Report by LBSU
The Long Beach State men’s volleyball program will hold the Black and Gold Gala Wednesday, May 20, at the Law Offices of Keesal, Young & Logan. The event will serve as a fundraiser for the program, while also honoring the 2009 49er team, the 2009 Wall of Honor inductees and the three former Long Beach State players who won Gold medals at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China.
Two of the three Gold medalists, Scott Touzinsky and David Lee, will be among the four former 49ers inducted into the Wall of Honor. The third, Tom Hoff, was inducted in 2006. Touzinsky and Lee both finished their careers at Long Beach State in 2004 earning All-America honors after leading the 49ers to the NCAA Championship game where they lost in five sets. Lee lettered four times (2001-2004) at Long Beach State and ranks fifth all-time in blocks and block assists, seventh in hitting percentage and 18th in kills. Touzinsky also lettered four seasons (2001-04) at LBSU and ranks first all-time in career service aces and service ace average, third in games played and total kill attempts, and fourth in kills.
Darell Auxier and Miles Pabst will join Touzinsky and Lee as 2009 Wall of Honor inductees. Auxier lettered at Long Beach State three times (1971-73), while Pabst lettered once (1973) and coached the 49ers for two seasons (1975-76). Auxier and Pabst combined to lead The Beach to the NCAA national championship game in 1973 where the 49ers lost in four sets. The Beach won the SCIVA championship that season. Auxier also led the 49ers to the NCAA regionals in 1971 and 1972. Pabst went on to play professional volleyball in the IVL and was a member of the United States National Team.
The Black and Gold Gala starts at 6:00 p.m. with a cocktail reception, while the ceremony, dinner and a live auction start at 7:00 p.m. Cost for the event is either $150 or $100, while player sponsorships are $50.
Supporters purchasing the $150 tickets will get the Evening at the Gala plus a private reception where they will meet with USA Volleyball head coach Alan Knipe and the Olympic Gold medal winners Hoff, Lee and Touzinsky. They will also have the chance to meet former national player of the year Brent Hilliard, the only 49er to ever have his jersey retired, and will be entered in a drawing for an autographed (by Hoff, Lee and Touzinsky) USA jersey and volleyball.
The Black and Gold Gala includes food, beverage (both alcohol and non-alcohol), an auction and music. Among the auctions items will be accommodations at Keystone, a ski resort in Colorado, accommodations for a Palm Springs stay, and accommodations in Hawaii.