In “historic” Titan Gym on Friday, fans witnessed what may end up as the biggest NCAA volleyball upset this season—but it wasn’t the 49ers’ sweep of Fordham, 25-20, 25-23, 25-17. No, that honor belonged to the host Titans, who beat no. 7 UCLA in five sets; but Long Beach State showed they’re continuing to develop an identity, playing at their own level as opposed to their opponents’.
Caitlin Ledoux hit .516 win 17 kills in the convincing win, and junior setter Ashley Lee added six kills for the 49ers along with 33 assists and seven digs. Naomi Washington tied for the team lead along with Ledoux, chipping in 17 kills as the 49ers were never truly threatened by the Rams in a nice return to Southern California.
An ace and a kill by Washington got The Beach going the first set, as the 49ers moved out to a 12-5 lead after a pair of Ledoux kills. The 49ers would hold on to that edge for a 20-12 lead, and after a late charge following a Fordham timeout, closed out the set 25-20.
The second set was the closest of the match. Long Beach State again took an early lead, but following a Rams timeout with the 49ers in the lead at 12-7, Fordham made a push behind a few errors by The Beach to tie the match at 14. Going to Washington for a kill, the 49ers remained in the lead, and despite eight ties in the set, never trailed despite never taking a lead of more than three points in the set.
Ahead two sets to none, Long Beach State closed out the match with authority in the final set, never trailing. Long Beach State made a push from a 7-7 tie to take a 11-7 lead, but Fordham had one final run to tie the score one last time at 13. The 49ers scored seven of the next nine points to take a 22-15 lead, and Fordham errors combined with a final kill closed out the match for Long Beach State in a 25-17 win.
Long Beach State returns to Titan Gym for a second match on Saturday, taking on No. 7 UCLA in the first regular season match between the two teams since 1996. First serve is scheduled for 5 p.m. in Fullerton, so go support your ‘Niners—we’re pretty sure UCLA is going to come out looking to rough somebody up.
From LBSU reports