Long Beach VS. UCSB

[sponge13]

Long Beach State up 2 games

leads games three 28-25

[sponge13]

Long Beach wins in three

30-17, 30-27, 30-25

[sistahsledge]

Fairly routine win for the Beach. Neither team looked spectacular. The Gauchos didn't have much to offer--but they're very young (only one senior) and should be better next year. Their passing was shaky and the sets were all over the place. The Beach was solid but was never really pushed through the match. Hopefully they'll take it up a notch in the next round against the better teams.

Sadly, the attendance looked very sparse for a playoff match with the #2 team in the country. There were whole sections that were completely empty. Has it been that low all year? Several years ago, in the days of McKienzie, Polster, Prosser, etc. the Pyramid used to rock! It's no wonder the A.D. is threatening to put the men's team on the chopping block. Knipe needs get some good P.R. going.

[My2Sense]

For all the Florida 49ers who may not have been able to make it out here's the PT's article. The actual photo in the PT this morning a huge 9"x5" on the front of the sports page. The Internet version has this cropped version.



www.presstelegram.com/Stories/0,1413,204~28780~2106944,00.html

[beachman]

Actually, for a men's match, the attendance was excellent. The Pyramid management closes off the north section, thus keeping down the cleaning costs so everyone sat in the e/w sections, which are the main seating sections. With the exception of UH and BYU, there isn't a men's program west of the rockies who draws like Long Beach does!

[My2Sense]

Actually........... ;D

...there is.

You got me scratchin' about that one, so I did a quick comparison of LBS attendance vs. UCLA's. Counting only conference matches for LBS (to keep the average up), and I included UCLA's Lewis match), UCLA actually has a slightly higher average this year.

The poster's point about improving attendance is very important for all the programs. I get a bit discouraged myself when only a thousand show up for a big match against two powers. And this year, LBS deserved to have great attendance for all its home matches. Marketing is a big issue. So much more can be done without big budgets.

These are the attendance comparisons I put together. Hopefully they're accurate:

Long Beach State '04:


Pacific: Jan 22, 2004 Attend: 543
Stanford: Jan 23, 2004 Attend: 802
BYU: Jan 28, 2004 Attend: 726
BYU: Jan 30, 2004 Attend: 1089
UCI: Feb 13, 2004 Attend: 769
USC: Feb 19, 2004 Attend: 807
Pepperdine: Mar 5, 2004 Attend: 1107
UCLA: Mar 12, 2004 Attend: 1434
Northridge: Apr 08, 2004 Attend: 725
UCSB: Apr 10, 2004 Attend: 886
UCSD: Apr 17, 2004 Attend: 763
UCSB (MPSF): Apr 24, 2004 Attend: 854

12 matches = 10,505
Avg = 875

--------------------------------

UCLA:


Pepperdine: Jan 31, 2004 Attend: 1526
Long Beach: Feb 11, 2004 Attend: 762
UCSD: Feb 13, 2004 Attend: 349
UCSB: Feb 18, 2004 Attend: 432
Lewis: Mar 03, 2004 Attend: 452
Pacific: Mar 05, 2004 Attend: 523
Stanford: Mar 06, 2004 Attend: 814
UCI: Mar 17, 2004 Attend: 501
USC: Mar 30, 2004 Attend: 702
BYU: Apr. 8, 2004 Attend: 1728
BYU: Apr 09, 2004 Attend: 1909
CSN: Apr.14, 2004 Attend: 576
U Hawaii (MPSF): Apr 24, 2004 Attend: 1228

13 matches = 11,502
Avg. = 884

[sistahsledge]

My memory might be fading, but I remember the crowds being bigger and much more raucus at Long Beach and UCLA in the late 90's. Even USC used to fill their small gym despite being subpar. And the crowds were even greater in the late 80's/early 90's. Is it my imagination, or has attendance declined across the board, with the possible exceptions of Hawaii and BYU?

I've been to a few men's and women's matches at Long Beach this year so I use them as an example. The men's team was ranked much higher than the women's team but had lower attendance. What is the women's program doing that the men can do to improve their outreach. I'd hate to see another men's program go under.

[beachman]

For what it is worth, I don't believe that the crowd counts at the last 2 or 3 LBS matches are accurate....I know the Pyramid well, and there were far more folks in attendance last nite than what they posted, ditto for the previous home match.....not sure what is going on with the head counters but they sure aren't "padding" the numbers, like I know that they do as some schools!

[vballmom]

I think that the baseball team may have taken away some of the fans this year. They are rockin' this year too. It is a shame that the attendance wasn't better with the way they have been playing all year. Why don't the fans of the women's team translate to the men's? I find it very strange. I love to watch all college volleyball, not just women's or men's.

Next weekend will have some great matches and the MPSF Final Four is the true final four.

I'm surprised that all four matches went 3-0 with the way this season has been.

[beachman]

Excellent point about our Dirtbags.....I have season tickets for both sports, and have had to choose on several occasions.....however, since I am a season ticket holder for volleyball, they could legally count me as there even if I choose to go to Blair Field instead, which I did on aabout 3 occasions this year......wouldn't it be great if both teams went to the big dance? It's gonna happen too!

[vballmom]

I hope you are right!! I'm getting nervous already.

Go Beach~!

[Bookumdanoaloha]

The Key in this game will be the serving. UCLA has 5 jump servers and when they are on, can do some damage. I saw what UCLA can do against Pepp and Hawaii. One thing they won't have to worry about is the BYU fans in the semi-final. However, the high altitude will have an affect on the jump serves. Expect UCLA is serve short half the time and see over passes early in the game. Once both teams adjust to the "conditions" at Smith Field House, we will just have to see "which player" decides to "take the match over".
I like the Beach to win. They were my pre-season pick to take it all.

Pepperdine has seen some success at Smith Field House but to beat BYU in the playoffs in front of a crazy home town crowd is a Big Task.

BYU vs. Beach in the Final will be a War. Beach needs to stay focused. Don't let the crowd get to them. They won't get the close calls either. I'd put money down that Olmstead will be refereeing. How can player's (BYU's Libero) father ref a game when he's in the game. Especially in a Championship Final. I could be wrong, but I doubt it. Let's see.

Bookumdanoaloha

[beachman]

I like our chances to take UCLA for a third time this season.....just think that we match up well with them (as evidenced by two sweeps). Having said that, I know that it is always tough to beat someone 3 times, but if we want to see Hawaii, that's what will have to be done....as far as Long Beach and BYU(I think they win easily) goes, we may not beat them in Provo, but I really like our chances on a neutral court. Both of our matches with them this year could have gone either way, very very close matches, and we are a much improved team now over what we were early in the season when we last met!

[BarcelonaBob]

The only reason UCLA had better home attendance than LBSU did this year is because more BYU fans (read: Mormons) came to watch their team at Pauley than at the Pyramid. Look at the numbers.

[My2Sense]

And, your point is........what?