Friday, November 24
Long Beach, Calif.
4:00 PM
Long Beach State University
21-9,13-5Big West
3
vs
2
UC Santa Barbara
27-4,17-1Big West
1
2
3
4
5
F
UC Santa Barbara
24
25
17
25
12
2
Long Beach St.
26
23
25
16
15
3
Photo by: Diego Devia @Devia.Img
LBSU Women’s Volleyball Wins Gritty Five-Setter Over Top-Seeded UC Santa Barbara To Advance To The Outrigger Big West Championship Final
11/24/2023 8:28:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
Zayna Meyer, Savana Chacon record double-doubles in Long Beach State’s victory
LONG BEACH, Calif. – No. 4 seed Long Beach State took down top-seeded UC Santa Barbara in a 3-2 [26-24, 23-25, 25-17, 16-25, 15-12] thriller at the Walter Pyramid on Friday night to advance to The Outrigger Big West Championship Final.
The Beach (21-9) will face the winner of the No. 2 seed Hawaii/No. 3 seed Cal Poly match on Saturday, Nov. 25 at 5 p.m. at the Walter Pyramid. This season, when playing at The 'Mid, the Beach are 12-4 this season.
The Gauchos (27-4), meanwhile, will wait to see if they earn an at-large bid into the NCAA Tournament during Sunday's selection show which will be on ESPN and ESPN+ at 3 p.m. (PT).
Redshirt sophomore setter, Zayna Meyer, who is coming off being named 2023 Big West Setter of the Year, led Long Beach State with 45 assists and 15 digs for her team-leading 14th double-double of the year. Meyer has been an integral part of the Beach's success this season running an efficient offense that came into the match hitting a Big West-leading .250.
Meyer led the offense and got three players in double-figures on the night. Leading the Beach was junior outside hitter Elise Agi who recorded 20 kills, marking the third time this season she has reached the 20-kill plateau. Agi also added seven digs, four blocks, and one assists.
Junior outside hitter Natalie Glenn was masterful as she registered 19 kills, just two shy of her career-high, while hitting an outstanding .452 (19-5-31). Glenn also contributed five digs, five blocks, and three aces. The Big West leader in service aces is now averaging 0.47 aces per set on the year.
Rounding out the Beach's double-figure scorers was graduate middle blocker Katie Kennedy who posted 15 kills, while putting up three blocks.
The Beach would go on to record 10.0 total team blocks as Glenn led the way with five, and Agi and middle blocker Kameron Bacon each finished with four.
Long Beach State was solid defensively as junior libero anchored the backrow with 10 digs, marking her fourth-straight double-digit dig performance. Chacon also dished out a career-high 11 assists notching her first-career double-double.
The Big West Semifinal was an exciting one from the get-go. Over five set, the conference foes battled each other through 26 ties and 11 lead changes. The first two sets were close, deuce sets, while sets three and four were more lopsided. Then it all came down to the fifth set as both teams laid it all on the line.
The first set was close to start, but a 6-1 Long Beach State run opened up a six-point lead for the Beach as UC Santa Barbara called a timeout trailing 12-6. The Gauchos managed to battle back and tie the game at 17-all. With momentum on UCSB's side, the Gauchos went on a 5-0 run to take a 22-18 advantage over the Beach. UC Santa Barbara sent it to set point, 24-22, but the Beach would not go quietly. LBSU closed the first set on a 4-0 run to win the game, 26-24.
The Beach kicked off the second set with a 7-3 lead after scoring five-consecutive points. After UCSanta Barbara made it a one-point game (7-6), Long Beach State used a 6-0 to take a 15-8 lead at the media timeout. Although the game seemed to be going the Beach's way, the Gauchos had other plans. UCSB found their rhythm and went on an 8-1 lead to even the score at 16-all. With a brand new game, the two teams traded points until they found themselves knotted at 21-all. Back-to-back kills from Hanna Lesiak and Elise Agi give the Beach a 23-21 lead, but this time it would be the Gauchos to close the game on a 4-0 run to win the set, 25-23.
With the match tied 1-1, the Beach and the Gauchos matched each other early in the third set. However, a 7-0 Long Beach State run would break the game open as the Beach went up 15-9 and never looked back. Long Beach got a kill from Kennedy followed by an ace from Glenn to take an 18-11 advantage before cruising to a 25-17 victory.
