There has been talk from another local publication that head coach Brian Gimmillaro and the Long Beach State women’s volleyball program is struggling to draw the best talent. 

Agree or disagree (I disagree) one thing is for sure: LBSU plays the best.  And the schedule for the upcoming 2009 campaign is just another example.

“Our schedule for the upcoming season is varied and difficult. We play a wide range of the top teams in the nation. We wanted to play highly ranked teams from many different regions of the country, and we’ve accomplished that.”

The Beach gets started right away in a difficult schedule, hosting San Diego in the season opener at 7 p.m. on Friday, August 28. The 49ers face another ranked opponent in Texas the following night, August 29, and then the Toreros and Longhorns face each other in the Walter Pyramid on August 30.

Long Beach State hosts the first of two tournaments the next weekend, joining with UC Irvine for a combined tournament over Labor Day Weekend. The 49ers hit the road for the next two weeks, heading to New Orleans for a tournament before facing Fordham and UCLA on the road across town at the Fullerton Invitational hosted by Cal State Fullerton.

The defending Big West champs will then take on a packed conference schedule, including matchups with Cal Poly, UC Irvine, Pacific and other Big West powers in women’s volleyball.

2009 also marks the return of the Mizuno Thanksgiving Classic to close out the regular season. Long Beach State will host six matches over the holiday weekend, and will play TCU, UNLV, LMU and Utah in a busy week prior to the postseason and the NCAA Tournament.

Click Here For Complete Schedule

Report By LBSU