Thursday, October 16
Long Beach, Calif.
7 p.m.
Long Beach State University
13-5,6-1Big West
3
vs
1
UC San Diego
4-15,2-5Big West
1
2
3
4
F
UC San Diego
14
25
23
15
1
Long Beach St.
25
16
25
25
3
Photo by: Mikaella Salazar
Long Beach State Fends Off UC San Diego in Four Sets to Stay Hot in Big West Play
10/16/2025 9:49:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
Balanced offense and dominant blocking lift the Beach past the Tritons as Logan King records another double-double and Madi Collins shines in relief.
LONG BEACH, Calif. — Long Beach State turned back UC San Diego in four sets Thursday night in Big West women's volleyball action.
The Beach powered past UC San Diego in the opening set, 25–14, behind a balanced offensive attack and steady setting from Madi Maxwell. Long Beach never trailed after taking an early 5–2 lead, fueled by kills from Nieko Thomas and Sidney Hamaker. Maxwell dished out assists on four of Long Beach's first five points and later orchestrated a decisive 7–1 run that pushed the margin to double digits. Elise Agi and Thomas each added two kills during that surge, while Maxwell capped it with a service ace to force a Tritons timeout at 13–7. UC San Diego showed brief life late behind Jasmine Saran and Maria Fernanda Afonso, trimming the deficit to 20–12, but the Beach's front line closed it out. Hamaker and Rhiann Sheffie combined for a block at 22–12, and Preslie Yates delivered the set-clinching kill off another Maxwell assist for the 25–14 decision.
The Tritons stormed back to even the match, taking the second set 25–16 behind a dominant stretch midway through the frame.
UC San Diego came out sharp, turning a 3–3 tie into an 8–3 lead behind the steady setting of Mika Rome and kills from Saran and Afonso. The Tritons' front line took control with a pair of blocks by Saran and Katie Rapp, forcing an early timeout from the Beach. Long Beach State tried to rally behind Sheffie and Maxwell, but UC San Diego's balance at the net kept the hosts on their heels. A service ace by Paulina Baillie and back-to-back kills from Ireland McNees and Rapp pushed the Tritons' lead to double digits, 20–12. UC San Diego closed out the set with a 4–1 burst, capped by McNees' kill from Rome to seal it.
Long Beach State shook off a rocky start and surged late to take the third set, 25–23. The Beach fell into an early hole as the Tritons jumped out to a 6–0 lead behind the serve of Maija Nepszy, who delivered an ace during the run. After a timeout, Long Beach began to settle in, getting a kill from Logan King to stop the skid and slowly claw back into the frame. King and Agi sparked momentum midway through the set, combining for back-to-back kills that trimmed the deficit to 7–5. Although UC San Diego maintained a cushion into double digits, Long Beach began to heat up at the net. A four-point run, highlighted by blocks from Hamaker and King, pulled the Beach within 14–11 and forced a UCSD timeout.
The Beach continued to push, using a balanced attack from Agi, King, and Sheffie to erase the gap and even the score at 18-all. Laurel Barsocchini's serve helped fuel a five-point rally, capped by a Sheffie kill and an Afonso attack error that gave LBSU its first lead at 20–19. UC San Diego briefly regained momentum at 22–21, but Long Beach responded with a decisive 3–0 run behind Madi Collins, who delivered a kill and a clutch service ace to set up set point at 24–22. After UCSD fended off one, Agi hammered down the winner off an assist from Anna Jelinek to close out the comeback.
Long Beach State closed out the match in dominant fashion, taking the fourth set 25–15.
After the teams traded early points to a 5–5 tie, Long Beach surged ahead behind a key block from Thomas and Agi, then capitalized on UC San Diego errors to build a 15–9 lead. Collins, the setter, fueled the run with a service ace and a series of assists that set up kills from Thomas, King, and Agi. The Tritons tried to rally, pulling within 20–13 behind kills from Afonso and Rapp, but the Beach's front line proved too much. Sheffie delivered the closing blows with a solo block and back-to-back kills before McNees' attack error sealed the 25–15 final.
King charted her seventh double-double of the year with 12 kills and 10 digs. Sheffie hit .333 with 11 kills. Thomas tied her career high with 10 blocks and added five kills. Collins, a sophomore, dished out a season-high 19 assists and posted a career-high three service aces. Agi added 12 digs and seven kills.
UC San Diego (4–15, 2–5 Big West) was led by McNees, who registered 11 kills. The Beach limited the Tritons to .119 hitting for the match (42–26–135). LBSU hit .158 (47–25–139) but outblocked UCSD 13–8.
Long Beach State (13–5, 6–1 Big West) hosts Hawai'i (6–11, 2–4 Big West) Friday night. The match will be nationally televised by ESPNU beginning at 6 p.m.
