Saturday, March 16
Long Beach, Calif.
7:00 p.m.
Long Beach State University
18-1,4-0Big West
3
vs
2
Hawaii
17-3,0-2Big West
1
2
3
4
5
F
Hawaii
20
25
23
26
13
2
Long Beach St.
25
20
25
24
15
3
Photo by: Kat Acosta @photosbyKatAcosta
Strong Blocking Leads No. 2 Long Beach To 3-2 Win Over No. 1 Hawaii
3/17/2024 12:07:00 AM | Men's Volleyball
Long Beach State put up a season-high 20.5 total team blocks thanks to 10 from Simon Torwie and a career-high 8 from DiAeris McRaven
LONG BEACH, Calif. – No. 2 Long Beach State dominated the blocking game as the Beach took down No. 1 Hawaii, 3-2 [25-20, 20-25, 25-23, 24-26, 15-13] on Saturday night at the Walter Pyramid.
The Beach (18-1, 4-0 Big West) have now won eight-consecutive matches, with the last two coming in front of more than 4,000 strong. Long Beach State led Hawaii (17-3, 0-2 Big West) in blocks (20.5 to 8.5) and hitting percentage (.279 to .248). But the Bows held the edge in kills (70 to 48), assists (68 to 46), digs (52 to 41), and aces (6 to 3).
At the net, the Beach were unstoppable. Simon Torwie tied his career-high with 10 blocks. He posted three solo stops and seven block assists. DiAeris McRaven got the start and set a new career-high with eight blocks.
Torwie and McRaven were solid on the offensive end as well. Torwie recorded six kills on a .357 attack percentage, while McRaven added four kills, while hitting .333.
Senior setter Aidan Knipe was excellent as he recorded his second double-double in the las three matches finishing with 39 assists and 11 digs. He also posted four blocks to contribute on the defensive end.
Knipe once again distributed the ball well getting two hitters in double-figures, while six different hitters knocked down at lead three kills on the night. Leading the way for the Beach was junior outside hitter Sotiris Siapanis who also registered a double-double with 17 kills and 11 digs, while hitting .333. He also posted four blocks, two assists, and one ace.
Joining Siapanis in double-digits was opposite Skyler Varga who knocked down 15 kills on a .256 clip. He added six blocks, four digs, and two aces to his stat sheet in another solid outing for the sophomore.
In the backcourt, Mason Briggs collected seven digs, while adding three assists.
Meanwhile, Nathan Harlan added six digs and three blocks, while recording three kills and two assists.
The Beach and the Bows were in a closely contested match all night as they battled each other through 43 ties and 15 lead changes.
The first set started out close as the two teams traded points back and forth early on. The Beach held a 15-14 edge over the Bows at the media timeout after three-straight LBSU points, highlighted by a kill from Varga. After Hawaii evened the score at 17-all, McRaven knocked down a kill to put the Beach on top for good. Long Beach used a 4-0 run thanks to a pair of aces from Varga to send it to set point (24-19), before winning 25-20.
Much like the first set, the second was a close one to start that saw eight ties. Hawaii scored back-to-back points to go up 17-15 forcing a Long Beach State timeout. The Beach stayed close, but never regained the lead. The Bows would go on to win, 25-20, and even the match at one set apiece.
Long Beach State used several 3-0 runs in the third set and led 15-12 by the media timeout. The Beach and the Bows continued to go back and forth, but another 3-0 run by Long Beach sent the hosts to set point, 24-22, before Torwie finished it off with a kill to win it 25-23 as the Beach went up 2-1 on the Bows.
The fourth set saw 14 ties, five lead changes, and went to overtime. The nail-biter of a game came down to a 24-24 tie. With the match on the line, the Bows managed to force a fifth set as they claimed the fourth set, 26-24.
Long Beach State and Hawaii continued to battle it out in the fifth set. The conference foes played through four ties, but the Beach never trailed. LBSU controlled the set as the Beach took an early 6-3 lead. By the side switch, LBSU held an 8-6 edge. Hawaii fought back and evened the set at 10-10, but Simon Torwie knocked down a kill followed up a solo block to give Long Beach State a 12-10 lead. Following a timeout by Hawaii, the Beach sent the game to match point on another solo stop by Torwie, 14-11. The Bows made things interesting closing the gap, 14-13, before Siapanis put the set and match away on a kill.
Keoni Thiim led the way for Hawaii with 20 kills on a .217 clip. He also added seven digs, four assists, two aces, and one block. Alaka'I Todd chipped in 16 kills, while setter Tread Rosenthal dished out 57 assists and 15 digs for a double-double. Guilherme Voss led the Bows at the net with four blocks.
Long Beach State has a bye next week, but will be back in action on Friday, March 29 at 7 p.m. when they host UC San Diego at the Walter Pyramid. The match will be broadcast live on ESPN+.
