The No. 9-ranked Long Beach State men’s volleyball team dropped another Mountain Pacific Sports Federation match Saturday night against No. 1 UC Irvine.
LBSU (10-11, 5-9 MPSF) has lost three straight matches at home after being swept in three sets, 25-19, 25-20, 25-17.
The Anteaters dominated LBSU, out-killing the 49ers 42-29. UCI has now defeated the 49ers in five straight matches dating back to February last year.
LBSU’s 29 kills were the second lowest kill total for the ‘Niners all season. The ‘Niners scored only 28 kills in a three set sweep by then No. 1 UCLA.
“We were not good in transition,” LBSU head coach Andy Read said. “We had opportunities, but we didn’t capitalize on them.”
Sophomore Taylor Crabb was the only LBSU player who scored kills in double figures with 10. Senior Brad Hemmerling chipped in 6 kills and 7 digs.
UCI’s Kevin Tillie continued to dominate LBSU with 14 kills at a .571 clip along with a match-high 8 digs. Tillie is hitting .451 with 30 kills on the season against LBSU.
Senior Dan McDonnell dominated the ‘Niners, as well, serving up five aces on the match.
LBSU played close with the top-ranked school in the country during the first set until a four-point run capped by back-to-back aces by McDonnell opened up a 9-6 lead for UCI.
The Beach could not find its attack and were held to single digit kills (9) in the first set.
The second set saw new life from LBSU as the ‘Niners opened up with a five-point lead early on after sophomore Jeff Ornee and freshman John La Rusch roofed UCI outside hitter Jeremy Dejno.
After a quick timeout LBSU hit two quick attack errors and were aced by senior Carson Clark to cut the 49er lead to just two.
The tides were turning when La Rusch and junior Colten Echave hit back-to-back attack errors to put the Anteaters finally at a tie, 14-14.
Both teams battled back and forth until the score was 17-17. The Anteaters proved why they were ranked No. 1 by going on a big five-point run putting the ‘Niners on the ropes 17-22.
Back-to-back kills by Dejno finally put LBSU down two sets after a miserable attacking performance by the Beach. LBSU were held to nine kills on a pathetic .083 hitting percentage.
Again both teams battled closely well into the third set.
The LBSU crowd was letting McDonnell have it, tearing into him as he lined up for a crucial serve with UCI up 16-13.
McDonnell responded to the hostile crowd with another two service aces during a five-point run that put LBSU down 20-13.
Despite having its best attacking performance of the night with 11 kills on .269 hitting LBSU came short once again dropping the third and final set 25-17.
LBSU will try to end their home losing streak against another MPSF opponent, No.4 BYU, when they take them on Mar. 23 and 24.
First serve for both matches is set for 7 p.m. at the Walter Pyramid.