UOP vs. LBSU

[vballmom]

Was anybody there who can tell us about the game? The scores were very close the last two games - was it exciting at least?

[garret]

UOP beat Long beach. I thought this was the year for Long Beach? What happened? So far, swept by Hawaii, loss to UOP. What gives? The final4 will be at the Pyramid and I don't think Long Beach State will be there.

[vballmom]

If they can figure it all out by the MPSF tournament - assuming they are in the tournament - then anything can happen. The match against UOP was very close, the last two games were 31-29 and 17-15. They also took Pepperdine to 5. The lineup is still not set either, so once that happens - they could gel and get hot. There are no seniors on the team and they are playing several freshman - the setter for one. Inexperience could be a factor. They are getting that as they go. Don't count them out yet! I hope they do well against Stanford tomorrow night.

[hello]

Lets not overlook the fact that Pacific is GOOD this year. Maybe they just got beat by the better team, ever think about that one?

[vballmom]

True too. They beat Northridge in 3 and Northridge has been playing great too. As has been stated before - It seems that with these top teams, it is anyones game on any given night.

[VB Dog]

Hey Mom.....am I reading this correctly. Robert played, got 17 kills and burned his redshirt in the process? How do you feel about this? Looks like he had a grand debut to come out so strong in his first match.
=======================================

From the LBS Athletic site:


PACIFIC TAKES 49ERS IN FIVE
Lee Records 500th Career Kill

STOCKTON, CA – The No. 6 ranked Long Beach State men’s volleyball team suffered its fourth consecutive loss of the season against the No. 9 ranked Pacific Tigers, 3-2, Wednesday night at the Spanos Center. Game scores were 30-25, 27-30, 25-30, 31-29, 17-15.

Long Beach State fell to 7-6 (3-5 MPSF), while the Tigers improved to 8-5 (5-2 MPSF).

Scott Touzinsky tallied a match-high 25 kills for a .333 hitting percentage in the losing effort. Touzinsky has recorded 20 or more kills in three of his last four matches. Freshman Robert Tarr chipped in a double-double with 17 kills and 11 digs, while Jeff Wootton added another double-double for The Beach with 13 kills and a season-high 10 digs. David Lee recorded his 500th career-kill after posting 10. Lee also tied a career-high with seven block assists. Paul Munoz set a season-high 18 digs.

The Tigers were led by Aaron Wachtfogel, who posted a team-high 22 kills. As a team, the 49ers had more kills (73-71), more digs (58-40), than Pacific. LB State, however, was out-blocked 16.0 to 12.0, and committed seven more attack errors.

Long Beach State continues its road trip when they face Stanford on Friday, Feb. 14

[Mom]

I'm pretty twisted about it. If it helps the team, then it's good, however, he loses a lot by burning his red shirt year. They have already played 40% of their regular season matches.

But.... who wouldn't want to be on the court if they were given the opportunity?

[VB Dog]

Well if he can come out like that and grab 17 kills against a good UoP team in his first match perhaps he'll be the spark the team needs. They need the fire that he can bring to the party. Hopefully they'll do well against Stanford and get back on track.

I hope you're coping well with the Columbia tradedy.

[Mom]

Thanks on both counts!
I just hope they play well tomorrow night and get on a winning streak.

It has been difficult for everyone around here. :-[Everyone is working hard to find out what happened. I'm not directly involved with the shuttle program, I work on an R&D contract, but I have been a NASA brat and now a KSC employee, my entire life. There was a very nice memorial here last week. I think that helped a lot of people.

[VB Dog]

There are a lot of surprise teams this year that I'm sure are upsetting a lot of people's plans. UCI is the biggest of course. They are very solid. Northridge and UoP are doing well too. Pepp is, well Pepp. It's a very tough league. You can't relax one match. And as UCLA is finding out, if you get injured you'll be swarmed upon. It's sure an interesting year. I'm looking forward to their next home match to see Robert play. What a surprise.

[Mom]

Huge surprise!!! Shock, actually!

UCI, UOP, and CSUN have all been great this year, as well as the usual suspects - Pepp and Hawaii.

[Beachy]

The secret weapons have been saying that Tarr has been playing awesome in practice and deserves the start. I've been where you are vbmom and know what you are feeling regarding the redshirt year. Look at the big picture and see if you son is getting his school work done.

[Mom]

Thanks Beachy. That is what I am most worried about. If he doesn't get good grades, then his volleyball career will be over anyway.

[sweetieVBfan]

so how's my favorite long beach athlete tyler hildebrand doing?

[Anonymous Beachman]

Don't know who said that this was gonna be Long Beach's year but they were wrong. Long Beach, unfortunately, will be a much better team next year than this year, and I like many others around Long Beach feel that next year will be our year!! Even if the finals are in Hawaii, it won't dampen our ability to be there on little bit! If we can't make it next year, then we won't be getting there any time soon! If we don't get there this year, I hope that Alan makes every single one of his players attend, unlike what DIDN'T HAPPEN the last time that we hosted and didn't make our own dance. This game is very mental and I think that making our players sit through the experience, as painful as it could be, is part of the maturation process that hopefully fires em up! Ya listening coaching staff? and parents??