12:35pm | Unless you have European or South American genes in your sporting DNA, Long Beach State is really not about football this time of year.  It is about women’s volleyball and women’s soccer (okay that would technically be futball) and this weekend the schedule maker ups the ante for the 49ers.

The sweethearts of spike will be hosting the Long Beach State Mizuno Invitational when the 22nd ranked 49ers begin their season hosting Prairie View A&M on Friday at 11 a.m. and after what should be a quick and easy opener, take to the bleachers and watch No. 7 Washington play PV.  The day closes for the home girls with a contest between the Beach and the University of Maryland-Baltimore County at 7 p.m. The following day, Prairie View A&M and UMBC complete the round-robin format with Washington and each other in two neutral-site matches, and then the Mizuno Invitational will close with the featured match, pitting the two ranked teams against each other when LBSU takes on the powerful and 7th ranked Huskies at 7 p.m.

UW, who is the alma mater of Glenn and Rene McDonald’s daughter Alexis, are on a lot of short lists to win the 2011 NCAA title, but that event is in December and with the experience that Brian Gimmillaro has at the get-go, he has a hunch that his 2011 gals might be able to steal a W this weekend from the Big Purple W’s.

Last weekend the alumni gave the varsity a tussle and actually won a game but the Beach is loaded with some returning firepower in the form of All-American Caitlin Ledoux, first-team All-Big West selection Haleigh Hampton and back row flyer Janisa Johnson. Senior libero Lauren Minkel and versatile Delainey Aigner-Swesey offer some experience as does likely starting setter Ashley Vazquez.  Lanky, but lightly built, Bre Mackie will earn some oohs and ahs for her work in the middle and/or outside.  The designated serving ace Tyler Jackson, a local talent from Lakewood High, plays great defense and picked up three consecutive points serving against the alums.  

Long Beach State reached its 25th NCAA Tournament during the 2010 season, but in terms of round numbers, the 2011 season is more important as Long Beach State looks to reach its 25th consecutive NCAA Tournament under Gimmillaro

All of this is for the insiders home crowd but another top 25 team, women’s soccer, travels to Milwaukee to play in the UW-M tourney after squashing Sac State by shutting down the Hornets 3-0 and limited the Nor Cal bunch to just six shots and steady LBSU goalkeeper Kaitlyn Gustaves wasn’t challenger.  This weekend Coach Mauricio Ingrassia, who played 23 different Niners in his win over USC and Sac, travels to Wisconsin where unbeaten and like LB a 2-0 team, awaits in the Milwaukee Cup starting Friday at 5 p.m. and then a toughie with No. 12 Marquette on Sunday at 9 a.m.   The games will be on the Horizon League Network pay TV feed.  Last week the LBSU Player of the Week was Senior Shawna Gordon who scored two goals last weekend for Long Beach State, including the game-winner at # 25 USC as the 49ers started the season 2-0.

NAPKIN NOTES — Basketball boss Dan Monson and his bride Darci were in the glittering wedding party for Kim Kardashian and his former Minnesota player Kris Humphries.  (BTW, Darci looked better than the bride, and Hollywood stars Lindsay Lohan and Eva Longoria.)
 
The Misty May-Treanor Olympic qualifying express is on track as she and Keri Walsh got the Silver in Finland last weekend, won another $21,000 to share and more points, etc. for their ticket to London.  This week the golden girls are in the Dutch coastal town of The Hague, nestled along the  shores of the North Sea midst the tulips and diplomats.   Two teams from the USA will qualify.
 
Sometime this weekend you should also see freshmen setter Erin Juley, the honor roll student from Lyons High who frankly gets a bit nervous.  She was also recruited by South Florida, Tampa, Penn State and San Diego but the LB coaches she says, “had to remind me to breathe….”
One of the hottest former Dirtbags out there is the Phillie’s new ace,  Vance Worley.  The MLB web site called him “the guy with the goggle-like glasses, the Mohawk haircut and the “Vanimal” nickname.”  His numbers are outstanding, 2.76 ERA, 8-1 record and 74 Ks in 91 innings.  In college, not so much.  He had three-ho-hum seasons at Long Beach State, the best being a 7-4 record with a 4.27 ERA in his final season.  Then it all clicked in.

Again MLB.com picked up the Worley story.  “I’d always had longer hair. But we went down to Florida last year and played the Marlins, and it was SO hot down there,” he explained. “We were throwing the Frisbee around, doing our conditioning, and my glasses were steaming up and my hair was in my eyes. And I said, ‘I can’t do this.’  A barber was on duty in the Sun Life Stadium clubhouse. Worley had seen players with a Mohawk, thought better of it, and got a modified cut.” Then eventually the whole Hawk! — DR. DAN