Friday, September 26
Irvine, Calif.
6 p.m.
Long Beach State University
8-4,1-0Big West
3
at
0
UC Irvine
5-8,0-1Big West
1
2
3
F
Long Beach St.
25
27
25
3
UC Irvine
16
25
15
0
Photo by: Kat Acosta @photosbyKatAcosta
LBSU Sweeps UCI To Open Big West Volleyball Action
9/26/2025 8:07:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
King’s double-double and Hamaker’s 11 kills help Beach extend win streak to five
IRVINE, Calif. — Long Beach State rolled past UC Irvine in straight sets Friday night, earning a straight sets victory in the Big West opener for both teams at the Bren Events Center.
LBSU used a balanced attack and late-set surge to pull away from UC Irvine, taking the opening frame 25-16. The Beach leaned on kills from Elise Agi and Logan King to build separation midway through the set, while setter Madi Maxwell kept the offense flowing with multiple assists during a 7-2 run that forced two UCI timeouts.
UC Irvine hung close early behind kills from Jessica Bates and Lois Hansen, pulling even at 7-7, but errors plagued the Anteaters down the stretch. Three attack miscues in a four-point span opened the door for Long Beach State, which capitalized with a service ace from Maxwell and a block by Rhian Steffie and Agi to push the lead to double digits. Tatum Hoff sealed the set with a service ace.
Long Beach State outlasted UC Irvine in a tense second set, rallying late for a 27-25 win to take a 2-0 lead. The set swung back and forth as both teams battled through long rallies and momentum shifts.
UC Irvine used a balanced attack to build a 23-21 edge after back-to-back kills from Campbell Jensen and Sydnee Rowe, forcing a Beach timeout. Out of the break, Agi and Jensen traded kills to tie the score. The Anteaters briefly regained the lead on a kill from Agi, but Bates answered to knot it again at 24. UC Irvine reached set point after a Nieko Thomas attack error, but Sidney Hamaker kept the Beach alive with a timely kill off Maxwell's set. From there, the Beach seized control as King hammered down a kill for a 26-25 edge before capping the set with a decisive service ace.
Long Beach State closed out matters with a dominant 25-15 win in the third set. The Beach surged ahead early behind kills from King and Hamaker, forcing UC Irvine into repeated attack errors that opened a double-digit cushion. Maxwell spread the offense, connecting with Thomas and Agi to extend the lead. UCI briefly rallied behind service aces from Emma Napoleon and a Hansen kill to cut the deficit to 23-15, but Long Beach State quickly regrouped. Laurel Barsocchini sealed the match with a service ace.
King led the Beach with her second double-double in the last three matches, finishing with 12 kills and 10 digs. Hamaker charted her third straight outing with double-digit kills, tallying 11. Thomas added seven kills and six blocks, while Maxwell dished out 37 assists. Long Beach State outhit UCI (5-8, 0-1 Big West), .238 to .108. Kendra Duffy's eight kills paced the Anteaters.
Riding a five-match winning streak, Long Beach State (8-4, 1-0 Big West) returns home to host Cal State Fullerton (6-7, 1-0 Big West) in the conference home opener Saturday night. ESPN+ coverage begins at 6 p.m.
LBSU used a balanced attack and late-set surge to pull away from UC Irvine, taking the opening frame 25-16. The Beach leaned on kills from Elise Agi and Logan King to build separation midway through the set, while setter Madi Maxwell kept the offense flowing with multiple assists during a 7-2 run that forced two UCI timeouts.
UC Irvine hung close early behind kills from Jessica Bates and Lois Hansen, pulling even at 7-7, but errors plagued the Anteaters down the stretch. Three attack miscues in a four-point span opened the door for Long Beach State, which capitalized with a service ace from Maxwell and a block by Rhian Steffie and Agi to push the lead to double digits. Tatum Hoff sealed the set with a service ace.
Long Beach State outlasted UC Irvine in a tense second set, rallying late for a 27-25 win to take a 2-0 lead. The set swung back and forth as both teams battled through long rallies and momentum shifts.
UC Irvine used a balanced attack to build a 23-21 edge after back-to-back kills from Campbell Jensen and Sydnee Rowe, forcing a Beach timeout. Out of the break, Agi and Jensen traded kills to tie the score. The Anteaters briefly regained the lead on a kill from Agi, but Bates answered to knot it again at 24. UC Irvine reached set point after a Nieko Thomas attack error, but Sidney Hamaker kept the Beach alive with a timely kill off Maxwell's set. From there, the Beach seized control as King hammered down a kill for a 26-25 edge before capping the set with a decisive service ace.
Long Beach State closed out matters with a dominant 25-15 win in the third set. The Beach surged ahead early behind kills from King and Hamaker, forcing UC Irvine into repeated attack errors that opened a double-digit cushion. Maxwell spread the offense, connecting with Thomas and Agi to extend the lead. UCI briefly rallied behind service aces from Emma Napoleon and a Hansen kill to cut the deficit to 23-15, but Long Beach State quickly regrouped. Laurel Barsocchini sealed the match with a service ace.
King led the Beach with her second double-double in the last three matches, finishing with 12 kills and 10 digs. Hamaker charted her third straight outing with double-digit kills, tallying 11. Thomas added seven kills and six blocks, while Maxwell dished out 37 assists. Long Beach State outhit UCI (5-8, 0-1 Big West), .238 to .108. Kendra Duffy's eight kills paced the Anteaters.
Riding a five-match winning streak, Long Beach State (8-4, 1-0 Big West) returns home to host Cal State Fullerton (6-7, 1-0 Big West) in the conference home opener Saturday night. ESPN+ coverage begins at 6 p.m.
~#LongBeachBuilt~
Team Stats
LBSU
Irvine
Kills
44
26
Errors
20
17
Attempts
101
83
Hitting %
.238
.108
Points
65.0
37.0
Assists
41
26
Aces
11
3
Blocks
10
8
Game Leaders
Kills-Aces-Blocks
Kills
12
Aces
2
Blocks
2
Kills
11
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Kills
7
Aces
0
Blocks
6
Players Mentioned
DS
/ Women's VolleyballMB
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
OPP
/ Women's Volleyball
S/OPP
/ Women's VolleyballMB
/ Women's VolleyballWomen's Volleyball Post Game Press Conference vs Pepperdine
Sunday, September 22
Women's Volleyball Game Highlights vs Pepperdine
Sunday, September 22
Women's Volleyball Post Game Press Conference Vs Washington State
Saturday, September 21
Women's Volleyball Game Highlights vs Washington State
Saturday, September 21
