With additional info from LBSU reports
The previous night in the ‘Myd saw the men’s volleyball team sweep the University of Hawai’i, which may account for the many empty seats for Friday’s match. Those who braved the weather were treated to a four-set victory (26-30, 30-23, 30-24, 30-21) over the Warriors, bringing the Beach to a 7-5 record overall and 6-3 in the MPSF conference.
After tying on each of the first 10 points of Friday’s match, Hawai’i pulled away to a 19-13 lead in the first set, capitalizing on a rather worrisome .042 hitting percentage from the Beach. The Warriors were able to extend the lead to as many as seven, 23-16, but LBSU fired back with a 7-3 run culminating in a block by Josh Riley that brought the set to 26-23. Riley followed with a kill off a block and another block (with Jim Baughman) to make it a one-point game. A triple block tied it at 26, but Hawai’i was able to regain the lead and finish off the first set 30-26.
Long Beach hit only .122 in the first set, and Hawai’i was not too much better at .179. With that kind of play, it looked like we were in for a short match but a long night.
But the Beach got it back on track in the second set, thanks in part to the efforts of freshman Kyle McElderry, who saw his first significant playing time of the season coming off the bench after the game break. McElderry recorded six kills and a .455 hitting percentage in the second set. The set started out close again, but a 4-0 run by the Beach to take a 16-11 lead broke it open, and the Warriors didn’t come closer than two points after that. LBSU hit a much more promising .536 in the second, the convincing 30-23 victory evening up the score at one set each.
The third set saw the Beach leading by four three different times early in the game, but Hawai’i was able to tie it up at 10-10. The two teams traded points before a 4-0 run by the Beach put them up 22-17. The Warriors cut the lead to 25-22, but a 5-2 run capped by a Dean Bittner kill gave the set to Long Beach. Bittner had seven of his fifteen kills in the third.
The fourth set showed why the seats should be filled every time the men play in the ‘Myd. After battling to a 7-6 lead, the Beach went on an 8-0 run to take command and then pushed the run to 17-5 to all but put away the Warriors. Long Beach took the set 30-21. Josh Riley led the Beach in the set with nine kills while hitting .667. Jim Baughman added four kills of his own and a perfect 1.000 hitting percentage.
Despite the trouble in the first set, Long Beach’s second night against Hawai’i ended up looking pretty good. Josh Riley had a career-high 19 kills, and Jim Baughman had a double-double, with 10 kills, 11 blocks, and a stellar .714 hitting percentage on the night.
Other team leaders were Mike Klipsch with his 48 assists and nine digs, and Dustin Watten with 18 digs. Dean Bittner finished with 15 kills and nine blocks.
The LBSU men will be on the road against UCLA and Irvine, but will be returning to the ‘Myd to face USC on March 4th.