Saturday, September 20
Laramie, Wyo.
9:30 a.m.
Long Beach State University
7-4,0-0Big West
3
vs
2
Idaho State
4-8,0-0Big Sky
1
2
3
4
5
F
Idaho St.
21
18
25
32
8
2
Long Beach St.
25
25
23
30
15
3
Photo by: John Fajardo
LBSU Outlasts Idaho State in Five-Set Thriller to Sweep UniWyo Invite
9/20/2025 12:17:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
Agi, King, and Mitchell record double-doubles to lead Long Beach State to a 3-0 tournament finish
LARAMIE, Wyo. — Long Beach State turned back Idaho State 3-2 in the final match of the UniWyo Invite Saturday morning at the UniWyo Sports Complex. LBSU finished the tournament as the lone team with a 3-0 record.
The Beach held off a late Bengals rally to claim the opening set 25-21. The Beach surged ahead midway through the frame, using a 5-0 run fueled by kills from Logan King and Elise Agi to build a 21-17 advantage. Idaho State clawed back behind back-to-back points from Meline Shulikov and a solo block by Brinley Smith that cut the deficit to 24-21.
Madi Maxwell, the LBSU setter, sealed the set for Long Beach with a kill off an assist from Izzy Mahaffey. King and Agi paced the Beach offense with multiple kills during the set, while Rhiann Sheffie added timely swings to keep momentum on their side.
Long Beach State closed out a tight second set with a late surge, defeating Idaho State 25-18. The Beach built momentum behind King and Maxwell, who combined for several key kills to push LBSU ahead after Idaho State rallied midway through the frame.
Sidney Hamaker also provided timely swings, while Pola Bujnarowska sealed the set with a solo block on set point. The Bengals clawed back with Smith and Marci Bell sparking a brief comeback, pulling ISU within a point after trailing by as many as five. But Long Beach State's block and offensive balance down the stretch proved too much, giving the Beach a two-set advantage.
Idaho State weathered several Long Beach runs to take the third set 25-23. The Bengals rallied after trailing 9-5 behind kills from Shulikov and Jaydin Watts, then surged ahead 16-14 following back-to-back points from Ava Brickner. Smith and Kadence Marsh combined for a block that stretched the advantage to 22-19. Long Beach State pulled even at 22 on consecutive service aces by Maxwell, but Idaho State regained control when a service error and a Beach attack miscue set up set point. Watts sealed it with a kill off a feed from Nora Waddoups.
Idaho State survived a back-and-forth fourth set to extend the match, outlasting Long Beach State 32-30. The Bengals jumped in front early behind blocks from Smith, Watts, and Shulikov, building a 6-3 lead. Watts powered the offense during the surge, finishing multiple points off feeds from Waddoups. Long Beach State responded to keep the score tight at 10-9. Momentum swung again when Idaho State strung together a 4-0 run, highlighted by kills from Marsh and Watts, forcing the Beach to take two timeouts while trailing 18-15. ISU's block remained a factor, as Smith and Watts paired up on back-to-back stuffs for a 22-17 cushion.
The Beach refused to fold. King led the charge with timely kills and an ace, while Maxwell's steady setting helped pull the Beach even at 23-all. The Beach even earned match point at 24-23 on a Bengals attack error, but Shulikov kept Idaho State alive with a kill.
From there, the teams traded blows in extra points. Idaho State had chances to close at 25-24 and 30-29, only to see LBSU extend the frame with clutch swings from Agi and King. Finally, Watts notched her seventh kill of the set to set up match point at 31-30, and she and Brickner sealed it with a block on King for the 32-30 win.
Long Beach State stormed out quickly and never looked back in the decisive fifth set, rolling past Idaho State 15-8. After Smith's kill gave Idaho State the first point, the Beach rattled off a series of plays behind King and Agi to gain control. King answered immediately with a kill, and Agi later sparked a 4-1 surge capped by NIeko Thomas' solo block for a 4-2 advantage.
The Bengals fought to stay close, with Brickner cutting the deficit to 4-3 on a kill from Waddoups, but Long Beach State responded with back-to-back points from Agi and a block by Maxwell and Sheffie to extend the lead to 7-3.
Though Idaho State pulled within three on a service ace from Waddoups at 10-7, the Beach regrouped after a timeout. Hamaker delivered a kill and later paired with Thomas on a block to push the margin to 13-8. Hamaker followed with another kill, setting up match point, and King sealed the win when an Idaho State attack sailed long, clinching the set and the match for Long Beach State.
Agi, King, and Mitchell recorded double-doubles for the Beach. Agi charted 24 kills and 15 digs, while King had 20 kills and 13 digs. Maxwell tallied 57 assists and 13 digs. Hamaker continued a solid weekend with 13 kills. Mahaffey added 15 digs.
Watts led Idaho State (4-8) with 14 kills. Shulikov (11) and Brickner (10) both registered double-digit kills. Long Beach State hit .250, holding the Bengals to .161 for the match.
Long Beach State (7-4) opens Big West play Friday night when the Beach travel to UC Irvine (4-7). ESPN+ coverage begins at 6 p.m.
