Thursday, September 14
Tucson, Ariz.
6:00 PM
Long Beach State University
4-4,0-0Big West
3
at
0
Arizona
3-6,0-0Pac-12
1
2
3
F
Long Beach St.
25
25
25
3
Arizona
18
19
18
0
Long Beach State Sweeps Arizona on the Road to Open Wildcat Classic
9/14/2023 9:04:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
Zayna Meyer and Elise Agi recorded double-doubles in the victory
TUCSON – Long Beach State came into the McKale Center and took down host Arizona in straight sets by scores of 25-18, 25-19, 25-18 to jump start the Wildcat Classic on Thursday night.
With the win, the Beach (4-4) picked up their first sweep over a Pac-12 opponent since they defeated Oregon State, 3-0, on Sept. 19, 2015 at the Walter Pyramid. Even more impressive, the straight set victory on the road was LBSU's first sweep over an opponent on their home court since the Beach knocked off USC, 3-0, on Oct. 14, 1992 in Los Angeles, Calif.
Arizona, meanwhile, falls to 3-6 on the year, suffering their fifth-straight loss to Long Beach State dating back to the 1987 season.
The match was closely contested as fans saw the two teams fight each other through 18 ties over three sets. Long Beach State would complete the sweep after out-hitting Arizona .195 to .084, while registering 42 kills to the Wildcats' 24. The Beach also held the advantage in assists (39-24), aces (10-2), digs (51-37), and blocks (7-4). The 10 service aces are a season-high for Long Beach State so far this season.
Leading Long Beach State at the service line were Zayna Meyer and Elise Agi. The pair served up three aces each to set the tone for the Beach. Additionally, Meyer and Agi both chipped in double-doubles as Meyer finished the match with 30 assists and 10 digs, while also adding five kills, and two blocks. Agi, meanwhile, posted 10 kills and 11 digs.
Outside hitters Natalie Glenn and Abby Karich each recorded nine kills, while middle blocker Katie Kennedy contributed eight.
Defensively, Long Beach State kept Arizona off balance as libero Savana Chacon logged 19 digs in the backrow. Chacon also added five assists and a pair of aces to her stat line.
On blocking defense, Kameron Bacon patrolled the net putting up 6 blocks to lead the way.
The first set saw the two teams battle each other through nine ties and four lead changes. The set went back and forth until the Beach got a boost from Chacon. The junior libero went back to serve and led LBSU on a 6-0 scoring run, which included two aces from Chacon, as Long Beach opened up an 18-12 advantage. After the Wildcats closed the gap (18-16), the Beach used a 5-0 run to go back up by seven (23-16), before closing out the set, 25-18.
The Beach continued their momentum into the second set taking an early 4-1 lead. The Wildcats managed to tie the set a few times, but Long Beach State never relinquished the lead. LBSU used another 5-0 to break the game open (22-16), before winning 25-19.
Long Beach State turned in its best offensive performance of the match in the third set. The Beach hit .424 in the frame as they knocked down 17 kills on 33 swings, with just three errors, while boasting a sideout percentage of 78%. The LBSU defense continued to hold the Wildcats off as Arizona hit just .148 in the frame, their highest hitting percentage of the contest.
In the third set, the Beach used several 3-0 runs to take a 16-9 lead over Arizona as the Wildcats called for a timeout. LBSU and U of A continued to trade points the rest of the set, but the Beach's established lead gave them the win, 25-18.
Jaelyn Hodge led Arizona with nine kills, while Ana Health finished the match with 21 assists and eight digs. Giorgia Mandotti posted nine digs, while Nicole Briggs recorded three blocks.
The Beach will continue action at the Wildcat Classic on Friday, Sept. 15 when they take on Alabama State at 4 p.m. The match can be streamed live via FloVolleyball.
With the win, the Beach (4-4) picked up their first sweep over a Pac-12 opponent since they defeated Oregon State, 3-0, on Sept. 19, 2015 at the Walter Pyramid. Even more impressive, the straight set victory on the road was LBSU's first sweep over an opponent on their home court since the Beach knocked off USC, 3-0, on Oct. 14, 1992 in Los Angeles, Calif.
