiate debut, freshman Aidan Knipe was named Big West Conference Men's Volleyball Freshman Player of the Week. Knipe is averaging a nation-leading 12.00 assists per set and piloted the Beach to a .345 attack percentage against the Gauchos in Sunday's victory.
• Redshirt sophomore outside hitter Spencer Olivier turned in a career-best performance last weekend as he registered 16 kills and 17 digs to go along with five blocks and two assists, while hitting .333 in LBSU's win over UCSB.
• The Beach had five players record double digit kills in their win over the Gauchos last weekend. Olivier led the way with a career-high 16 kills, while freshman Clarke Godbold contributed 13 kills, sophomore Shane Holdaway added a career-best 12 kills, while freshman Simon Torwie and junior Simon Andersen each added 11.
• In addition, LBSU had three players record double-doubles last weekend as Olivier set the tone with 16 kills and 17 digs, while Godbold added 13 kills and 13 kills, before Torwie rounded out the trio with 11 kills and as many digs.
• Defensively, Andersen put up six total blocks at the net as he posted a pair of solo blocks and four block assists. Andersen is averaging 1.25 blocks per set on the season, which is good for fifth in the nation.
• Freshman libero Mason Briggs paced the back row with his solid passing as he finished the weekend logging 2.38 digs per set to rank ninth in the nation.
• Holdaway, Long Beach State's leader in attack percentage a year ago, picked up right where he left off as the sophomore owns a .514 clip after just two matches to rank fifth in the nation.
Scouting UC Irvine
• No. 13 UC Irvine brings a 2-6 overall record into the match against Long Beach State.
• The Anteaters are 2-2 in Big West action having split the series with UC San Diego and CSUN.
• UCI played Hawaii and UC Santa Barbara in non-conference matches to open the season as they began the year 0-4 against the No. 1-ranked and No. 3-ranked teams in the country, respectively.
• Joel Schneidmiller is the Anteaters' leading scorer as he averages 3.84 kills per set on .332 hitting. He also adds 1.50 digs per set, 0.56 blocks per set, and leads the team with 14 service aces (0.44 per set).
• Dylan Zhai is the team's setter as he has distributed 238 assists this season to average 8.21 assists per set.
• Akhill Tangutur leads the squad with 1.90 digs per set, while Scott Stadick patrols the net with 1.13 blocks per set.
• In addition to his solid blocking, Stadick also contributes 1.69 kills per set and 0.44 digs per set.
• As a team, UC Irvine is hitting .274, while averaging 11.72 kills per set on 10.78 assists per set.
• Defensively, the Anteaters average 1.92 blocks per set and 7.78 digs per set.
The Series: The Beach vs. The Anteaters
Long Beach State and UC Irvine will meet for the 74th and 75th time in program history. The Beach leads the all-time series 49-24 and has won the last nine meetings. The Anteaters are looking for their first win over LBSU since April 3, 2015 when UCI earned a four-set win over the Beach in Irvine, Calif.
Starting Off Strong
Redshirt freshman setter Aidan Knipe kicked off his collegiate career with a strong showing against No. 3 UC Santa Barbara which culminated in the Huntington Beach, Calif., native being named Big West Freshman of the Week.
Knipe earned his first-career Big West weekly accolades after directing the then-No. 10 Beach to a series split against No. 3 UC Santa Barbara.
Over two matches, Knipe dished out 96 assists over eight sets for a 12.00 assists per set average, which currently leads the nation.
The 6-foot-3 Knipe tallied 57 assists in Sunday's four-set win to go along with five digs, and three kills. With Knipe's solid passing, the Beach hit .345 in the match as five players scored double-digit kills.
Double-Double Toil And Trouble
Three Beach players notched double-doubles in Long Beach State's season-opening weekend. Redshirt sophomore outside hitter Spencer Olivier led the way with a career-effort as he registered 16 kills and 17 digs. Following Olivier's lead, freshmen Clarke Godbold and Simon Torwie recorded double-doubles of their own as Godbold finished Sunday's match with 13 kills and 13 digs, while Torwie concluded the game with 11 kills and 11 digs.
Hitting The Spot
Sophomore middle blocker Shane Holdaway finished the 2020 season with a team-best .496 (79-15-129) attack percentage. The Huntington Beach, Calif., native hasn't missed a beat as he is hitting a team-leading .514 (21-3-35) clip after two matches thus far. That output ranks him fifth in the nation. Holdaway hit .438 with nine kills in the Beach's season opener at UC Santa Barbara, then came back the next day and tallied a career-high 12 kills while hitting .579.
