Beach Women’s Volleyball Falls To UC Irvine In Five Sets

Friday, October 18

Long Beach, Calif.

7 p.m.

Long Beach State University

11-6,5-2Big West

UC Irvine

11-7,5-2Big West

UC Irvine

Long Beach St.

Photo by: John Fajardo

10/19/2024 12:20:00 AM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score LBSU-UCI Box Score

Abby Karich and Natalie Glenn record double-doubles in Long Beach State’s loss to UC Irvine

By: Lindy Zamora, Associate Athletic Communications Director

LONG BEACH, Calif. – The Black and Blue Rivalry match was a thrilling battle between Long Beach State and UC Irvine. The five-setter was a gritty contest that saw the Beach come up just short to the Anteaters, 3-2 [28-26, 23-25, 25-16, 17-25, 15-17].

The Beach (11-6, 5-2 Big West) led the Anteaters (11-7, 5-2 Big West) in kills (64-50), assists (59-47), digs (68-57), and blocks (14-10). However, UCI was solid from the line serving up 14 aces to LBSU's five.

Seniors Abby Karich and Natalie Glenn led Long Beach State as the duo each recorded a double-double. Karich led LBSU with 15 kills to go along with 10 digs, three blocks, one assist, and one ace. Meanwhile, Glenn finished the match with 13 kills, 14 digs, three blocks, one ace, and one assist.

Also recording double-figure kills for the Beach was freshman outside hitter Jaida Harris who registered a career-high 14 kills, while adding five digs and one block.

Senior setter Zayna Meyer was incredible as she nearly missed a triple-double after pacing the Beach with 46 assists, nine digs, eight kills, four blocks, and one ace.

On the defensive end, senior middle blocker Kameron Bacon put up eight blocks, while senior libero Jenna Giambi logged 10 digs. Also holding down the backcourt were defensive specialist Savana Chacon (9 digs) and libero Sarah Vellucci (7 digs).

The marathon match which lasted more than three hours, got started with a 50-minute first set that saw seven ties, two lead changes, and went into overtime. The Anteaters took an early 8-3 lead, but the Beach stayed steady chipping away at UCI's lead before tying the game, 19-19. Irvine went back up 22-19, but a 4-0 Long Beach State run, highlighted by a block from Harris and Bacon, sent the game to set point (24-23) for the Beach. After battling each other through three set points, Long Beach came out on top, 28-26.

The second set was another close contest that featured six ties and three lead changes. With the set tied at 21-all, UC Irvine scored three-straight points to go up 24-22 before winning the game, 25-23, to even the match at one set apiece.

Long Beach State and UC Irvine continued their back-and-forth affair in the third set. After half a dozen ties and five lead changes, Long Beach State broke the game wide open as the Beach went on a 9-0 run to take a 20-13 lead. From there, LBSU controlled the rest of the frame and cruised to a 25-16 victory.
The fourth set belonged to UC Irvine from the start. The Anteaters took an 8-3 lead over the Beach and never looked back. The visitors led the entire set and led by as many as 12 points (23-11). Despite trailing by a dozen, Long Beach continued to fight. The Beach score four-consecutive points to cut the Anteaters' lead down to eight (23-15) forcing a UCI timeout. LBSU's rally would be cut short, however, as Irvine went on to claim the fourth set, 25-17, and force a fifth and deciding game.

The Beach and the Anteaters played another close and gritty set in the fifth. After stringing together a couple of short runs, Long Beach State led UC Irvine, 9-6. The visiting Anteaters chipped away as LBSU's lead and made it a one-point game (10-9). The Beach pulled ahead again, 13-9, but a 5-0 UC Irvine run would be too much to overcome as LBSU dropped a 17-15 contest to UCI.

For the Anteaters, Katie Smith led the way with a double-double (15 kills, 11 digs), while Nicole Feliciano also added a double-double (41 assists, 11 digs). Libero Campbell Jensen had a solid outing as she collected 15 digs, while serving up five aces on the night. On blocking defense, Ella Gardiner, Hunter Riedl, and Ofure Iselen each tallied four blocks.

Long Beach State has a quick turnaround as the Beach host Cal State Fullerton on Saturday, Oct. 19 at 4 p.m. The match will be broadcast live on ESPN+.