Arizona, meanwhile, falls to 3-6 on the year, suffering their fifth-straight loss to Long Beach State dating back to the 1987 season.
The match was closely contested as fans saw the two teams fight each other through 18 ties over three sets. Long Beach State would complete the sweep after out-hitting Arizona .195 to .084, while registering 42 kills to the Wildcats' 24. The Beach also held the advantage in assists (39-24), aces (10-2), digs (51-37), and blocks (7-4). The 10 service aces are a season-high for Long Beach State so far this season.
Leading Long Beach State at the service line were Zayna Meyer and Elise Agi. The pair served up three aces each to set the tone for the Beach. Additionally, Meyer and Agi both chipped in double-doubles as Meyer finished the match with 30 assists and 10 digs, while also adding five kills, and two blocks. Agi, meanwhile, posted 10 kills and 11 digs.
Elise Agi puts it away for the Beach #GoBeach pic.twitter.com/0OExg2fTvY
— LBSU W. Volleyball (@LBSUWVB) September 15, 2023
Outside hitters Natalie Glenn and Abby Karich each recorded nine kills, while middle blocker Katie Kennedy contributed eight.
Defensively, Long Beach State kept Arizona off balance as libero Savana Chacon logged 19 digs in the backrow. Chacon also added five assists and a pair of aces to her stat line.
Savana Chacon is on a 6-0 serving run! Take a look at her second ???? of the run #GoBeach pic.twitter.com/kNhz37XdNP
— LBSU W. Volleyball (@LBSUWVB) September 15, 2023
On blocking defense, Kameron Bacon patrolled the net putting up 6 blocks to lead the way.
The first set saw the two teams battle each other through nine ties and four lead changes. The set went back and forth until the Beach got a boost from Chacon. The junior libero went back to serve and led LBSU on a 6-0 scoring run, which included two aces from Chacon, as Long Beach opened up an 18-12 advantage. After the Wildcats closed the gap (18-16), the Beach used a 5-0 run to go back up by seven (23-16), before closing out the set, 25-18.
The Beach continued their momentum into the second set taking an early 4-1 lead. The Wildcats managed to tie the set a few times, but Long Beach State never relinquished the lead. LBSU used another 5-0 to break the game open (22-16), before winning 25-19.
Long Beach State turned in its best offensive performance of the match in the third set. The Beach hit .424 in the frame as they knocked down 17 kills on 33 swings, with just three errors, while boasting a sideout percentage of 78%. The LBSU defense continued to hold the Wildcats off as Arizona hit just .148 in the frame, their highest hitting percentage of the contest.
In the third set, the Beach used several 3-0 runs to take a 16-9 lead over Arizona as the Wildcats called for a timeout. LBSU and U of A continued to trade points the rest of the set, but the Beach's established lead gave them the win, 25-18.
Jaelyn Hodge led Arizona with nine kills, while Ana Health finished the match with 21 assists and eight digs. Giorgia Mandotti posted nine digs, while Nicole Briggs recorded three blocks.
The Beach will continue action at the Wildcat Classic on Friday, Sept. 15 when they take on Alabama State at 4 p.m. The match can be streamed live via FloVolleyball.
Team Stats
LBSU
UA
Kills
42
24
Errors
20
16
Attempts
113
95
Hitting %
.195
.084
Points
59.0
30.0
Assists
39
24
Aces
10
2
Blocks
7
4
Game Leaders
Kills-Aces-Blocks
Kills
9
Aces
0
Blocks
2
Kills
9
Aces
1
Blocks
3
Kills
6
Aces
0
Blocks
0
Players Mentioned
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
DS
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's VolleyballOPP/OH
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's VolleyballWomen's Volleyball Post Game Press Conference vs Pepperdine
Sunday, September 22
Women's Volleyball Game Highlights vs Pepperdine
Sunday, September 22
Women's Volleyball Post Game Press Conference Vs Washington State
Saturday, September 21
Women's Volleyball Game Highlights vs Washington State
Saturday, September 21
