In early February, during the early portion of the Men’s Volleyball quest for a title I wrote an article (click here to read it) explaining the top ten reasons why our Long Beach State Niners will win the title.

Today on the first of May, the Long Beach State 49ers will play in the National semifinals against bitter-rival Pepperdine at UC Irvine’s Bren Events Center. I will revisit the 10 items in the article and see if they still pertain to what has been an unforgettable season for this volleyball team and fans. You will see why I will be there in attendance and expecting a “Dubya” for a shot at the ‘ship on Saturday.

Here is the list:

10. Win the battle, Win the war
The ‘Niners only lost six games in their first eight matches to start the year and if you skip the ‘Niners 3-0 loss to Pepperdine a week ago in the MPSF tourney, guess how the Long Beach State finished the season? Yea, they only lost six games in their final eight regular season matches. Yes, two of those were losses, but if you’re going to have that kind of pessimistic attitude, stop reading. Point is, we can still dominate.  

9. Intelligence
I wrote that the Niners rarely made mental mistakes on the court. Who knows if their school load has gotten in the way but it was inevitable that they would have continued their mistake free volleyball for an entire season. But this team lives and dies on their serve. It’s simple, if we can serve it between the lines, chances are we will win.

8. Power Game
Through eight matches Dean Bittner, Dan Alexander and some guy named Paul Lotman combined for 252 kills. I would count up all the kills they racked up for the entire season but there is a reason why I am not a math major. Let’s just say that all three of these guys were named All-Americans. Lotman and Alexander were first-team selections, Bittner was named second team. Ballers.

7. Height and Athleticism
The team average is 6’5” and I wrote that our team is so quick that Niners don’t have cat-like reflexes, cats have ‘Niner reflexes. And while yes, we have shown some fatigue, our team is tall and skinny and can cover the entire court with the best of them. Plus we have the best bench in the league. Not as far as talent but festive characters, check out the game tomorrow and tell me the players on the sidelines don’t have more fun than the ‘Niners on the court.

6. Fan Support
The bandwagon is not full. If you are reading this before 8 p.m. on Thursday (I doubt it) then add this to your favorites go out watch the ‘Niners ball against the Waves and come back and finish the column. Do it. But yea I wrote that the volleyball games were a “who’s who” of athletic supporters, it still is. Just leave the pretty lady athletes alone. And go say “what’s up” to your favorite Union writers and LB Post columnist. The gym is so small, you can’t miss us. But you will miss the comfort of the Pyramid.

5. SuperFan
There is a reason why he is nicknamed SuperFan. If you don’t know by now, don’t consider yourself a regular fan. Chances are if the ESPN 2 cameramen focus on one ‘Niner fan during the game, it don’t matter how cute the Long Beach State ladies are looking, chances are SuperFan will be in the shot.  

4. Digging the ‘Stache
After the article printed, Ok, around the same time the article printed, these “fear the ‘stache” hand-made tees started popping up around campus like Brooke Turner strikeouts. Then we found out that Dustin Watten, the man in the ‘stache (and in the different colored “jersey”) was making these himself and passing them out. Self-promotion is ok if you can back it up. And he did, finishing the season with a team leading 2.38 digs per game. And I got him as my wildcard player for this weekend, someone is going to have to jump in front of those Paul Carroll attacks, Watten is that somebody.

3. Competition
I wrote “Come tourney time, the team will have outlasted a grueling, competitive schedule.” In fact Long Beach State will see no surprises this weekend having played all three other teams in the Final Four. No other team in Irvine this weekend can claim that fact.

2. Employee #2
If you don’t know who Paul Lotman is, I don’t want to know you. A living volleyball legend, Lotman was just named National Co-Player of the Year yesterday. This just a week after being selected as the MPSF Player of the Year. He finished first in the countries with aces per game (.59) and finished third in kills per games (5.49). But numbers cant measure his intensity and craving for victory. Get him mad and get out the way.

1. Coaching
Though the team stopped “swimming in the student section” after wins, Coach Alan Knipe is still cool with me. He is this season’s MPSF Coach of the Year and his team finished with a 23-6, you can say life is good for coach Knipe. But a national title as a coach to go along with his national championship with the ‘Niners in 91 as a player will make him the second most famous person with the initials A.K. in the world. Well, probably not but you get the point, the man knows his volleyball and how to win.

Bonus: Revenge

Our only two 3-0 sweep defeats of the year were to Pepperdine University. If I am mad, imagine how our volleyball team is feeling. I guarantee the ‘Niners will not have 32 service errors tonight like they did a week ago. If there is ever a time to cue up the Al Pacino speech from Any Given Sunday, tonight is the night. Go Beach, see you in Irvine.