Niner tennis alum Stephanie Bengson on the big stage at the Australian Open. Photos courtesy of Stephanie Bengson.

As much as we all enjoy drama with our Niner athletics, I plead guilty to actually donating to and attending Long Beach State tennis matches. The drama—well there is  a documented intra-sport war with the well funded basketball programs, the historic women volleyball team, the cult-ish men’s volleyball, and the passionate folks who swear on water polo, golf, track etc.

Disclaimer noted, you can get your first swings in with tennis set this weekend at the Beach Invitational Friday to Sunday (10AM onward) on the great courts of the Rhodes Tennis Center with some noteworthy opponents coming in, Colorado, Nevada and New Mexico.

The 2013 Beach team is a mixture of old and new. The new internationals are Swede Ebba Unden, Belgium star Anne-Sophie Willems and Spanish talent Eva Rodriquez. Returnees in the fine form of Jeczmionka, Malenovska and Roszenberg will bring experience to Jenny Hilt-Costello’s lineup. Last add tennis tales, 2008 alum Stephanie Bengson has received a berth into her second Australian Open Women’s Doubles Draw this week. Put that in your Casper Ware.

ROUGH DUSTING–The 19th annual Jewels of the Night will be held Saturday, April 27, in the Walter Pyramid. The event is hosted by the 49er Athletic Club and is the largest fundraiser of the year for the Long Beach State athletic department, benefitting 49er student-athlete scholarships.

Jewels of the Night combines a night of dining on cuisine from some of Long Beach’s most popular restaurants with the opportunity to bid on some great prizes in both a live auction and a silent auction.  All proceeds go directly towards the financial support of more than 300 Long Beach State student-athletes

Attendees will have the opportunity to purchase some once-in-a-lifetime items and experiences during the evening. Auction items include meet-and-greets with former Dirtbags and current MLB stars, trips to memorable destinations around the world and more.

More than 20 of Long Beach’s best restaurants will be on hand to serve their most famous dishes in an energetic and classy setting, complete with wine tastings, a piano bar and live entertainment.

SEC is so rich that they have now gone to a four man umpiring crew, while the Big West uses just three and many conferences still use a two man (or person) crew!

The new Beach assistant is Anais Dallara whose 30-12 2012 singles record stands alone as the most wins for any 49er in a single campaign, adding to a long list of records the senior will leave holding. Playing at No. 1 singles for the 49ers over the last two years, Dallara led the 49ers to back-to-back Big West championships, and captured three over four seasons with Long Beach State. She was a four-time All-Big West selection, earning first-team honors three times.

There is a softball camp coming up at the U for any and all high school and community college aged players interested in playing softball at the DI level.   It will be held on Sunday at the Long Beach State Softball Complex from 9:00AM to 4:00PM. The camp staff are the famous folks from 49er softball who bonifides include 2004, 2005, 2008, 2012 Big West Championships, five College World Series Appearances, 21 NCAA Regional Appearances, and five Regional Titles.

Asked an NFL coach who knows Chip Kelly why he stayed in Eugene. Did Cleve screw up? How about Philly? Kelly said, “how about Phil Knight.”

The widow of the late 49er football icon George Allen Etty Allen passed away last week at the age of 90…She was beside her husbands’ side during his colorful journeys to Rams, Redskins and then was lured down the Palos Verdes hills to LBSU. The Allens had four children including a daughter Jennifer who wrote a touching book about her life with the famous football coach, Fifth Quarter: The Scrimmage of a Football Coach’s Daughter. The Allens’ oldest son George was a governor and US Senator in Virginia.

Coach Allen was said to have died in 1990 from a Gatorade shower after the 49ers last game but more likely he got pneumonia from a December chill. It may have occurred while wearing his traditional shorts and light shirt while lending his field and facilities to the Big Ten’s representative in the Rose Bowl.

Ticket orders for the 2013 Big West Basketball Tournament at Honda Center in Anaheim (March 12-16) are now on sale, at least the All Session Tickets (good for up to 14 games!). The price is $144 each for courtside or $64 (lower bowl). All session includes the first round for the women which will be played at UC Irvine. (Single-Session tickets are not yet available). Buying from the  Walter Pyramid Ticket Office will help the LBSU cause and get you seated with the friendlies. The Long Beach State number is (562) 985-7449.

Darci Monson Spoiler Alert.   While a great number of her husband’s work nights actually begin at 3 or 4PM (so the kiddos can get to bed at a reasonable time) the big bullies at ESPN have moved the Wednesday, January 30 UC Santa Barbara at Long Beach State men’s basketball game to a 9:00PM tipoff. The schedule adjustment is because the network now is trying soccer programming again.

The 49er Athletic Club and Jewels of the Night Chairwoman Judy Black have an idea for you to re-gift some semi fancy wine to be bundled with other jugs for the Jewels of the Night gala set for April 27.  Caveat, un-opened items only.

Setting up your GPS. Last week the men of hoop (8-8, 4-1 Big West) won two, over Northridge, 78-69 and Hawai’i, 76-72. They play at UCR Thursday and likely before a full house Saturday at Fullerton.

Women’s Basketball (9-7, 2-2 Big West) lost at Cal State Northridge, 73-52 and Hawai’i, 65-57 and now are part of a busy Pyramid weekend,  Thursday night vs UCR and Saturday hosting Fullerton.  Men’s volleyball has two home visits from Hawaii’, Friday, 7PM and Saturday, 7:30PM That ought to keep you from cleaning the garage.—DR. DAN