Men's volleyball keeps the winning record
LBSU, 7-0, defeats Pepperdine in three matches.
By: Tracy McDannald
Posted: 1/31/08
In an early-season battle of two top-5 teams in the American Volleyball Coaches Association Top 15 national rankings, No. 3 Long Beach State swept visiting No. 5 Pepperdine, 3-0 Wednesday at The Walter Pyramid.
The 49ers (7-0 overall, 5-0 Mountain Pacific Sports Federation) extended the Waves' losing streak to three matches, winning 30-21, 32-30, 30-21.
"We come in to win," LBSU senior outside hitter Paul Lotman said. "It doesn't matter who we play or where we play."
Coming off 12 days rest, LBSU received a strong effort from Lotman, who posted a game-high 16 kills despite not recording any kills in the first game. He wasn't alone, though, as sophomore middle blocker Dan Alexander posted a double-double with 11 kills and 10 blocks, while hitting .562 to lead the team. Freshman setter Mike Klipsch added 36 assists and eight digs in the victory.
"[The players] have worked hard to be better," said head coach Alan Knipe. "The best thing is their eagerness to be better. Now we have to focus our attention on USC."
Last season, LBSU finished with just an 11-17 record, but Alexander said the time in between seasons was anything but time off.
"We worked really hard to get strong and [this year we're] not going to take a day off," he said.
The Waves (4-3 overall, 4-3 MPSF) were led by outside hitters J.D. Schleppenbach and Cory Riecks, who recorded 11 and 10 kills, respectively.
LBSU was led by Alexander in game one, as he posted five kills and hit a perfect 1.000 to jumpstart the 49ers.
Then, Lotman came alive and he recorded 10 kills in game two - the only game the Waves challenged the 49ers. Alexander provided the exclamation point in the game, giving LBSU a 29-21 lead with an emphatic return for the kill.
The frenzied crowd at The Walter Pyramid jumped on Pepperdine early in game three, eliciting a chant of "o-ver-ra-ted" as the team cruised past the Waves to keep its record perfect.
The 49ers stifled Pepperdine with a combination of Alexander and sophomore opposite Dean Bittner dominating and blocking balls at the net. The Waves, playing without injured outside hitter Paul Carroll, registered a -.065 hitting mark.
The two teams will meet again at Pepperdine on Feb. 13.
LBSU came into the match losing just two games all season (3-1 wins at Hawaii and UCLA), while sweeping its other opponents.
"[The stat] isn't nearly as important as it is just a nice stat," Knipe said. "We've played well early and some crucial games went our way."
LBSU returns to the net to host the No. 11 Trojans (4-5 overall, 3-3 MPSF) on Feb. 1 at The Walter Pyramid at 7 p.m.
The 49ers swept the Trojans 3-0 in the season opener at the UC Santa Barbara Collegiate Invitational on Jan. 4.
"We played them early in the fall and won," Alexander said, "but they're a lot better now."
© Copyright 2008 Daily 49er
It should be noted that McDannald used to write for the Viking at Long Beach City College. Another example of the connection between LBCC and LBSU. This was a fun game for our gentlemen, but are just getting started.
As always...fasten your seat belts.
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