Long Beach State Opens Big West Conference Action Against Cal Poly, CSU Bakersfield

MATCH #12: LONG BEACH STATE vs. CAL POLY
Date: Friday, September 24
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Location: Long Beach, Calif.
Venue: Walter Pyramid
Live Stats: BeachLiveStats.com
TV: ESPN+
Talent: Matt Brown
Twitter: @LBSU_WVB
Tickets Website: www.LongBeachState.com

MATCH #13: LONG BEACH STATE vs. CSU BAKERSFIELD
Date: Saturday, September 25
Time: 4:00 p.m.
Location: Long Beach, Calif.
Venue: Walter Pyramid
Live Stats: BeachLiveStats.com
TV: ESPN+
Talent: Matt Brown
Twitter: @LBSU_WVB
Tickets Website: www.LongBeachState.com

COMPLETE LONG BEACH STATE MATCH NOTES (PDF)

Long Beach State Opens Big West Conference Action Against Cal Poly, CSU Bakersfield
The Long Beach State women's volleyball team kicks off Big West Conference action this weekend as the Beach welcome Cal Poly and CSU Bakersfield to the Walter Pyramid on Friday and Saturday, respectively. LBSU and the Mustangs will face off on September 24 at 7 p.m., then the Beach will host the Roadrunner on September 25 at 4 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.

Promos, Food Trucks and More
The first 50 fans in attendance on Friday's women's volleyball match will receive a Block Hand giveaway. Outside of the Walter Pyramid, Savage Tacos food truck will be available for fans to purchase. Saturday is Glow in the Dark night at the women's volleyball match. Fans are encouraged to wear neon and bring glow sticks to the match. Meanwhile, the Bunz Burgers food truck will be parked outside.

About the Beach
• Long Beach State went 6-5 in the preseason and closed it out with a pair of victories including a four-set win over No. 21 San Diego marking LBSU's first victory over a nationally-ranked team since 2016.
• The Beach are 26-13 overall in conference openers. Long Beach State is 4-2 in conference openers against Cal Poly.
• Junior outside hitter Kashauna Williams continues her offensive rampage as she leads the conference with 4.77 kills per set, a mark that ranks her 12th in the nation. Additionally, she adds 1.12 digs per set, 0.42 blocks per set and is hitting .283 on the year.
• Sophomore opposite hitter Katie Kennedy had a monster week as she hit .531 over two matches and averaged 4.43 kills per sent including a career-high 16 kill effort over No. 21 San Diego. On the year, Kennedy is now averaging 1.89 kills per set to rank third on the squad.
• Freshman outside hitter Erykah Lovett has adjusted well to collegiate action as she is 10th in the Big West with 2.98 kills per set. She also leads the conference in aces per set with 0.51. Lovett has racked up a total of 22 aces this season.
• LBSU has been platooning setters Kasia Partyka and Tia Chavira this season. Partyka started the first six matches of the season and leads the way with 8.73 assists per set, while Chavira has started the last five matches and is right behind her with 8.46 assists per set.
• Chavira has contributed on all sides of the ball as the versatile sophomore also adds 2.64 digs per set, 0.91 kills per set, 0.18 blocks per set and is hitting .366.
• Sophomore libero Nicole Hoff has been stout in the back row for the Beach. She has racked up 3.88 digs per set this season to rank fifth in the Big West Conference. She also has led the Beach in digs in 10-of-11 matches this season.
• At the net freshman middle blocker Kameron Bacon has collected 33 total blocks (6 solo, 27 assists) to lead the team with 0.87 blocks per set. She also contributes 0.76 kills per set on the offensive end.
• Senior middle blocker Miranda Canez is the team leader in hitting percentage as the Albuquerque, N.M., native is hitting .383 on the year. She has knocked down 54 kills on 120 swings, while committing just eight attack errors. Additionally, Canez is also second on the squad in blocks per set with 0.49.
• Off the bench, Dylan Dela Cruz and Jenna Giambi have been productive for the Beach in the back row contributing 1.56 digs per set and 2.50 digs per set, respectively.

