The Beach is back.

So we are currently, as of this post, all square at 9 in the B&B battle for the surfboard. We swept Irvine, 3 games to nil. What made this satisfying for our crew was that in Game 1, UCI was never able to get a game point of their own, while we had to go to 36 to finally take it. Paul otman never missed a beat, getting 8 of his 17 kills in that game. Ironically, he is 88 away from reaching the 1,000-kills club. Go figure. I reckon he will come close to after our first tangle with the Waves.

The Anteaters were effectively taken out of the match in Game 2, thanks to the heroics of one Tommy Pestolesi. When he got onto the court, down 27-23, the Threefold Law came into effect. I asked the question during coach Alan Knipe's last timeout of that game: You can make two choices: 1. Make this a best-of-three, or 2. Rally back and put their backs against the wall. To my delight, Tommy, on behalf of the guys, chose Choice 2. Good decision.
Down 27-23 due to two hitting errors and an ace by the Zots, Pestolesi got the Beach back through Irvine imploding off the serves with three straight aces, a kill, and a couple of hitting errors from the visitors in blue. Hey Kari, you are welcome to fall in and transfer here with your big bro...if you want to.

Mentally, and physically, UCI never recovered from the 49er rally. This was where the leadership of the seniors from last season were missed. With most of the team returning for my guys, we took advantage. A funny thing happened at the end of the game. I flung my shirt off after the sweep...and by sheer luck, it landed on Kevin Cape's head. Now, Kevin had a great, if not illustrious, career at Long Beach State, and now he was standing in the student section with me. I've already graduated, and I STILL am making some memories here at the Beach, for good or for bad.

Next up is UCLA at the Pauley. If we can improve on our consistency...roll up, and as Lord of the Dance Michael Flatley likes to say, fasten your seat belts, 49er Nation, because we're The Beach, we're The Beach, and The Beach is back (sorry Elton John), and the Magical Redemption Tour is up and running. All aboard!