LONG BEACH STATE (3-0 record)
-Four players have 30-plus kills, led by freshman Cat Highmark and junior Naomi Washington’s team-high 33.
-LBSU’s defense averages more than 20 digs per set, and senior libero Iris Murray leads all 49ers with 60 total digs.
– “I think the Florida trip will be fun,” head coach Brian Gimmillaro said. “I always like to take the team to an area of the country they haven’t been.”
Vs. FLORIDA STATE (3-0 record) in Talahassee, today
-Member of the Atlantic Coast Conference
-The Seminoles have only dropped one set the entire season.
-Junior middle blocker Brianna Barry and sophomore outside hitter Lauren Richardson lead the team with 31 kills each. Barry also is third on the team with a .528 hitting percentage.
-Senior libero Ashlee Moon has 28 digs for the season to lead FSU.
-Lost to LBSU, 3-0 (22-30, 28-30, 23-30), last season in the final day of the Long Beach State Tournament.
Vs. FLORIDA A&M (1-2 record) in Gainsville, Friday
-Member of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference
-The Lady Rattlers return five players from last year’s conference-winning squad, including outside hitter Jovani Blazeski, who leads the team with 41 kills and 35 digs.
-FAMU has just seven players on the team and head coach Tony Trifonov has no assistant coaches due to budget cuts.
Vs. FLORIDA (2-0 record) in Gainsville, Saturday
-Member of the Southeastern Conference
-The Gators are led by Kristy Jaeckel (27 kills) and Kelly Murphy (21 kills). Elyse Cusack leads Florida with 28 digs.
-Last season, the 49ers handed a 27-1 Gators team just their second loss in a five-set thriller (30-26, 22-30, 36-38, 30-20, 20-18) at the Walter Pyramid.
Ugh. God, I am disgusted today. Not for the fact that we lost to Florida, but the fact that we gave up the last three sets after winning the first two. There can be no excuse for Brian Gimmilaro’s ladies failing to fish the job. I am looking at another second-place finish to Cal Poly after what just transpired today.
Unforgivable. Totally. I mean, if you’re gonna be up two sets to none in a volleyball match, you’d better focus on finishing your opponents off. Today, you witnessed an example of Long Beach State volleyball putting the foot off the pedal at the most critical point in a contest.
I am not gonna be surprised if any future defeats are in this fashion. Brian, Debbie, Melissa…you gotta talk to these ladies about finishing. This is the type of volleyball that runner-ups and also-rans are skilled at. It’s so easy to lose in this fashion, you won’t know it until the other team across from you jumps like they are half their age.
Thie start was epic, but the finish was pathetic. Better fix this when you face Central Connecticut State….