Scouting Cal Poly
• Cal Poly brings a 2-9 overall record into the Walter Pyramid as the Mustangs are looking to snap a five-match losing streak.
• The Mustangs are in search of their first win since they captured a 3-0 sweep of Utah Valley on September 3. Since then, Cal Poly has suffered setbacks to No. 22 San Diego (3-0), No. 9 Washington (3-1), No. 22 Pepperdine (3-2), as well as a pair of four-set losses to LMU.
• As a team, Cal Poly is hitting .204, while averaging 12.20 kills per set on 11.27 assists per set.
• The Mustangs' defense averages 13.40 digs per set to go along with 1.90 blocks per set.
• Jamie Stivers leads the squad with 3.20 kills per set on a .253 hitting percentage, while adding 2.45 digs per set which is second on the team.
• At setter, Avalon DeNeccochea has piloted the offense with 9.43 assists per set, while adding 1.55 digs per set, 0.75 kills per set, and 0.57 blocks per set.
• In the back row, Peyton Dueck paces the defense with 4.20 digs per set, while also leading the Mustangs with 13 service aces for an average of 0.32 per set.
• At the net, Meredith Phillips has been solid with 1.10 blocks per set. She has totaled 44 blocks with eight solo stops and 36 block assists. Meanwhile, she also contributes 2.50 kills per set on a .321 attack percentage.

The Series: The Beach vs. The Mustangs
Long Beach State and Cal Poly will meet for the 71st time in program history. The Beach leads the all-time series 46-24 including a 3-1 victory over the Mustangs in their last match up on Nov. 16, 2019. When playing each other in Long Beach, LBSU holds a 25-9 edge over Cal Poly.

Scouting CSU Bakersfield
• CSU Bakersfield has been on a roll this season as the Roadrunners own a 7-1 preseason record and have won their last three contests.
• The Runners are looking to extend their three-match winning streak after having earned wins over San Francisco (3-1), Eastern Washington (3-1), and Montana (3-0).
• CSU Bakersfield is hitting .225 as a team and have limited their opponents to just .183 hitting. The Runners are averaging 12.72 kills per set on 11.22 assists per set, while serving up 1.66 aces per set.
• The Roadrunners' defense, meanwhile, has racked up 14.28 digs per set and 2.19 blocks per set.
• Hayley McCluskey is the team's leading scorer with 3.44 kills per set, while adding 2.03 digs per set.
• Seleisa Elisaia is the Runners' setter as she has dished out 9.22 assists per set thus far. She is also second on the squad with 0.84 blocks per set and 2.34 digs per set.
• Paige Calvin leads the squad with 3.63 digs per set, while also contributing 1.06 assists per set.
• Leading the blocking defense for the Runners is Brooke Boiseau whose 30 total blocks are good for 0.94 per set.

The Series: The Beach vs. The Mustangs
Long Beach State and Cal Poly will meet for the 71st time in program history. The Beach leads the all-time series 46-24 including a 3-1 victory over the Mustangs in their last match up on Nov. 16, 2019. When playing each other in Long Beach, LBSU holds a 25-9 edge over Cal Poly.

Countdown to 1,000
Long Beach State junior outside hitter Kashauna Williams has accumulated 934 kills thus far during her collegiate career. This season, she is averaging 4.77 kills per set and is on pace to 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.

Hat Trick
If moving closer up the career kills list wasn't enough, Kashauna Williams was just named Big West Conference Player of the Week for the third time this season after leading the Beach to a pair of wins last week to close out the preseason. Williams averaged a whopping 5.57 kills per set on a .338 hitting percentage as she guided Long Beach State to a 3-0 sweep of San Diego State and a four-set victory over No. 21 San Diego. She knocked down 19 kills against the Aztecs and followed that performance with her fifth 20-kill performance of the season against the Toreros. With Williams leading the offensive charge, Long Beach State earned its first win over a nationally-ranked team since 2016. It also marked the first top-25 victory in the Joy McKienzie-Fuerbringer era, and was the first of the season for any Big West squad. Williams has been solid all season leading the Big West in kills (4.77) and points (5.10) per set, total attacks (459), total kills (205), and total points (219.5). Her total points and kills tallies rank her on the top 10 in the nation.

