|
|
Post by Mac on Apr 1, 2006 23:57:48 GMT -5
After 3 games UCI leads 2 games to 1, with game 4 tied at 19 each.
|
|
|
|
Post by Mac on Apr 2, 2006 0:07:56 GMT -5
UCI wins, 3-1 28-30, 30-21, 34-32, 30-26
UCI hit .407
LBS hit .158
|
|
|
|
Post by mikesmith on Apr 2, 2006 1:05:28 GMT -5
Wow,
Two close games.
|
|
|
|
Post by robonthemic on Apr 2, 2006 1:21:04 GMT -5
Beach came to play tonight but it seemed as if the 34-32 game 3 loss deflated their momentum-- also throw in the fact that they were outhit badly and basically you have the recipe for a loss. Budinger and Tarr were inconsistent and had some key opportunities to get some momentum back for Beach but unforced hitting errors wide, off the antennae, and long killed it. Irvine's balanced attack (and I don't have have the stat sheet yet, but you can go to www.mvball.uci.edu and check it out) is what got them the win tonight. Jablonsky and Webber were consistent, solid and were the go-to guys tonight, but I have to give props to Harrell in the middle tonight-- he had double digit kills and block assists (and touches) at critical moments tonight. Thornton distributed the ball well once again tonight and not enough glory can be sung for the junior setter. Smith (middle) ended the night with 13 blocks! Pretty amazing against the hard-hitting team of the 49ers. I know it's tough to pick a player of the match for the Eaters, but if I had to it would be Steffin Rangel off the bench. He got subbed in for Spittle in game 2 (I think- I'm still too excited to remember) and had 2 huge blocks on Budinger at the outside that proved to be momentum shifters-- and we all know how important momentum is in this game. Spittle started game 3, and "got his groove back" and ended up blocking Budinger a couple times towards the end of the game and for game point. Sorry my post doesn't have the exact numbers but I gave my stat sheet to someone at the game. Check tomorrow at the URL above for accuracy. Irvine did it again-- assessed the opponent in the game 1 loss and came back strong. This team is definitely talented and is mentally tough. Next up-- at Pacific and Stanford. |
|
|
|
Post by Mac on Apr 2, 2006 1:41:56 GMT -5
Stats: www.longbeachstate.com/vol/mvol/BOX06/lbsmvb26.htm46 hitting errors for LBS tells a big part of the story. That's 46 points for UCI off of LBS hands. 21.5 blocks for UCI, vs. 10 for LBS is another. LBS lead in aces, 9-2, but those hitting errors are brutal. |
|
|
|
Post by ACE on Apr 2, 2006 2:12:31 GMT -5
Looks like UCI will be hosting the MPSF Tournament.
|
|
|
|
Post by aaronic on Apr 2, 2006 4:26:38 GMT -5
Northridge is the last line before UCI can take control.
So next weekend two big games huh?- BYU VS. The Beach; UCI vs. CSUN.
Not suprised by the scores. With that loss to UCLA last night, there was no way Irvine was going to lose tonight.-They are top ranked for a reason.
|
|
|
|
Post by aaronic on Apr 2, 2006 4:54:37 GMT -5
So next weekend two big games huh?- BYU VS. The Beach; UCI vs. CSUN. Oops my bad, I think UCI vs. CSUN is the weekend after this weekend. |
|
|
|
Post by ucivball on Apr 2, 2006 16:10:43 GMT -5
the third game was the pivotal game, as it always is after a split in the first two games. Although the first game showed a pretty close long beach win, long beach was dominating with their ferocious serve giving uci a very tough time. uci struggled hitting, passing, and serving. Game two was the exact opposite, long beach lightened up a bit on their tough serving and uci played a more controlled and polished game.
Game three was pivotal and the most exciting. uci came out on top 34-32, but at one point, it seemed like long beach was going to take the game easily leading 26-21! long beach acquired this huge 5 point lead late in the game thanks to the devastating jump serve of robert tarr. during this stretched, tarr served 3 aces. all at paul spittle. this promted spittle to be taken out and replaced by steffin rangel. after uci sided out. rangel provided 2 huge blocks on duncan budinger while matt webber was at the service line serving an additional ace bringing uci back from the 5 point deficit.
in game 4. uci came out hot with paul spittle, the smallest hitter on the court stuffing 6'8 right side budinger twice. the two teams traded points many times and were tied several instances, but uci were playing with their usuall control and offensive effectiveness while long beach were making costly errors at critical times.
uci as a team comitted 12 hitting errors. for long beach, lotman had 12 himself, budinger comitted 14 errors, and tarr had 9. no matter how tough long beach was serving, comitting 46 hitting errors is too much to overcome.
|
|
|
|
Post by robonthemic on Apr 2, 2006 18:05:24 GMT -5
ucivball and Mac-- good posts! Thanks for following up with the particulars.
ACE, I'm not sure UCI will be hosting the tournament yet. There are still some teams who might look to salvaging their dismal seasons like Pacific & Stanford-- both away games for the Eaters. After that trip, the Eaters take on CSUN at the Matadome. Let's face it, CSUN is hot right now and cannot be taken lightly. The same goes with the final match of the season w/ UCSB at the Bren Center in Irvine. UCSB was one of Irvine's losses this year and they've got Patak back at full speed again. Irvine still isn't back in it's pre-Spring Break form, but I know getting back to their routine will help.
There are so many scenarios still waiting to be played out-- and I know that BYU and Hawaii fans are watching closely if not routing for other teams to beat Irvine so they can get the top seed and host the tournament. BYU and Hawaii conclude their seasons playing 2 matches on back-to-back nights at Provo. Fact of the matter is it's going to be tough for either team to sweep the series. They're going to be playing like it's winner take all on both nights and I wouldn't be surprised to see a game score like in the NCAA Championship a couple years ago between Lewis and BYU (game 1 was 44-42)!
All this makes for exciting volleyball left to be played!!!
|
|
|
|
Post by StuffU on Apr 2, 2006 19:02:11 GMT -5
BYU and Hawaii conclude their seasons playing 2 matches on back-to-back nights at Provo. Matches are in Hawaii. |
|
|
|
Post by aaronic on Apr 2, 2006 19:48:49 GMT -5
Games are going to be played in Honolulu, and not to mention BYU still has to travel to the Pyramid. Even though the poor outing on the road this past weekend, LBSU is still wary of upsetting at least one more team before the regular season is over.
|
|
|
|
Post by robonthemic on Apr 3, 2006 1:26:46 GMT -5
Sorry about the misinformation about the location-- I'm typing faster than I can think right now! Good point about BYU's upcoming travel to the Pyramid. Beach will be playing in survival mode with all they've got. It's scary to think what Beach can do if all players are "on."
|
|
|
|
Post by fingrbustr on Apr 4, 2006 17:11:29 GMT -5
Anyone here going to the Pyramid this Thurs?
I just watched LBSU @ UCI this past Saturday. Last time I saw LBSU, they were @ Pepp and they gave Marv's boys quite a beating (swept 'em).
I am eagerly awaiting the the BYU match...I've yet to see the Cougars this season. I hear that Cala is quite the beast...should be a good one!
|
|
|
|
Post by robonthemic on Apr 4, 2006 18:10:10 GMT -5
As much as I'd like to see Beach beat on BYU, I don't think they're going to be able to do it. Beach would have to be firing on all cylinders and unforced errors would have to be below double-digits. BYU executes and tries to overpower. They don't mess up and with the postseason looming they are hunting for the 1 seed.
|
|