Leading 2-1, Long Beach State scored five-straight points to go up 6-2 early in the fourth set. However, UC Santa Barbara refused to quit. The Gauchos rattled off eight-consecutive points to take an 11-7 lead over the Beach. From there, UCSB controlled the remainder of the set, holding a comfortable lead, before winning 25-16 to force a fifth and deciding set.
The final set saw Long Beach State and UC Santa Barbara fight each other through half a dozen ties and three lead changes. Long Beach State got a kill from Glenn to put the Beach on top, 8-6, at the side switch. The Beach got another kill from Glenn, followed by a block assist from Bacon and Agi, to force a UCSB timeout after LBSU took a 10-7 edge. The break in action did nothing to stop the Beach as they came out of the stoppage and got a solo block by Glenn followed by a ball handling error from the Gauchos to take a comfortable 12-7 lead. With the game going the Beach's direction, Long Beach State got another block from Glenn to send it to match point, 14-8. UC Santa Barbara, however, was not ready to let Long Beach State walk away with the win. The Gauchos fought back and scored four-straight points to cut the Beach's lead down to two (14-12). But that was as close as LBSU would let them get. Glenn knocked down her final kill of the match to give Long Beach State the 15-12 victory.
UC Santa Barbara was led by Big West Player of the Year Michelle Ohwobete who finished with a double-double (15 kills, 13 digs), while hitting .375 (15-3-32). Joining Ohwobete in double-figures were Briana McKnight and Tasia Farmer who posted 11 and 10 kills respectively. Setters Grace McIntosh (25 assists) and Michelle Zhao (16 assists) paced the Gauchos' offense to a .205 clip. Zhao also logged a double-double with 12 digs. On blocking defense, UCSB got a solid showing from McKnight who recorded five blocks, four of which were solo stops. Farmer also added five blocks as the Gauchos concluded the match with 13.0 total team blocks.
The Beach (21-9) will face the winner of the No. 2 seed Hawaii/No. 3 seed Cal Poly match on Saturday, Nov. 25 at 5 p.m. at the Walter Pyramid. This season, when playing at The 'Mid, the Beach are 12-4 this season.
The Gauchos (27-4), meanwhile, will wait to see if they earn an at-large bid into the NCAA Tournament during Sunday's selection show which will be on ESPN and ESPN+ at 3 p.m. (PT).
Redshirt sophomore setter, Zayna Meyer, who is coming off being named 2023 Big West Setter of the Year, led Long Beach State with 45 assists and 15 digs for her team-leading 14th double-double of the year. Meyer has been an integral part of the Beach's success this season running an efficient offense that came into the match hitting a Big West-leading .250.
Meyer led the offense and got three players in double-figures on the night. Leading the Beach was junior outside hitter Elise Agi who recorded 20 kills, marking the third time this season she has reached the 20-kill plateau. Agi also added seven digs, four blocks, and one assists.
Junior outside hitter Natalie Glenn was masterful as she registered 19 kills, just two shy of her career-high, while hitting an outstanding .452 (19-5-31). Glenn also contributed five digs, five blocks, and three aces. The Big West leader in service aces is now averaging 0.47 aces per set on the year.
Rounding out the Beach's double-figure scorers was graduate middle blocker Katie Kennedy who posted 15 kills, while putting up three blocks.
The Beach would go on to record 10.0 total team blocks as Glenn led the way with five, and Agi and middle blocker Kameron Bacon each finished with four.
ROOF!!! Kameron Bacon and Natalie Glenn's block highlights a 6-0 Long Beach State run??#GoBeach pic.twitter.com/5G1PALmUiK
— LBSU W. Volleyball (@LBSUWVB) November 25, 2023
Long Beach State was solid defensively as junior libero anchored the backrow with 10 digs, marking her fourth-straight double-digit dig performance. Chacon also dished out a career-high 11 assists notching her first-career double-double.
The Big West Semifinal was an exciting one from the get-go. Over five set, the conference foes battled each other through 26 ties and 11 lead changes. The first two sets were close, deuce sets, while sets three and four were more lopsided. Then it all came down to the fifth set as both teams laid it all on the line.
