From Reports By Long Beach State Sports Information Department
Long Beach State started off the 2009 season on Friday at the Elephant Bar Collegiate Invitational with a split in Santa Barbara. The 49ers defeated UC Irvine 3-0 in the opener, but fell 3-1 in the day’s second match against Stanford.
The 49ers started the day with a convincing win over rival UC Irvine. The Anteaters would have no answer for Long Beach State’s middle blocker tandem of Dan Alexander and Jim Baughman in a 30-28, 30-28, 30-25 win in the team’s first match of the Elephant Bar Collegiate Invitational. Alexander hit .710 with 10 kills and no errors, while Baughman had nine kills with no errors on .516 hitting.
Outside hitter Dean Bittner carried the rest of the offensive load for the 49ers in the opener, putting down 26 kills to lead all hitters. He also finished with a team high six total blocks.
Against Stanford, Long Beach State took game one by a score of 30-28, but ultimately fell 30-28, 27-30, 20-30, 28-30. Stanford finished with 36 blocks in the match, holding back an Long Beach State attack led by Bittner once more with 21 kills. Tommy Pestolesi added 19 kills for The Beach.
Long Beach State finished play at the tournament Saturday against top seed and tournament host UC Santa Barbara on their home court in the third-place match, and were stopped by the Gauchos in three, 25-30, 19-30, 26-30. Tommy Pestolesi led the 49ers with 11 kills.
Without the services of 2008 All-American Dean Bittner, Long Beach State struggled with the Gauchos on their home court. The 49ers were held to .191 hitting, while UC Santa Barbara hit .323 as a team in the three-game win.
Long Beach State came out to a slow start in the first game, hitting just .107 in the opener, but were close until the later part of the game. Tied 22-22, UC Santa Barbara scored three straight points and took a 30-25 win. The Gauchos improved their hitting to .600 in the second game, a 30-19 win.
The 49ers improved their play in the third game, outhitting the Gauchos .243 to .229. However, three LBSU attack errors down the stretch allowed the Gauchos to take a 30-26 win in the final game.