Senior Dean Bittner has shined brightly for a men’s volleyball team that struggled with consistency all season long.
The Lakewood native could go down as one of the most accomplished players Long Beach State has ever seen.
Bittner recently finished his collegiate career with 1,872 kills and 40 matches with 20-plus kills, putting him second on the 49ers’ all-time list behind Brent Hilliard in both categories.
Bittner’s 130 service aces places him fourth all time among 49er players.
“I don’t worry too much about the record stuff,” Bittner said. “I just go out and play. I try not to worry about the other stuff, and just worry about what’s going on play by play.”
Interim head coach Andy Read attributed his opposite hitter’s production to his versatility.
“[Bittner] blocks balls and makes kills,” Read said. “He’s as good as any player in the country. When it has mattered, he’s been there to make a play.”
Not too bad for someone who just picked up the sport.
“I didn’t want to play basketball, I didn’t like it,” Bittner said. “I kind of just randomly picked up [volleyball]. My parents knew about it a little bit, and I was like ‘well hey this looks fun.’ “
The senior played volleyball at Lakewood High School and was twice selected first-team All-Moore League. In 2005, he was named a second-team All-American by Mizuno / Volleyball Magazine.
Bittner, who was named a Volleyball Magazine “Fab 50” recruit, eventually decided to come to LBSU.
“They offered me the most [scholarship] money out of all the colleges I was being recruited by,” Bittner said. “And my coaches during the club season, in high school, they were here.
“And, yeah, I liked that it was close [to home].”
After redshirting the 2006 season, he proved his value the following year, as his 262 kills and 98 blocks were good for second on the squad, while his 90 block assists led the 49ers.
In 2008, the 49ers reached the NCAA men’s volleyball tournament and Bittner was twice named Sports Imports / American Volleyball Coaches Association Player of the Week during the season.
He peaked statistically in 2009 with 605 kills, which was good for first on the team and third in the nation. Bittner’s impressive .306 hitting percentage and 42 service aces paced the 49ers and led to him being named a first-team AVCA All-American.
Despite his personal accolades, Bittner also recognized the struggles the 49ers (12-17, 8-14 Mountain Pacific Sports Federation) encountered during a disappointing 2010 campaign.
“We’ve just been so close, and just couldn’t put it away,” he said.
With LBSU’s season ending after a 3-0 loss to USC last Saturday, Bittner said he looks forward to rejoining head coach Alan Knipe, who guided him during his first three seasons, on the United States national team.
Knipe is on a three-year leave of absence to coach the U.S. men’s squad leading up to the 2012 Olympics. Bittner doesn’t expect his one-time coach to give him much of a break after wrapping up his NCAA career.
“Alan has already called me and said as soon as my season’s done here, I’m with them,” he said. “I’ll be training with them, so I’ll be in that gym and it’ll be a great experience.”
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