~#LongBeachBuilt~
The Beach powered past UC San Diego in the opening set, 25–14, behind a balanced offensive attack and steady setting from Madi Maxwell. Long Beach never trailed after taking an early 5–2 lead, fueled by kills from Nieko Thomas and Sidney Hamaker. Maxwell dished out assists on four of Long Beach's first five points and later orchestrated a decisive 7–1 run that pushed the margin to double digits. Elise Agi and Thomas each added two kills during that surge, while Maxwell capped it with a service ace to force a Tritons timeout at 13–7. UC San Diego showed brief life late behind Jasmine Saran and Maria Fernanda Afonso, trimming the deficit to 20–12, but the Beach's front line closed it out. Hamaker and Rhiann Sheffie combined for a block at 22–12, and Preslie Yates delivered the set-clinching kill off another Maxwell assist for the 25–14 decision.
The Tritons stormed back to even the match, taking the second set 25–16 behind a dominant stretch midway through the frame.
UC San Diego came out sharp, turning a 3–3 tie into an 8–3 lead behind the steady setting of Mika Rome and kills from Saran and Afonso. The Tritons' front line took control with a pair of blocks by Saran and Katie Rapp, forcing an early timeout from the Beach. Long Beach State tried to rally behind Sheffie and Maxwell, but UC San Diego's balance at the net kept the hosts on their heels. A service ace by Paulina Baillie and back-to-back kills from Ireland McNees and Rapp pushed the Tritons' lead to double digits, 20–12. UC San Diego closed out the set with a 4–1 burst, capped by McNees' kill from Rome to seal it.
Long Beach State shook off a rocky start and surged late to take the third set, 25–23. The Beach fell into an early hole as the Tritons jumped out to a 6–0 lead behind the serve of Maija Nepszy, who delivered an ace during the run. After a timeout, Long Beach began to settle in, getting a kill from Logan King to stop the skid and slowly claw back into the frame. King and Agi sparked momentum midway through the set, combining for back-to-back kills that trimmed the deficit to 7–5. Although UC San Diego maintained a cushion into double digits, Long Beach began to heat up at the net. A four-point run, highlighted by blocks from Hamaker and King, pulled the Beach within 14–11 and forced a UCSD timeout.
The Beach continued to push, using a balanced attack from Agi, King, and Sheffie to erase the gap and even the score at 18-all. Laurel Barsocchini's serve helped fuel a five-point rally, capped by a Sheffie kill and an Afonso attack error that gave LBSU its first lead at 20–19. UC San Diego briefly regained momentum at 22–21, but Long Beach responded with a decisive 3–0 run behind Madi Collins, who delivered a kill and a clutch service ace to set up set point at 24–22. After UCSD fended off one, Agi hammered down the winner off an assist from Anna Jelinek to close out the comeback.
Long Beach State closed out the match in dominant fashion, taking the fourth set 25–15.
After the teams traded early points to a 5–5 tie, Long Beach surged ahead behind a key block from Thomas and Agi, then capitalized on UC San Diego errors to build a 15–9 lead. Collins, the setter, fueled the run with a service ace and a series of assists that set up kills from Thomas, King, and Agi. The Tritons tried to rally, pulling within 20–13 behind kills from Afonso and Rapp, but the Beach's front line proved too much. Sheffie delivered the closing blows with a solo block and back-to-back kills before McNees' attack error sealed the 25–15 final.
King charted her seventh double-double of the year with 12 kills and 10 digs. Sheffie hit .333 with 11 kills. Thomas tied her career high with 10 blocks and added five kills. Collins, a sophomore, dished out a season-high 19 assists and posted a career-high three service aces. Agi added 12 digs and seven kills.
UC San Diego (4–15, 2–5 Big West) was led by McNees, who registered 11 kills. The Beach limited the Tritons to .119 hitting for the match (42–26–135). LBSU hit .158 (47–25–139) but outblocked UCSD 13–8.
Long Beach State (13–5, 6–1 Big West) hosts Hawai'i (6–11, 2–4 Big West) Friday night. The match will be nationally televised by ESPNU beginning at 6 p.m.
~#LongBeachBuilt~
Team Stats
UCSD
LBSU
Kills
42
47
Errors
26
25
Attempts
135
139
Hitting %
.119
.158
Points
53.0
66.0
Assists
38
40
Aces
3
6
Blocks
8
13
Game Leaders
Kills
12
Aces
1
Blocks
2
Kills
11
Aces
0
Blocks
3
Kills
6
Aces
1
Blocks
1
Players Mentioned
DS
/ Women's Volleyball
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/ Women's VolleyballMB
/ Women's Volleyball
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/ Women's VolleyballOPP
/ Women's Volleyball
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/ Women's VolleyballMB
/ Women's Volleyball
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
MB
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