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Post by BeachbytheBay on Feb 3, 2024 13:54:03 GMT -5
the annual rivalry, 2024 edition, Pyramid will likely have a near sell out on Friday. after Beach inflicting some heartaches on the Bruins from 2017-2022, UCLA exacted some revenge in 2023 which should have Beach in a bit of a sour mood coming in. gonna be physical, two of the best, if not the best, blocking teams. both teams will be serving aggresively, so could be a bit ugly amount of SEs at times with guys surely amped up, hard to predict. UCLA so far in 2024 a bit more erratic from the end line. Beach especially has to keep Rowan off the net, as UCLA has the edge with Rowan's ability to score at the net. Beach does need to pick up some more digs from the rest of the back-row from players other than Briggs. some new players out there will be interesting or playing different spots, so while both teams with lots of returnees, has turned out so far to be two quite different teams from a year ago. Robinson, Rama, Champlain, Knight, Nakamura new/different for UCLA & Varga, Bouchkov, Godbold new/different for the Beach. Beach #1 in blocking, UCLA #5 UCLA #1 in Hitting %, Beach #3 Beach SOS 30, UCLA 12; and Beach has not come close to playing a 5 setter given their competition. not sure how much it's even arguable, these are likely the two deepest teams in MVB, would be fun to play a JV/2nd game before hand just to let the 2nd squads go at it for a best 2 out of 3 match. dailybruin.com/2024/01/30/amid-top-4-shakeup-ucla-mens-volleyball-finds-strength-in-roster-depthLinks to the game below: longbeachstate.com/news/2024/2/8/mens-volleyball-no-1-long-beach-state-goes-up-against-no-4-ucla-in-a-pair-of-top-5-match-ups-this-week |
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Post by kb808 on Feb 3, 2024 18:38:12 GMT -5
I’m intrigued to see how the Beach matchup against a good team, they’ve had probably the easiest schedule a number 1 team has had to date!!
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Post by VBQ on Feb 4, 2024 19:48:50 GMT -5
I think the Beach is better defensively, and the setting has been better. I like the fast sets to the pins to beat the block, I really like the Beach's chances this year. UCLA at this point is an anomaly.
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Post by CoastalVB on Feb 4, 2024 20:20:23 GMT -5
I think the Beach is better defensively, and the setting has been better. I like the fast sets to the pins to beat the block, I really like the Beach's chances this year. UCLA at this point is an anomaly. Why are they an anomaly? They are 8-2 with a very tough schedule (Ohio State, Penn State, Irvine 2x, Loyola, Lewis, UCSD, UCSB). UCLA has beaten the beach three straight. It will be a good match against two good teams. |
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Post by VBQ on Feb 4, 2024 20:43:11 GMT -5
I think the Beach is better defensively, and the setting has been better. I like the fast sets to the pins to beat the block, I really like the Beach's chances this year. UCLA at this point is an anomaly. Why are they an anomaly? They are 8-2 with a very tough schedule (Ohio State, Penn State, Irvine 2x, Loyola, Lewis, UCSD, UCSB). UCLA has beaten the beach three straight. It will be a good match against two good teams. Well, they return everybody, unanimous #1, so they should be annihilating people left and right with their championship squad. What happened then? |
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Post by BeachbytheBay on Feb 4, 2024 20:44:13 GMT -5
I think the Beach is better defensively, and the setting has been better. I like the fast sets to the pins to beat the block, I really like the Beach's chances this year. UCLA at this point is an anomaly. Why are they an anomaly? They are 8-2 with a very tough schedule (Ohio State, Penn State, Irvine 2x, Loyola, Lewis, UCSD, UCSB). UCLA has beaten the beach three straight. It will be a good match against two good teams. Agree UCLA isn't all that much of an anomaly Sure, a lot of people would not have been surprised if they went thru 2024 with 1 or 2 losses. and the two early losses a surprising. They still are loaded and looked like such vs. Irvine, even if maybe there's some passing to work out. but sheesh, they are hitting almost 0.400 against that SOS. Beach is gonna get a bit of a 'shock' across the net initially compared to their opponents this year so far. That's the big question is how Beach responds. As well, Beach is pretty physical, something UCLA even with their SOS is gonna represent some stress to them. It really should be entertaiing, and Beach has got to be chomping at the bit to make up for last year, just like last year UCLA was chomping to get some past results against the Beach exorcised. I think it's gonna be intense, they'll both be amped, and the frosh Bouchkov is demonstrative which will be interesting to say the least. Both teams will manufacture some 'attitude' lol for the occasion. |
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Post by xlumie on Feb 4, 2024 21:31:26 GMT -5
Why are they an anomaly? They are 8-2 with a very tough schedule (Ohio State, Penn State, Irvine 2x, Loyola, Lewis, UCSD, UCSB). UCLA has beaten the beach three straight. It will be a good match against two good teams. Agree UCLA isn't all that much of an anomaly Sure, a lot of people would not have been surprised if they went thru 2024 with 1 or 2 losses. and the two early losses a surprising. They still are loaded and looked like such vs. Irvine, even if maybe there's some passing to work out. but sheesh, they are hitting almost 0.400 against that SOS. Beach is gonna get a bit of a 'shock' across the net initially compared to their opponents this year so far. That's the big question is how Beach responds. As well, Beach is pretty physical, something UCLA even with their SOS is gonna represent some stress to them. It really should be entertaiing, and Beach has got to be chomping at the bit to make up for last year, just like last year UCLA was chomping to get some past results against the Beach exorcised. I think it's gonna be intense, they'll both be amped, and the frosh Bouchkov is demonstrative which will be interesting to say the least. Both teams will manufacture some 'attitude' lol for the occasion.  Me manifesting a beach loss just for you bestie.  |
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Post by allymcbeal on Feb 5, 2024 15:52:53 GMT -5
I’m intrigued to see how the Beach matchup against a good team, they’ve had probably the easiest schedule a number 1 team has had to date!! It will be a good match and will be a test of Long Beach mental fortitude – Beach is surely capable of winning both matches this weekend but it will come down to what’s between the ears if they are to prevail. UCLA is so clutch and possesses the championship mentality so even if they are not 100% it’s a mammoth task. |
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Post by babybacksets on Feb 6, 2024 3:22:49 GMT -5
Hoping for a Bruin sweep this week!
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Post by bucky415 on Feb 6, 2024 6:31:46 GMT -5
Go Beach!
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Post by BeachbytheBay on Feb 7, 2024 0:08:07 GMT -5
will be a battle of the last two AVCA Players of the Week
Lazar Bouchkov, Frosh, MB vs. Cooper Robinson, Soph, OH
Bouchkov, leading the country in blocks per set @ 1.9 vs. Robinson @ 0.416, sixth in the country
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Post by ManapuaSurprise on Feb 7, 2024 4:33:58 GMT -5
Long Beach currently #2 in hitting percentage - 0.392
Ucla #3 - 0.382
Ucla also #3 in blocks
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Post by BeachbytheBay on Feb 7, 2024 23:24:35 GMT -5
Pretty much a sell-out, 1000 students coming.
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Post by raian13 on Feb 8, 2024 0:45:59 GMT -5
so what was the result?
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Post by mmvb805 on Feb 8, 2024 1:02:48 GMT -5
The matches will be Friday and Saturday I believe |
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