Killin' It
Redshirt sophomore outside hitter Spencer Olivier is leading Long Beach State with 3.13 kills per set following a pair of solid performances last weekend. Olivier kicked off the season with nine kills, which tied for the team lead, at UC Santa Barbara, before exploding the next day with career-high 16 kills against the Gauchos. The product out of Tustin, Calif., is hitting .234 on the year, while adding 2.25 digs per set and 0.75 blocks per set.
Block Party
Junior middle blocker Simon Andersen has tallied 10 blocks in just two matches thus far to average 1.25 blocks per set. That average is good for fifth in the nation and second in the Big West. Andersen opened the 2021 season with four blocks in a 3-1 loss at UC Santa Barbara. He followed that performance up with a six-block effort against the Gauchos in a four-set victory in Long Beach. In addition to leading the squad in blocks, Andersen also averages 2.00 kills per set while hitting .429 on the year.
Up Next
Long Beach State will travel to Honolulu, Hawai'i to go up against top-ranked Hawai'i on April 2 and 3 at the Stan Sheriff Center. Both contests are scheduled for 10 p.m. (Pacific Time).
Date: Friday, March 26
Time: 4:00 p.m.
Location: Long Beach, Calif.
Venue: Walter Pyramid
Live Stats: BeachLiveStats.com
Live Stream: BeachVision
Radio: 22WestMedia.com
Talent: Matt Brown & Matt Prosser
MATCH #4: No. 7 Long Beach State at No. 13 UC Irvine
Date: Saturday, March 27
Time: 4:00 p.m.
Location: Irvine, Calif.
Venue: Bren Events Center
Live Stats: UCIrvineSports.com
TV: ESPN3
COMPLETE LBSU MATCH NOTES (PDF)
No. 7 Long Beach State Takes on No. 13 UC Irvine in Black and Blue Rivalry
Following a season-opening split against No. 3 UC Santa Barbara, No. 7 Long Beach State will take on No. 13 UC Irvine in a pair of matches on Friday, March 26 and Saturday, March 27. First serve for both contests is set for 4 p.m. Friday's match will take place in the Walter Pyramid, while Saturday's contest will be played at the Bren Events Center.
Catch All The Action
All Long Beach State home matches will be broadcast live on 22 West Radio and streamed live on Beach Vision. Fans can also follow stats updates on BeachLiveStats.com. Matt Brown and Long Beach State alumni, Matt Prosser, will be on the call for Friday's match. Saturday's contest will be broadcast on ESPN3.
Staying Social
Follow Long Beach State Men's Volleyball on Instagram and Twitter at @LBSUMVB. Be sure to "like" us on Facebook (Long Beach State Men's Volleyball).
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.
And don't forget our hashtags #GoBeach #LBNation.
In the Rankings
Long Beach State moved up three spots in the NVA/AVCA National Rankings after the Beach's opening weekend series split with No. 3 UCSB. UC Irvine, meanwhile, dropped one spot this week to No. 13 after splitting last weekend with unranked CSUN.
About The Beach
• Long Beach State comes into the matches against UC Irvine with a 1-1 overall and Big West Conference record.
• The Beach dropped their season opener, 3-1, at No. 3 UC Santa Barbara, before bouncing back with a 3-1 win over the Gauchos inside the Walter Pyramid.
• With the four-set win over UCSB on Sunday at home, LBSU extended its home conference winning streak to 20 matches which is good for second in the Long Beach State record book.
• Following an excellent showing in his collegiate debut, freshman Aidan Knipe was named Big West Conference Men's Volleyball Freshman Player of the Week. Knipe is averaging a nation-leading 12.00 assists per set and piloted the Beach to a .345 attack percentage against the Gauchos in Sunday's victory.
• Redshirt sophomore outside hitter Spencer Olivier turned in a career-best performance last weekend as he registered 16 kills and 17 digs to go along with five blocks and two assists, while hitting .333 in LBSU's win over UCSB.
• The Beach had five players record double digit kills in their win over the Gauchos last weekend. Olivier led the way with a career-high 16 kills, while freshman Clarke Godbold contributed 13 kills, sophomore Shane Holdaway added a career-best 12 kills, while freshman Simon Torwie and junior Simon Andersen each added 11.
• In addition, LBSU had three players record double-doubles last weekend as Olivier set the tone with 16 kills and 17 digs, while Godbold added 13 kills and 13 kills, before Torwie rounded out the trio with 11 kills and as many digs.
• Defensively, Andersen put up six total blocks at the net as he posted a pair of solo blocks and four block assists. Andersen is averaging 1.25 blocks per set on the season, which is good for fifth in the nation.
