Report by LBSU

The third-annual Black and Gold Gala to honor the 2010 Long Beach State men’s volleyball team will be held Saturday, May 22, at the Law Offices of Keesal, Young and Logan.

The Gala starts at 6 p.m. with a cocktail reception, while the dinner, ceremony and silent auction start at 7 p.m.  Tickets are $100 per person and player sponsorships are available for $50 per player.  Attendees can RSVP online at longbeachstate.com/rsvp.

In addition to honoring the 2010 team, the 2010 Wall of Honor inductees, Tom Thornton and Tom Ashen, will be recognized.  Thornton and Ashen will become the 21st and 22nd members of the Wall of Honor joining Mike Brawley, Rocky Ciarelli, Brent Hilliard, Tom Hoff, Mark Kerins, Alan Knipe, Dodge Parker, Chris Seiffert, Jason Stimpfig, Brett Winslow, Mike Barton, Mike D’ Alessandro, Tim Hill, Matt Lyles, Jim Polster, Ray Ratelle, Darell Auzier, David Lee, Miles Pabst, and Scott Touzinsky.  

Ashen played for the 49ers from 1971-73 and was an integral part of the 1973 league championship team that lost in the NCAA finals.  He later joined Pabst and Parker on a team that won the 1973 USVBA National Championship and was named second-team All-America.  Ashen represented Long Beach State at the World University Games in Moscow, Russia.  He was a member of the National Team from 1973-76, while also playing professionally in Italy.  

Thornton was a three-year letterman and played on the 1978 regional finals team.  He also lettered in 1974 and 1976 and earned honorable mention all-conference honors in 1978.  Thornton later coached Ocean View High School’s boy’s and girl’s varsity teams in Huntington Beach for five years.