LOS ANGELES — Coming off a big upset win against No. 3 Pepperdine, the No. 11 Long Beach State men’s volleyball team had another big upset in mind as it visited No. 1 USC at the Galen Center on Friday night.
Unfortunately for the 49ers, whatever magic had raised their level of play down in Malibu left them wanting in a 3-0 sweep — 25-16, 25-17, 25-17 — against the Trojans.
“Obviously, we didn’t play anywhere near our capabilities tonight,” LBSU interim head coach Andy Read said.
Aside from the very first point of the match, LBSU (2-3, 1-1 Mountain Pacific Sports Federation) never held a lead and only tied the Trojans (2-0, 2-0 MPSF) twice during the entire match. This was in major part due to USC’s stellar defense that held the 49ers to under a .100 hitting percentage in each of the first two sets (.062 and .071).
Both USC’s attack and defense eclipsed any efforts coming from the 49ers. The Trojans posted a staggering .444 hitting percentage to LBSU’s measly .091 and out-blocked Long Beach, 11-4.
Any time LBSU would try to mount a comeback, USC would quickly squelch it.
Upperclassmen Jim Baughman and Josh Riley paced The Beach with eight kills apiece.
Trojans senior opposite hitter Murphy Troy led the game with 12 kills and a .348 hitting percentage. LBSU had no answer for the USC trio of Troy, Maddison McKibbin (eight kills), or Tony Ciarelli (eight kills).
LBSU senior setter Mike Klipsch, who finished with just 15 assists, was benched in the third set in order to let freshman Connor Olbright get some playing time.
“If [Olbright] ever has to go in again he’s got no butterflies, he’s already played a match,” Read said.
There is a silver lining for the 49ers, according to Read.
“We passed even better than they passed,” he said. “Unfortunately, passing is not the end result. You have to set the ball and, for sure, kill the ball.”
As the 49ers try to forget their performance, they’ll find themselves back in the friendly confines of the Walter Pyramid for the next four games.
LBSU will face No. 10 UC Santa Barbara at 7 p.m. on Tuesday to begin a four-game homestand, which will also feature opponents No. 9 UCLA and No. 4 Stanford.
“We’ll get back on track,” Read said.
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