• Freshman libero Mason Briggs paced the back row with his solid passing as he finished the weekend logging 2.38 digs per set to rank ninth in the nation.
• Holdaway, Long Beach State's leader in attack percentage a year ago, picked up right where he left off as the sophomore owns a .514 clip after just two matches to rank fifth in the nation.
Scouting UC Irvine
• No. 13 UC Irvine brings a 2-6 overall record into the match against Long Beach State.
• The Anteaters are 2-2 in Big West action having split the series with UC San Diego and CSUN.
• UCI played Hawaii and UC Santa Barbara in non-conference matches to open the season as they began the year 0-4 against the No. 1-ranked and No. 3-ranked teams in the country, respectively.
• Joel Schneidmiller is the Anteaters' leading scorer as he averages 3.84 kills per set on .332 hitting. He also adds 1.50 digs per set, 0.56 blocks per set, and leads the team with 14 service aces (0.44 per set).
• Dylan Zhai is the team's setter as he has distributed 238 assists this season to average 8.21 assists per set.
• Akhill Tangutur leads the squad with 1.90 digs per set, while Scott Stadick patrols the net with 1.13 blocks per set.
• In addition to his solid blocking, Stadick also contributes 1.69 kills per set and 0.44 digs per set.
• As a team, UC Irvine is hitting .274, while averaging 11.72 kills per set on 10.78 assists per set.
• Defensively, the Anteaters average 1.92 blocks per set and 7.78 digs per set.
The Series: The Beach vs. The Anteaters
Long Beach State and UC Irvine will meet for the 74th and 75th time in program history. The Beach leads the all-time series 49-24 and has won the last nine meetings. The Anteaters are looking for their first win over LBSU since April 3, 2015 when UCI earned a four-set win over the Beach in Irvine, Calif.
Starting Off Strong
Redshirt freshman setter Aidan Knipe kicked off his collegiate career with a strong showing against No. 3 UC Santa Barbara which culminated in the Huntington Beach, Calif., native being named Big West Freshman of the Week.
Knipe earned his first-career Big West weekly accolades after directing the then-No. 10 Beach to a series split against No. 3 UC Santa Barbara.
Over two matches, Knipe dished out 96 assists over eight sets for a 12.00 assists per set average, which currently leads the nation.
The 6-foot-3 Knipe tallied 57 assists in Sunday's four-set win to go along with five digs, and three kills. With Knipe's solid passing, the Beach hit .345 in the match as five players scored double-digit kills.
Double-Double Toil And Trouble
Three Beach players notched double-doubles in Long Beach State's season-opening weekend. Redshirt sophomore outside hitter Spencer Olivier led the way with a career-effort as he registered 16 kills and 17 digs. Following Olivier's lead, freshmen Clarke Godbold and Simon Torwie recorded double-doubles of their own as Godbold finished Sunday's match with 13 kills and 13 digs, while Torwie concluded the game with 11 kills and 11 digs.
Hitting The Spot
Sophomore middle blocker Shane Holdaway finished the 2020 season with a team-best .496 (79-15-129) attack percentage. The Huntington Beach, Calif., native hasn't missed a beat as he is hitting a team-leading .514 (21-3-35) clip after two matches thus far. That output ranks him fifth in the nation. Holdaway hit .438 with nine kills in the Beach's season opener at UC Santa Barbara, then came back the next day and tallied a career-high 12 kills while hitting .579.
Killin' It
Redshirt sophomore outside hitter Spencer Olivier is leading Long Beach State with 3.13 kills per set following a pair of solid performances last weekend. Olivier kicked off the season with nine kills, which tied for the team lead, at UC Santa Barbara, before exploding the next day with career-high 16 kills against the Gauchos. The product out of Tustin, Calif., is hitting .234 on the year, while adding 2.25 digs per set and 0.75 blocks per set.
Block Party
Junior middle blocker Simon Andersen has tallied 10 blocks in just two matches thus far to average 1.25 blocks per set. That average is good for fifth in the nation and second in the Big West. Andersen opened the 2021 season with four blocks in a 3-1 loss at UC Santa Barbara. He followed that performance up with a six-block effort against the Gauchos in a four-set victory in Long Beach. In addition to leading the squad in blocks, Andersen also averages 2.00 kills per set while hitting .429 on the year.
Up Next
Long Beach State will travel to Honolulu, Hawai'i to go up against top-ranked Hawai'i on April 2 and 3 at the Stan Sheriff Center. Both contests are scheduled for 10 p.m. (Pacific Time).
Players Mentioned
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OH
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MB
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OH
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OPP
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