The Beach held off a late Bengals rally to claim the opening set 25-21. The Beach surged ahead midway through the frame, using a 5-0 run fueled by kills from Logan King and Elise Agi to build a 21-17 advantage. Idaho State clawed back behind back-to-back points from Meline Shulikov and a solo block by Brinley Smith that cut the deficit to 24-21.
Madi Maxwell, the LBSU setter, sealed the set for Long Beach with a kill off an assist from Izzy Mahaffey. King and Agi paced the Beach offense with multiple kills during the set, while Rhiann Sheffie added timely swings to keep momentum on their side.
Long Beach State closed out a tight second set with a late surge, defeating Idaho State 25-18. The Beach built momentum behind King and Maxwell, who combined for several key kills to push LBSU ahead after Idaho State rallied midway through the frame.
Sidney Hamaker also provided timely swings, while Pola Bujnarowska sealed the set with a solo block on set point. The Bengals clawed back with Smith and Marci Bell sparking a brief comeback, pulling ISU within a point after trailing by as many as five. But Long Beach State's block and offensive balance down the stretch proved too much, giving the Beach a two-set advantage.
Idaho State weathered several Long Beach runs to take the third set 25-23. The Bengals rallied after trailing 9-5 behind kills from Shulikov and Jaydin Watts, then surged ahead 16-14 following back-to-back points from Ava Brickner. Smith and Kadence Marsh combined for a block that stretched the advantage to 22-19. Long Beach State pulled even at 22 on consecutive service aces by Maxwell, but Idaho State regained control when a service error and a Beach attack miscue set up set point. Watts sealed it with a kill off a feed from Nora Waddoups.
Idaho State survived a back-and-forth fourth set to extend the match, outlasting Long Beach State 32-30. The Bengals jumped in front early behind blocks from Smith, Watts, and Shulikov, building a 6-3 lead. Watts powered the offense during the surge, finishing multiple points off feeds from Waddoups. Long Beach State responded to keep the score tight at 10-9. Momentum swung again when Idaho State strung together a 4-0 run, highlighted by kills from Marsh and Watts, forcing the Beach to take two timeouts while trailing 18-15. ISU's block remained a factor, as Smith and Watts paired up on back-to-back stuffs for a 22-17 cushion.
The Beach refused to fold. King led the charge with timely kills and an ace, while Maxwell's steady setting helped pull the Beach even at 23-all. The Beach even earned match point at 24-23 on a Bengals attack error, but Shulikov kept Idaho State alive with a kill.
From there, the teams traded blows in extra points. Idaho State had chances to close at 25-24 and 30-29, only to see LBSU extend the frame with clutch swings from Agi and King. Finally, Watts notched her seventh kill of the set to set up match point at 31-30, and she and Brickner sealed it with a block on King for the 32-30 win.
Long Beach State stormed out quickly and never looked back in the decisive fifth set, rolling past Idaho State 15-8. After Smith's kill gave Idaho State the first point, the Beach rattled off a series of plays behind King and Agi to gain control. King answered immediately with a kill, and Agi later sparked a 4-1 surge capped by NIeko Thomas' solo block for a 4-2 advantage.
The Bengals fought to stay close, with Brickner cutting the deficit to 4-3 on a kill from Waddoups, but Long Beach State responded with back-to-back points from Agi and a block by Maxwell and Sheffie to extend the lead to 7-3.
Though Idaho State pulled within three on a service ace from Waddoups at 10-7, the Beach regrouped after a timeout. Hamaker delivered a kill and later paired with Thomas on a block to push the margin to 13-8. Hamaker followed with another kill, setting up match point, and King sealed the win when an Idaho State attack sailed long, clinching the set and the match for Long Beach State.
Agi, King, and Mitchell recorded double-doubles for the Beach. Agi charted 24 kills and 15 digs, while King had 20 kills and 13 digs. Maxwell tallied 57 assists and 13 digs. Hamaker continued a solid weekend with 13 kills. Mahaffey added 15 digs.
Watts led Idaho State (4-8) with 14 kills. Shulikov (11) and Brickner (10) both registered double-digit kills. Long Beach State hit .250, holding the Bengals to .161 for the match.
Long Beach State (7-4) opens Big West play Friday night when the Beach travel to UC Irvine (4-7). ESPN+ coverage begins at 6 p.m.
~#LongBeachBuilt~
Team Stats
ISU
LBSU
Kills
60
75
Errors
31
28
Attempts
180
188
Hitting %
.161
.250
Points
77.0
94.0
Assists
53
70
Aces
3
5
Blocks
14
14
Game Leaders
Kills-Aces-Blocks
Kills
20
Aces
1
Blocks
6
Kills
13
Aces
0
Blocks
2
Kills
7
Aces
0
Blocks
4
Players Mentioned
MB
/ Women's VolleyballMB
/ Women's Volleyball
OPP
/ Women's Volleyball
L/DS
/ Women's Volleyball
S/OPP
/ Women's Volleyball
MB
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