The Long Beach State women’s volleyball team suffered its first Big West Conference loss of the season Friday night at the Matadome.
After taking the first set, LBSU (7-7, 2-1 Big West) could not hold off Cal State Northridge (12-4, 3-1 Big West) the rest of the night, as it dropped three straight en route to a 23-25, 25-19, 25-17, 25-21 loss.
LBSU never found much of a flow and the Matadors had an answer for every 49er run. The ‘Niners created multiple opportunities in the fourth and deciding frame, but couldn’t even up the match. The score was tied at 20 before the Matadors scored five of the final six points to finish off the set and take the win.
The Beach was paced by junior outside hitter Delainey Aigner-Swesey, who tallied 14 kills and seven digs on .200 hitting.
Junior setter Tara Roenicke added 31 assists, 11 digs and six kills while hitting .333. The Beach had 31 errors on the attack, 10 more than CSUN, which contributed to LBSU’s inability to make a significant run. Another result was the Beach being outhit .220 to .120 on the night.
LBSU head coach Brian Gimmillaro said the team was never able to get into a rhythm, partly due to the inability to run the offense through sophomore middle blocker Alma Serna, who is still suffering from the lingering effects of an ankle sprain.
“Alma couldn’t go,” Gimmillaro said. “She was out there but couldn’t go. She is the key, the catalyst to the offense.”
Northridge was anchored by freshman middle blocker Cieana Stinson, who compiled a match-high 18 kills to go along with two digs on .387 hitting.
The Beach returns to action Saturday when it travels to Honolulu to take on the eighth-ranked Hawaii (11-2, 4-0 Big West) Rainbow Wahine.