8:00am | Long Beach City College football head coach Mike Reisbig announced the signings of six Vikings that will continue their academic and athletic careers at four-year institutions, with more to come in future weeks.

Topping the list is offensive tackle Justin Aysse. The 6-5, 290-pound sophomore originally out of Downey High School will take his talents to San Diego State University. Aysse was a second-team All-Central West Conference selection this past season for the Vikings.

Prior to arriving at LBCC in 2010, Aysse spent four years in the US Marines with deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan.

San Diego State plays at the NCAA Division I level and competes in the Mountain West Conference.

2011 All-American wide receiver Travon Payne (Artesia HS) has signed with West Texas A&M University and is already attending classes at the college. In just nine games, Payne set school records with 73 receptions and 1,254 receiving yards. His 13 touchdown receptions tied a record.

Joining Payne at West Texas A&M will be wide receiver Sean Morris (Gahr HS). Morris was a second-team all-conference pick after hauling in 26 catches for 895 yards and six touchdowns.

West Texas A&M is located in Canyon, Texas. The football program competes at the NCAA Division II level and is a member of the Lone Star Conference. Bryan Braman, former Viking standout and current member of the NFL Houston Texans, went on to play at West Texas A&M following his two years at LBCC.

Another standout receiver, Mike Evans (Wilson HS), has signed with Glenville State College. Evans caught 48 passes for 501 yards and six touchdowns. Evans is already enrolled at the college and attending classes.

Glenville State is located in Glenville, West Virginia. The Pioneers compete at the NCAA Division II level and are a member of the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Association.

Defensive end Brock Ane (Los Alamitos HS) has signed with McPherson College in McPherson, Kansas. McPherson competes at the NAIA level and is a member of the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference.

Rounding out the list is defensive back Kendall Miles (Deltona, FL/Trinity Christian Academy). Miles is taking his talents to the University of West Alabama. Miles totaled 22 tackles in nine games for LBCC in 2011.

West Alabama is located in Livingston, Alabama and is a member of the NCAA Division II Gulf South Conference.

Reisbig also expects Willie Bobbitt, Holman Faatili, Stephan Dube, Paul Felder, Robert Bebek, and Tyler Jordan to all sign on with colleges in the days and weeks to come.

“We are working diligently to get all those guys out,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Long Beach City College men’s volleyball team needed just 61 minutes to defeat visiting Grossmont College in both teams’ match opener on Wednesday night at LBCC. Long Beach rolled to the three-set sweep of Grossmont by scores of 25-15, 25-18, and 25-14.

The win improved Long Beach to 1-0 overall this season and was also career win No. 1 for new co-head coaches Matt Silva and Jonathan Charette. Grossmont, the 2011 state championship runner up, couldn’t stop the balanced attack of the Vikings.

The Vikings overcame some shaky setting in the opening set, committing seven service errors, but still managed to compile an impressive  .619 attack percentage and their way to the easy Set 1 win.

LBCC was finally challenged in Set 2 as Grossmont jumped out to early leads of 4-1 and 7-4 before the Vikings rallied back. Kills by sophomores Max Wechsung (St. John Bosco HS) and Rob McLean (East Northport, NY/Northport HS) and three straight hitting errors by the Griffins put Long Beach in front for good at 9-7.

In Set 3, Long Beach took advantage of 10 Grossmont hitting errors and was able to give playing time to reserves. LBCC needed just eight kills in the final set to secure the sweep.

McLean (8 digs) and freshman Brett Anema (Valley Christian HS) led Long Beach with seven kills. Sophomore Eniefre Etim-Thomas had a big night at the net, totaling seven blocks to go with four kills. Wechsung had a good all-around match as he posted 24 assists, five kills, three blocks, and two aces. Sophomore Dylan Marquess led LBCC with 10 digs.

“It was a complete team effort today,” said Charette. “Everyone contributed to the victory. Our offense was spread out and they couldn’t stop us.”

“It was great to get our first win at home in our first try,” said Silva. “We have some big shoes to fill with Randy (Totorp) no longer leading the program.”

Shalimar Buchanan led Grossmont (0-1) with eight kills and also had three blocks.

Long Beach returns to non-conference action on Friday (Feb 3) when it travels to face defending state champion Irvine Valley College at 6:00pm.