Long Beach State Drops A Tough One To Cal Poly In Five Sets

Thursday, October 24

Long Beach, Calif.

7 p.m.

Long Beach State University

12-7,6-3Big West

Cal Poly

14-6,7-2Big West

Cal Poly

Long Beach St.

Photo by: John Fajardo

10/24/2024 10:51:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score LBSU-Cal Poly Box

Zayna Meyer and Natalie Glenn each register a double-double in the hard-fought contest

By: Lindy Zamora, Associate Athletic Communications Director

LONG BEACH, Calif. – The Long Beach State Women's Volleyball team battled Cal Poly through five gritty sets in a tough 3-2 [18-25, 25-20, 25-23, 23-25, 7-15] loss on Thursday night at the Walter Pyramid.

With the loss, the Beach drop to 12-7 on the year and 6-3 in Big West play. Meanwhile, the Mustangs improve to 14-6 overall and 7-2 league action.

Despite the setback, LBSU led Cal Poly in blocks as the Beach put up a season-high 16.0 total team blocks to the Mustangs' 11.0.

Leading Long Beach on blocking defense was senior middle blocker Kameron Bacon who put up nine block assists. Senior setter Zayna Meyer added six, while middle blocker Ella Lomigora, along with outside hitters Jaida Harris and Natalie Glenn each contributed four.

Meyer distributed 43 assists and 16 digs for her third double-double of the season. Also recording a double-double was Glenn who notched 15 kills and 12 digs for her team-leading eighth double-double of the year.

BIG SWING from Natalie Glenn evens the score at 21-all #GoBeach pic.twitter.com/qiOwbnvpSi
— LBSU W. Volleyball (@LBSUWVB) October 25, 2024

Leading the Beach's offensive attack was senior outside hitter Abby Karich who finished the match with 18 kills. She also posted eight digs and two block assists.
Lomigora rounded out LBSU's double-figure scorers with 13 kills on a .310 (13-4-29) attack percentage.

Defensively, Savana Chacon anchored the backrow with 13 digs. She also recorded three assists and a pair of service aces.

The opening set saw both teams get off to a slow start. However, Cal Poly scored four-consecutive points to take a 14-10 lead over the Beach. LBSU found themselves down 22-15 to Cal Poly, but the Beach were unable to comeback as they fell, 25-18, to the Mustangs in set one.

Long Beach State was quick to turn things around as the Beach jumped out in front, 6-2, in the second set. Cal Poly chipped away and made it a one-point game (10-9), but LBSU extended its lead to three (15-12) by the media timeout. The Beach took a five-point advantage (18-13) forcing the Mustangs to call a timeout. Despite Cal Poly pulling within one (19-18), Long Beach State remained composed and collected a 25-20 victory.

The Beach used that momentum to kick off the third set on a 6-1 run. Long Beach State led the entire set as they hit .289 in the frame. However, Cal Poly made it close and kept the Beach on their toes as LBSU came away with a 25-23 victory on a kill from Karich as Long Beach took a 2-1 lead.

In the fourth set, Cal Poly got off to a strong start taking a quick 7-2 lead over the Beach. However, a 5-0 LBSU run capped by a block assist from Karich and Bacon knotted the game at 12-all. The set saw a total of four ties, but ultimately, Cal Poly squeaked out a 25-23 win to force a fifth set.

Abby Karich and Kameron Bacon's block ties the game and caps a 5-0 LBSU run #GoBeach pic.twitter.com/Mc7tLdzggg
— LBSU W. Volleyball (@LBSUWVB) October 25, 2024

The final set was a tough one for the Beach as Cal Poly hit .471 in the frame and, despite one tie, led the whole game. The Mustangs took an early 5-1 lead and never looked back. A block assist from Meyer and Lomigora brought LBSU within two (9-7), but that was as close as they'd get as Cal Poly closed the set on a 6-0 run to win 15-7.

Cal Poly boasted four players in double-figure kills led by Breklyn Pulling's 14. Tommi Stockham tallied 13 kills to go along with 11 digs for a double-double. Setter Emme Bullis narrowly missed a double-double of her own finishing the match with 51 assists and nine digs. Libero Elif Hurriyet dug 28 balls, while serving up three aces.

Long Beach State looks to get back on the winning track on Saturday, Oct. 26 when they travel to UC Santa Barbara for a 7 p.m. contest in the Thunderdome. The match will be broadcast live on ESPN+.