The first set was close to start, but a 6-1 Long Beach State run opened up a six-point lead for the Beach as UC Santa Barbara called a timeout trailing 12-6. The Gauchos managed to battle back and tie the game at 17-all. With momentum on UCSB's side, the Gauchos went on a 5-0 run to take a 22-18 advantage over the Beach. UC Santa Barbara sent it to set point, 24-22, but the Beach would not go quietly. LBSU closed the first set on a 4-0 run to win the game, 26-24.
The Beach kicked off the second set with a 7-3 lead after scoring five-consecutive points. After UCSanta Barbara made it a one-point game (7-6), Long Beach State used a 6-0 to take a 15-8 lead at the media timeout. Although the game seemed to be going the Beach's way, the Gauchos had other plans. UCSB found their rhythm and went on an 8-1 lead to even the score at 16-all. With a brand new game, the two teams traded points until they found themselves knotted at 21-all. Back-to-back kills from Hanna Lesiak and Elise Agi give the Beach a 23-21 lead, but this time it would be the Gauchos to close the game on a 4-0 run to win the set, 25-23.
With the match tied 1-1, the Beach and the Gauchos matched each other early in the third set. However, a 7-0 Long Beach State run would break the game open as the Beach went up 15-9 and never looked back. Long Beach got a kill from Kennedy followed by an ace from Glenn to take an 18-11 advantage before cruising to a 25-17 victory.
Leading 2-1, Long Beach State scored five-straight points to go up 6-2 early in the fourth set. However, UC Santa Barbara refused to quit. The Gauchos rattled off eight-consecutive points to take an 11-7 lead over the Beach. From there, UCSB controlled the remainder of the set, holding a comfortable lead, before winning 25-16 to force a fifth and deciding set.
The final set saw Long Beach State and UC Santa Barbara fight each other through half a dozen ties and three lead changes. Long Beach State got a kill from Glenn to put the Beach on top, 8-6, at the side switch. The Beach got another kill from Glenn, followed by a block assist from Bacon and Agi, to force a UCSB timeout after LBSU took a 10-7 edge. The break in action did nothing to stop the Beach as they came out of the stoppage and got a solo block by Glenn followed by a ball handling error from the Gauchos to take a comfortable 12-7 lead. With the game going the Beach's direction, Long Beach State got another block from Glenn to send it to match point, 14-8. UC Santa Barbara, however, was not ready to let Long Beach State walk away with the win. The Gauchos fought back and scored four-straight points to cut the Beach's lead down to two (14-12). But that was as close as LBSU would let them get. Glenn knocked down her final kill of the match to give Long Beach State the 15-12 victory.
BIG BLOCK by Elise Agi and Kameron Bacon gives @LBSUWVB a 10-7 lead over UCSB #GoBeach pic.twitter.com/61kcnfM2MN
— LBSU W. Volleyball (@LBSUWVB) November 25, 2023
UC Santa Barbara was led by Big West Player of the Year Michelle Ohwobete who finished with a double-double (15 kills, 13 digs), while hitting .375 (15-3-32). Joining Ohwobete in double-figures were Briana McKnight and Tasia Farmer who posted 11 and 10 kills respectively. Setters Grace McIntosh (25 assists) and Michelle Zhao (16 assists) paced the Gauchos' offense to a .205 clip. Zhao also logged a double-double with 12 digs. On blocking defense, UCSB got a solid showing from McKnight who recorded five blocks, four of which were solo stops. Farmer also added five blocks as the Gauchos concluded the match with 13.0 total team blocks.
POSTGAME PRESSER: Hear what @LBSUWVB Head Coach Tyler Hildebrand and players Zayna Meyer and Natalie Glenn had to say after the Beach's 3-2 victory over UC Santa Barbara #GoBeach x #JT3 https://t.co/8DaQfecI4N
— LBSU W. Volleyball (@LBSUWVB) November 25, 2023
Team Stats
UCSB
LBSU
Kills
50
65
Errors
23
35
Attempts
132
161
Hitting %
.205
.186
Points
67.0
81.0
Assists
46
58
Aces
4
6
Blocks
13
10
Game Leaders
Kills-Aces-Blocks
Kills
19
Aces
3
Blocks
5
Kills
15
Aces
0
Blocks
3
Kills
7
Aces
1
Blocks
1
Players Mentioned
MB
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's VolleyballOPP/OH
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S
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