You Lovett to See it
Freshman outside hitter Erykah Lovett has adjusted very well to collegiate action. The Newnan, Ga., native is second on the squad with 2.98 kills per set, which ranks her 10th in the Big West Conference. Additionally, Lovett leads the Big West in aces per set with 0.51 after serving up a total of 22 this season so far. Lovett contributes on both sides of the ball as she adds 2.63 digs per set and 0.26 blocks per set in what is shaping up to be a solid rookie season.

Can You Dig It?
Sophomore libero Nicole Hoff has been solid in the back row for the Beach racking up 167 digs to average 3.88 digs per set which ranks her fifth in the Big West. Hoff has led Long Beach State in digs in 10-of-11 matches and has recorded double-digit digs in each contest this season. Joining Hoff in solid defensive performances this are junior Dylan Dela Cruz (1.56 digs per set), sophomore Tia Chavira (2.69 digs per set), and freshman Jenna Giambi (2.50 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 five starts and has averaged 8.46 assists per set. Partyka's average is good for sixth in the Big West, while Chavira's ranks seventh. The duo have led the Beach to a .241 attack percentage, which ranks 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 33 total blocks (6 solo, 27 block assists) to average 0.87 blocks per set. She recorded a career-high seven blocks against Portland State and has since dominated at net. Coming in behind Bacon is senior middle blocker Miranda Canez who has recorded 21 total blocks (2 solo, 19 block assists) to average 0.49 blocks per set.

Kennedy Kills It
Sophomore outside hitter/opposite Katie Kennedy has been killing it as of late. The Hood River, Ore., native led the Beach last week with a sizzling .531 attack percentage as she knocked down 31 kills on 49 swings, while committing just five attack errors. Last Tuesday, she tied her career-high with 15 kills and followed that performance with a career-best of 16 kills to help LBSU down No. 21 San Diego. Kennedy averaged 4.43 kills per set, while adding 0.57 digs per set, and as many blocks per set on the week.

Kashing In
Kashauna Williams has continued her hot hitting as the Los Angeles, Calif., native leads both the Beach and the Big West with 4.77 kills per set, a mark that ranks her 12th in the nation. She has racked up 205 kills in 43 sets and has reached double-figures in each match this season leading LBSU in kills in all 11 contests thus far. Additionally, Williams has recorded five 20-plus kill performances including her most recent 20-kill showing against No. 21 San Diego last Saturday.

Double-Double Toil And Trouble
Long Beach State has had several solid performances this season including 11 double-doubles by five different players in nine matches. Leading the way is freshman Erykah Lovett who has logged six double-doubles in just nine matches. Sophomore Tia Chavira has posted two double-doubles this season, while Kashauna Williams, Nicole Hoff, and Kasia Partyka each have tallied one double-double so far.

Among the Big West
Long Beach State has five 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 4.77. Also leading the conference is freshman outside hitter Erykah Lovett whose 0.51 aces per set is top in the Big West. Lovett's name also appears in kills per set as she is 10th with 2.98. Freshman setter Kasia Partyka comes in sixth in the league with 8.73 assists per set, while sophomore setter Tia Chavira is seventh in the conference with 8.46 assists per set. Lastly, sophomore libero Nicole Hoff ranks fifth with 3.88 digs per set.

On a National Scale
In the nation, Long Beach State has two players who rank in the top 50. Junior outside hitter Kashauna Williams' 4.77 kills per set are good for 12th in the nation, while her 5.10 points per set rank her 19th. Additionally, freshman outside hitter Erykah Lovett's 0.51 aces per set rank her 35th in the country.

Next Up
Long Beach State will host Cal State Fullerton on Tuesday, September 28 at 7 p.m. at the Walter Pyramid. The match will be broadcast live on ESPN+.

Calendar

Long Beach State Opens Big West Conference Action Against Cal Poly, CSU Bakersfield

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Players Mentioned

Kameron Bacon

Miranda Canez

Tia Chavira

Dylan Dela Cruz

Jenna Giambi

Nicole Hoff

Katie Kennedy

Erykah Lovett

Kasia Partyka

Kashauna Williams

Long Beach State University Athletics