Long Beach State Fends Off UC San Diego in 4 Units to Keep Scorching in Big West Play

LONG BEACH, Calif. — Long Beach State turned again UC San Diego in 4 units Thursday night time in Big West ladies’s volleyball motion.

The Beach powered previous UC San Diego within the opening set, 25–14, behind a balanced offensive assault and regular setting from Madi Maxwell. Long Beach by no means trailed after taking an early 5–2 lead, fueled by kills from Nieko Thomas and Sidney Hamaker. Maxwell dished out assists on 4 of Long Beach’s first 5 factors and later orchestrated a decisive 7–1 run that pushed the margin to double digits. Elise Agi and Thomas every added two kills throughout that surge, whereas Maxwell capped it with a service ace to power a Tritons timeout at 13–7. UC San Diego confirmed transient life late behind Jasmine Saran and Maria Fernanda Afonso, trimming the deficit to twenty–12, however the Beach’s entrance line closed it out. Hamaker and Rhiann Sheffie mixed for a block at 22–12, and Preslie Yates delivered the set-clinching kill off one other Maxwell help for the 25–14 choice.

The Tritons stormed again to even the match, taking the second set 25–16 behind a dominant stretch halfway via the body.

UC San Diego got here out sharp, turning a 3–3 tie into an 8–3 lead behind the regular setting of Mika Rome and kills from Saran and Afonso. The Tritons’ entrance line took management with a pair of blocks by Saran and Katie Rapp, forcing an early timeout from the Beach. Long Beach State tried to rally behind Sheffie and Maxwell, however UC San Diego’s stability on the internet saved the hosts on their heels. A service ace by Paulina Baillie and back-to-back kills from Ireland McNees and Rapp pushed the Tritons’ result in double digits, 20–12. UC San Diego closed out the set with a 4–1 burst, capped by McNees’ kill from Rome to seal it.

Long Beach State shook off a rocky begin and surged late to take the third set, 25–23. The Beach fell into an early gap because the Tritons jumped out to a 6–0 lead behind the serve of Maija Nepszy, who delivered an ace through the run. After a timeout, Long Beach started to settle in, getting a kill from Logan King to cease the skid and slowly claw again into the body. King and Agi sparked momentum halfway via the set, combining for back-to-back kills that trimmed the deficit to 7–5. Although UC San Diego maintained a cushion into double digits, Long Beach started to warmth up on the internet. A four-point run, highlighted by blocks from Hamaker and King, pulled the Beach inside 14–11 and compelled a UCSD timeout.

The Beach continued to push, utilizing a balanced assault from Agi, King, and Sheffie to erase the hole and even the rating at 18-all. Laurel Barsocchini’s serve helped gas a five-point rally, capped by a Sheffie kill and an Afonso assault error that gave LBSU its first lead at 20–19. UC San Diego briefly regained momentum at 22–21, however Long Beach responded with a decisive 3–0 run behind Madi Collins, who delivered a kill and a clutch service ace to arrange set level at 24–22. After UCSD fended off one, Agi hammered down the winner off an help from Anna Jelinek to shut out the comeback.

Long Beach State closed out the match in dominant trend, taking the fourth set 25–15.

After the groups traded early factors to a 5–5 tie, Long Beach surged forward behind a key block from Thomas and Agi, then capitalized on UC San Diego errors to construct a 15–9 lead. Collins, the setter, fueled the run with a service ace and a sequence of assists that arrange kills from Thomas, King, and Agi. The Tritons tried to rally, pulling inside 20–13 behind kills from Afonso and Rapp, however the Beach’s entrance line proved an excessive amount of. Sheffie delivered the closing blows with a solo block and back-to-back kills earlier than McNees’ assault error sealed the 25–15 ultimate.

King charted her seventh double-double of the yr with 12 kills and 10 digs. Sheffie hit .333 with 11 kills. Thomas tied her profession excessive with 10 blocks and added 5 kills. Collins, a sophomore, dished out a season-high 19 assists and posted a career-high three service aces. Agi added 12 digs and 7 kills.

UC San Diego (4–15, 2–5 Big West) was led by McNees, who registered 11 kills. The Beach restricted the Tritons to .119 hitting for the match (42–26–135). LBSU hit .158 (47–25–139) however outblocked UCSD 13–8.

Long Beach State (13–5, 6–1 Big West) hosts Hawai’i (6–11, 2–4 Big West) Friday night time. The match might be nationally televised by ESPNU starting at 6 p.m.