Report by LBSU

Back In Black

Long Beach State returns to Southern California this week and will play two matches at the Fullerton Tournament hosted by Big West rival Cal State Fullerton. The Beach starts off the weekend by playing Fordham on Friday, September 18 before taking on No. 7 UCLA at 5 p.m. on Saturday, September 19. Both matches will be held on the campus of CS Fullerton in Titan Gym. Fans can catch radio of the action at www.longbeachstate.com

A Look Forward

Long Beach State will be making a home at Titan Gym for the next two weeks. After this weekend’s tournament action to close out the first third of the 49ers’ schedule, Long Beach State begins Big West play on the road on September 26 at CS Fullerton. The 49ers then return to the Walter Pyramid for the first time in nearly a month, hosting UC Santa Barbara and Cal Poly on October 2 and 3. The rest of the Big West schedule follows before The Beach closes the regular season with the Mizuno Thanksgiving Classic in November with matches against TCU, UNLV, LMU and Utah.

Down On The Bayou

The 49ers posted a 2-1 record down in the Big Easy, beating New Orleans and Tulane while dropping a match to LSU. The 49ers started the trip with a five-set victory over New Orleans, but then dropped an early-morning matchup with the Tigers on the road. The team rebounded in the evening match however, recovering from two sets down to defeat Tulane on the road, snapping the Green Wave’s lengthy home winning streak.

Returning Home

New Orleans native Naomi Washington, playing her first collegiate matches in Louisiana had an outstanding week, earning Big West Player of the Week honors after leading the 49ers to two wins. Washington set a career high with 29 kills against Tulane, shattering her old best of 20. Additionally, she finished the weekend with 61 kills and averaged 4.31 kills per set.

New Orleans Notables

Washington’s performance earned her a spot on the Allstate Sugar Bowl Classic All-Tournament team, and she was joined by sophomore Caitlin Ledoux, giving the 49ers two players on the squad. Ledoux was second on the team in kills on the weekend, and tied for the team lead with 13 against LSU. Additionally, she added two double-doubles, finishing the weekend with 43 kills and 35 digs.

Scouting Fordham

Fordham has been very busy, playing 12 matches already in 2009. The team has participated in three large tournament so far, and has played well, staying in the Northeast prior to the weekend. Entering the weekend at 8-4, the Rams have picked up at least a set in all 12 of their matches, and have lost twice in five at Buffalo and vs. Boston College. Kailee May leads the team with 153 kills, though the Rams have four players with over 100 kills on the season.

Long Beach State vs. the Rams

This is the first meeting between Long Beach State and Fordham.

Scouting UCLA

UCLA has climbed all the way to No. 7 in the country to start the week, picking up its biggest win in its last match, a 3-2 win at Nebraska in front of 13,870. The Bruins’ only loss this year came on the road at Hawaii, and also boasts wins over Santa Clara, UNLV and Virginia as well as their triumph over the Huskers. Dicey McGray leads the team with 108 kills, averaging 3.60 kills per set, while the team as a whole averages 14.29 kills per set.

Long Beach State vs. the Bruins

Long Beach State has a long history with the Bruins, and UCLA holds the edge in the series at 52-20. The Bruins have also taken the last two matches between the teams, both in the NCAA Tournament, the last coming in 2004. The teams haven’t played in the regular season since 1996, when the 49ers defeated the Bruins in five, 8-15, 15-13, 15-6, 12-15, 15-13.

Highlight Package

Long Beach State’s trio of returning All-Big West honorees continue to shine in 2009. Naomi Washington leads the team in kills and aces, while hitting .254. That attack percentage is just a shade under Brittney Herzog’s .273, which leads the team, and the senior middle blocker is second on the squad with 22 blocks. Sophomore Caitlin Ledoux is second on the team with 99 kills, and is also third on the team with 83 digs, averaging 2.59 per set.

Climbing the Ranks

Long Beach State’s best chance to return to the polls comes Saturday, as a win over No. 7 UCLA would likely bump the 49ers back up in the Top 25. The 49ers still are receiving votes in the poll, and will also get two cracks at their Black and Blue rival, UC Irvine later in the year.

This and That

Junior setter Ashley Lee moved into a tie for the team lead in aces and is second on the team in digs with 84 … sophomore libero Lauren Minkel is the team leader with 120 on the season … sophomore Michelle Osunbor has shown plenty of blocking prowess in her first full season. She leads the team with 34 blocks, and is sixth in the league in average at 1.06 blocks per set.