The Long Beach State women’s volleyball team continued its tear through the regular season Wednesday as it earned its 13th consecutive victory in straight sets over Loyola Marymount University — 25-21, 25-17, 25-22 — at the Walter Pyramid.
Sophomore middle blocker Haleigh Hampton finished with eight kills on .538 hitting with nine total blocks for the 49ers (21-6).
The 49ers hit .232 on the night, thanks to some superb blocking — 15 on the night — they were able to hold the Lions (14-6) to .140 hitting. Thirteen digs from libero Lauren Minkel helped a balanced offensive attack that saw Hampton, Alma Serna, and Bre Mackie each finish with eight kills apiece to pace the 49ers.
LMU started the match strong, opening up a 6-3 lead, after a solo block from middle blocker Litara Keil. The Lions run continued as Keil struck again, making her third block to help LMU take a 9-3 lead. Long Beach battled, however, behind some great digs from Minkel and a solo block from Hampton cut the lead to 14-12.
The 49ers finally pushed to within one, at 19-18, before Mackie and Aigner-Swesey each picked up kills to give LBSU its first lead. Long Beach then closed out the set with a 25-21 win behind six team blocks and eight digs in the set from Minkel.
Long Beach held onto the early edge to start the second frame, and took a 10-7 lead on a service error by LMU. Taking advantage of an LMU miscue, Serna hammered home a kill to give the 49ers their largest lead of the set at 14-9 and forcing the Lions into their second timeout. The 49ers continued to push to an 18-9 lead before a Lions sideout, and took a 25-17 second-set victory.
LMU grabbed an early lead again in the third set, eventually leading by five points at 10-5 after an ace from Diana Hiromoto. Trailing 12-6, Long Beach turned to junior outside hitter Janisa Johnson in a front-row substitution, which showed immediate results. Two kills from the junior helped the 49ers cut the lead back to two at 13-11, and a block from Hampton and Ledoux brought the 49ers within one. Serna gave the 49ers a 15-14 lead on a tip.
A Ledoux solo block after a diving scramble by the setter Juley then put the 49ers on top, 17-15. The Lions were able to tie the set at 18 out of the timeout, which held until Hampton picked up a kill at 23-22. The 49ers then found Johnson out of the back row, and a block by Juley and Serna finished up the match with a 25-22 win.
LBSU will play two more matches this weekend, hosting Central Michigan on Friday before playing New Mexico on Senior Night on Saturday evening at 7 p.m. The 49ers will honor their four graduates, Jocelyn Neely, Michelle Osunbor, Lauren Minkel, and Caitlin Ledoux prior to the match.
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