Friday, October 31
Fullerton, Calif.
6 p.m.
Long Beach State University
16-6,9-2Big West
3
at
0
Cal State Fullerton
7-16,2-9Big West
1
2
3
F
Long Beach St.
25
25
25
3
Cal St. Fullerton
16
23
21
0
Photo by: Josue Vasquez, @JosueAvasqz
Long Beach State Sweeps Cal State Fullerton To Open Rivalry Week
10/31/2025 8:17:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
Anabel Kotzakov finished with 15 kills on .407 hitting to lead the Beach.
FULLERTON, Calif. – Long Beach State went on the road and cruised to a 25-16, 25-23, 25-21 win over the Titans behind a fantastic night from junior Anabel Kotzakov.
The Beach hit .300 overall and got a spark from Kotzakov, who finished with 15 kills on .407 hitting, two off her career high in just three sets, while adding a pair of aces and three blocks. That came with 12 digs as well, as the junior recorded her first double-double of the season.
Nieko Thomas had five total blocks as well, while Sidney Hamaker also finished with double-digit kills with 10, and Madi Maxwell guided the offense, finishing with 35 assists while hitting .455 with five kills herself.
Long Beach State (16-6, 9-2 Big West) got off to a quick start against the Titans. Putting together four blocks in the first set, the Beach pushed out to a 4-0 lead with two quick blocks and didn't look back, hitting .367 in the set. With the early advantage, Cal State Fullerton (7-16, 2-9) was never really able to threaten the lead, particularly after kills from Logan King and Rhiann Sheffie helped the Beach push out to a 19-12 lead. A block from Sheffie and Anabel Kotzakov bookended the set as Long Beach State closed out a 25-16 win.
Cal State Fullerton took their first lead of the match in the second set at 4-3, but Long Beach State quickly pulled back in front 7-4 with a block from Madi Maxwell and Nieko Thomas. The Titans continued to chip away, taking the lead at 9-8 and eventually pushing to a 13-10 lead. Kotzakov and Thomas hit back-to-back kills to help LBSU tie the set at 14-14, and then an ace from Maxwell followed by a kill from Logan King put the Beach on top 20-18. Cal State Fullerton would tie the set once more at 23-23, but an authoritative sideout kill from Kotzakov and Maxwell hammering a mistake from the Titans gave the Beach a 25-23 set two win.
Long Beach State opened a 4-1 lead early on kills from Kotzakov and Thomas, and then continued to build a lead up to 10-6 following the seventh block of the night from the Beach. With the momentum, Long Beach State continued to build their lead, creating a seven-point cushion at 18-11. Cal State Fullerton battled back, cutting the lead down to two at 23-21, but the Beach closed out the win 25-21 to finish off the sweep.
Long Beach State's rivalry week continues on Saturday, when the Beach welcomes UC Irvine into the Walter Pyramid for the Black and Blue Rivalry. The match will begin at 6 p.m., with live coverage on ESPN+.
The Beach hit .300 overall and got a spark from Kotzakov, who finished with 15 kills on .407 hitting, two off her career high in just three sets, while adding a pair of aces and three blocks. That came with 12 digs as well, as the junior recorded her first double-double of the season.
Nieko Thomas had five total blocks as well, while Sidney Hamaker also finished with double-digit kills with 10, and Madi Maxwell guided the offense, finishing with 35 assists while hitting .455 with five kills herself.
Long Beach State (16-6, 9-2 Big West) got off to a quick start against the Titans. Putting together four blocks in the first set, the Beach pushed out to a 4-0 lead with two quick blocks and didn't look back, hitting .367 in the set. With the early advantage, Cal State Fullerton (7-16, 2-9) was never really able to threaten the lead, particularly after kills from Logan King and Rhiann Sheffie helped the Beach push out to a 19-12 lead. A block from Sheffie and Anabel Kotzakov bookended the set as Long Beach State closed out a 25-16 win.
Cal State Fullerton took their first lead of the match in the second set at 4-3, but Long Beach State quickly pulled back in front 7-4 with a block from Madi Maxwell and Nieko Thomas. The Titans continued to chip away, taking the lead at 9-8 and eventually pushing to a 13-10 lead. Kotzakov and Thomas hit back-to-back kills to help LBSU tie the set at 14-14, and then an ace from Maxwell followed by a kill from Logan King put the Beach on top 20-18. Cal State Fullerton would tie the set once more at 23-23, but an authoritative sideout kill from Kotzakov and Maxwell hammering a mistake from the Titans gave the Beach a 25-23 set two win.
Long Beach State opened a 4-1 lead early on kills from Kotzakov and Thomas, and then continued to build a lead up to 10-6 following the seventh block of the night from the Beach. With the momentum, Long Beach State continued to build their lead, creating a seven-point cushion at 18-11. Cal State Fullerton battled back, cutting the lead down to two at 23-21, but the Beach closed out the win 25-21 to finish off the sweep.
Long Beach State's rivalry week continues on Saturday, when the Beach welcomes UC Irvine into the Walter Pyramid for the Black and Blue Rivalry. The match will begin at 6 p.m., with live coverage on ESPN+.
Team Stats
LBSU
CSF
Kills
49
38
Errors
13
19
Attempts
120
126
Hitting %
.300
.151
Points
61.0
45.0
Assists
42
33
Aces
3
3
Blocks
9
4
Game Leaders
Kills
15
Aces
2
Blocks
3
Kills
10
Aces
0
Blocks
0
Kills
8
Aces
0
Blocks
2
Kills
6
Aces
0
Blocks
3
Players Mentioned
MB
/ Women's VolleyballOPP
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's VolleyballMB
/ Women's Volleyball
MB
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