Forget fallen leaves, cooler nights and Daylight Savings.  You know it’s Fall when CSULB women’s volleyball and soccer start racking up the W’s.

After shaky starts for both squads, the 49ers have recently torn through their competition as they make their way into the Big West conference schedule.  After extremely high expectations – soccer was picked to finish first in the conference, volleyball second – CSULB’s top women’s teams stumbled out of the gate, each losing to quality national opponents and falling out of their respective Top 25 polls.

But since then, volleyball (9-5, 3-1) and soccer (7-4-0) have gone on the winning rampages that were expected from both.

Volleyball has won seven of their last eight—their only loss in the conference opener against a tough Cal Poly team—and will look for their fourth in a row hosting CSUN this Saturday at 7p.m.  Senior all-everything hitter Alexis Crimes (4.73 kills per game at .332%) has been the catalyst for the resurgence, but credit is also due to setter Nicole Vargas’ improved timing (11.8 assists per game), and the return of defensive specialist Talaya Whitfield (5.36 digs per game) from an early-season knee injury.

Soccer has enjoyed similar success, taking five of their last six contests with all victories won in convincing fashion (2-1, 3-0, 5-1, 5-0, 2-0).  The team brought a four-game winning streak home to host #14 USC last Friday, but the Trojans’ physical play disoriented Long Beach State, and the 3-0 final score left many 49ers in tears.  But they were back at it again on Sunday, taking a 2-0 win against Wyoming to improve to 7-4-0 on the year.  The ladies will take their success on the road to begin the conference season with three away games, and will not return home until October 19 to face the Titans of Fullerton.

Stay tuned for more updates and exclusive info, and see you at the game!