LBSU Sweeps UCI To Open Big West Volleyball Action

Friday, September 26

Irvine, Calif.

6 p.m.

Long Beach State University

8-4,1-0Big West

UC Irvine

5-8,0-1Big West

Team	1	2	3	Final F
Long Beach St.	25	27	25	3
UC Irvine	16	25	15	0

Photo by: Kat Acosta @photosbyKatAcosta

9/26/2025 8:07:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

King’s double-double and Hamaker’s 11 kills help Beach extend win streak to five

By: Matt Turk, Associate Athletic Communications Director

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.

~#LongBeachBuilt~