The Beach (18-1, 4-0 Big West) have now won eight-consecutive matches, with the last two coming in front of more than 4,000 strong. Long Beach State led Hawaii (17-3, 0-2 Big West) in blocks (20.5 to 8.5) and hitting percentage (.279 to .248). But the Bows held the edge in kills (70 to 48), assists (68 to 46), digs (52 to 41), and aces (6 to 3).
At the net, the Beach were unstoppable. Simon Torwie tied his career-high with 10 blocks. He posted three solo stops and seven block assists. DiAeris McRaven got the start and set a new career-high with eight blocks.
BIG BLOCK for the Beach!??#GoBeach pic.twitter.com/mNjqgrCOHq
— Long Beach State Men's VB (@LBSUMVB) March 17, 2024
Torwie and McRaven were solid on the offensive end as well. Torwie recorded six kills on a .357 attack percentage, while McRaven added four kills, while hitting .333.
Senior setter Aidan Knipe was excellent as he recorded his second double-double in the las three matches finishing with 39 assists and 11 digs. He also posted four blocks to contribute on the defensive end.
Knipe once again distributed the ball well getting two hitters in double-figures, while six different hitters knocked down at lead three kills on the night. Leading the way for the Beach was junior outside hitter Sotiris Siapanis who also registered a double-double with 17 kills and 11 digs, while hitting .333. He also posted four blocks, two assists, and one ace.
Joining Siapanis in double-digits was opposite Skyler Varga who knocked down 15 kills on a .256 clip. He added six blocks, four digs, and two aces to his stat sheet in another solid outing for the sophomore.
In the backcourt, Mason Briggs collected seven digs, while adding three assists.
Meanwhile, Nathan Harlan added six digs and three blocks, while recording three kills and two assists.
The Beach and the Bows were in a closely contested match all night as they battled each other through 43 ties and 15 lead changes.
The first set started out close as the two teams traded points back and forth early on. The Beach held a 15-14 edge over the Bows at the media timeout after three-straight LBSU points, highlighted by a kill from Varga. After Hawaii evened the score at 17-all, McRaven knocked down a kill to put the Beach on top for good. Long Beach used a 4-0 run thanks to a pair of aces from Varga to send it to set point (24-19), before winning 25-20.
Much like the first set, the second was a close one to start that saw eight ties. Hawaii scored back-to-back points to go up 17-15 forcing a Long Beach State timeout. The Beach stayed close, but never regained the lead. The Bows would go on to win, 25-20, and even the match at one set apiece.
Long Beach State used several 3-0 runs in the third set and led 15-12 by the media timeout. The Beach and the Bows continued to go back and forth, but another 3-0 run by Long Beach sent the hosts to set point, 24-22, before Torwie finished it off with a kill to win it 25-23 as the Beach went up 2-1 on the Bows.
The fourth set saw 14 ties, five lead changes, and went to overtime. The nail-biter of a game came down to a 24-24 tie. With the match on the line, the Bows managed to force a fifth set as they claimed the fourth set, 26-24.
Long Beach State and Hawaii continued to battle it out in the fifth set. The conference foes played through four ties, but the Beach never trailed. LBSU controlled the set as the Beach took an early 6-3 lead. By the side switch, LBSU held an 8-6 edge. Hawaii fought back and evened the set at 10-10, but Simon Torwie knocked down a kill followed up a solo block to give Long Beach State a 12-10 lead. Following a timeout by Hawaii, the Beach sent the game to match point on another solo stop by Torwie, 14-11. The Bows made things interesting closing the gap, 14-13, before Siapanis put the set and match away on a kill.
BEACH WIN!!!! #GoBeach pic.twitter.com/OGYEo6kIDn
— Long Beach State Men's VB (@LBSUMVB) March 17, 2024
Keoni Thiim led the way for Hawaii with 20 kills on a .217 clip. He also added seven digs, four assists, two aces, and one block. Alaka'I Todd chipped in 16 kills, while setter Tread Rosenthal dished out 57 assists and 15 digs for a double-double. Guilherme Voss led the Bows at the net with four blocks.
Long Beach State has a bye next week, but will be back in action on Friday, March 29 at 7 p.m. when they host UC San Diego at the Walter Pyramid. The match will be broadcast live on ESPN+.
Team Stats
Hawaii
LBSU
Kills
70
48
Errors
32
12
Attempts
153
129
Hitting %
.248
.279
Points
84.5
71.5
Assists
68
46
Aces
6
3
Blocks
8.5
20.5
Game Leaders
Kills
17
Aces
1
Blocks
4
Kills
15
Aces
2
Blocks
6
Kills
6
Aces
0
Blocks
10
Kills
4
Aces
0
Blocks
8
Players Mentioned
L
/ Men's Volleyball
OH/OPP
/ Men's Volleyball
S
/ Men's VolleyballMB
/ Men's VolleyballOH
/ Men's VolleyballMB
/ Men's VolleyballOPP
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