Redemption will be on the mind of the Long Beach State women’s volleyball team Friday.
The 49ers will face the University of San Diego in the first round of the NCAA Tournament — again.
The Toreros eliminated the ‘Niners in straight sets last season to advance to the second round of the 64-team tournament. This year’s rematch will take place at 5:30 p.m. at UCLA’s Collins Court in the Wooden Center in Los Angeles while Pauley Pavilion is under construction.
If LBSU (23-6), which is making its 25th consecutive NCAA Tourney appearance, should defeat the Toreros (27-4), it will face the winner of sub-regional host UCLA (24-6) and Maryland Eastern-Shore’s (24-6) match in the second round on Saturday at 7 p.m.
The 49ers fell to UCLA in 2009 before losing to San Diego last year.
The Bruins, seeded 9th in the tournament, are currently ranked No. 4 in the American Volleyball Coaches Association Poll, while Long Beach is ranked No. 23 and San Diego is tabbed at No. 20, giving the sub-regional three ranked teams — the only one to do so. Their sub-regional is also just one of six to have no teams with double-digit losses.
If Long Beach State should win its first two matches, the team would head to Lexington, Ky., for contests beginning on Dec. 9.
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