The 49ers are in the driver’s seat in the Big West, so it’s only fitting that they hit the road this week, with two very winnable must-wins against UC Riverside, and Northridge.  Last week’s sweep victory over UC Davis, as well as UCSB’s surprise loss, puts the Niners on top of the conference at 9-3, with a three-team logjam behind them at 9-4 (UC Irvine, Davis, and Santa Barbara).  Two wins (tonight against Riverside at 7pm, and Friday against Northridge), and Long Beach will remain in good position.

But with this year’s team, focus and consistency have been an issue—picking up two wins on the road, especially if it’s in convincing fashion, will be a good sign that they’ve turn a corner and are ready for the postseason.

For more info on this week’s games, check out the school’s official release, below:

Out And About 
On tap this week for the 49ers are the final two road contests scheduled for the regular season. First, Long Beach State travels to UC Riverside for the first of two games with the Highlanders this season at 7 p.m. on Thursday, November 12. Then, the 49ers will go to Northridge to face the Matadors in the final road game of the regular season. That match is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. on Friday, November 13 in the Matadome. Both matches can be followed via live audio at www.longbeachstate.com.

Push To The Top 
A return to the Walter Pyramid was the setting for two crucial wins for the 49ers last week, as Long Beach State defeated Pacific and UC Davis in the second meeting for both teams. The 49ers started with a 25-14, 21-25, 25-15, 25-22 victory over the Tigers. Naomi Washington led the 49ers with 21 kills on .395 hitting. The following night, The Beach turned to a different star as Caitlin Ledoux had 15 kills on .500 hitting with a double-double and two solo blocks in a 25-20, 25-22, 25-22 victory.

Project: Projections 
Two key wins for Long Beach State along with action in the Big West put the 49ers back atop the conference standings with two weeks to play in the league season. UC Davis, who had entered the week in first place, lost to both Cal State Fullerton and The Beach to fall to 9-4 and a second-place tie with UC Santa Barbara, who lost to Cal Poly on the road. Both teams are now a half-game behind the 49ers. The Beach has four more games to play, including two against UC Riverside before closing out the conference slate with a home match against UC Irvine. The Anteaters currently stand one full game behind Long Beach State, but with a win over the 49ers earlier this season that contest stands out as a match that could potentially decide the Big West’s automatic bid for the NCAAs between two teams still receiving votes in the Top 25.

A Deeper Look 
With a four-team race for the conference title, a couple of matches stand out in the final two weeks. On Friday, UC Davis hosts UC Santa Barbara in a match that stands-in as a sort of “elimination match” towards the championship with two much work to do for the loser. The Gauchos also play at Pacific, a tough place for road teams to win all season long. UC Irvine also has two matches against Cal State Fullerton, the final team in the mix for the conference championship in fifth place, including a match at Titan Gym where the Titans have already knocked off UC Santa Barbara and No. 6 UCLA this season.

Scouting UC Riverside 
UC Riverside, after losing 15 of its first 17 matches, have come on lately, winning four of the last six, including three conference matches. The run started with a 3-2 win over Cal Poly, and then after a shocking comeback win at Pacific, the Highlanders have beaten CS Northridge and CS Bakersfield. Dominique Cowling leads the Highlanders with 311 kills on the year, but is only hitting .193, and the team as a whole is only hitting .164, last in the Big West.

Long Beach State vs. the Highlanders 
The 49ers lead the all-time series with UC Riverside 29-3, and have won 11 straight dating back to a 2003 loss on the road. Last season, The Beach grabbed two 3-0 wins against the Highlanders, and haven’t dropped a set since that 2003 loss. Senior Quincy Verdin had 14 kills to lead the 49ers in a win on the road last season, and in the most recent meeting, Caitlin Ledoux hit .545 with 14 kills as the 49ers rolled at home last November in a 25-14, 25-18, 25-13 win.

Scouting Cal State Northridge 
Cal State Northridge enters the week tied with the Highlanders in eighth place at 3-9 overall, but has lost five straight matches, including their last three at home against UC Davis, CS Bakersfield, and UC Santa Barbara. Angela Hupp leads the team with 309 kills at 3.00 per set, while Brittany Williams is just behind her at 2.81. Tela Burnett ranks among the league leaders in blocks with 108 on the year.

Long Beach State vs. the Matadors 
Long Beach State leads the all-time series with CSUN 44-17, and won the last meeting in the Walter Pyramid earlier this season by the score of 25-12, 27-25, 28-26. Naomi Washington had 14 kills and Caitlin Ledoux had 11 in the three-set win. In the last meeting in Northridge, the Matadors shocked the ranked 49ers in 2008, winning 19-25, 25-22, 25-23, 18-25, 15-10 behind 19 kills from Brittany Williams.

Watching Washington 
Senior Naomi Washington is making a case for a second All-American selection after receiving an Honorable Mention nod last season. Washington leads the 49ers in kills with 236, averaging 4.07 per set, and is one of three players in the Big West averaging over four kills per set. She also leads the squad with 16 aces, and has 47 blocks on the season as well.

Highlight Package 
All three of Long Beach State’s returning All-Big West players are having another outstanding year, and The Beach has a number of additional players that are potential candidates for postseason honors. Naomi Washington and Caitlin Ledoux are each averaging more than three kills per set, and Ledoux adds solid defense with 211 digs so far on the year. Middle blocker Brittney Herzog leads the team in hitting .307, and Ashley Lee is having a nice season at setter with 75 kills on .249 hitting to go along with 828 assists. Additionally, Jocelyn Neely has strong potential to be an all-freshman team member with 1.59 kills per set.

This and That 
The 49ers improved seven spots in the latest RPI released by the NCAA, jumping up to 24th following the wins over UC Davis and Pacific … Having an RPI that high greatly increases the chances of Long Beach State receiving an at-large bid for a 23rd consecutive postseason appearance, should the 49ers not win the Big West championship and the league’s automatic qualifier … the team’s RPI will likely improve during the final week of the season as well, since The Beach plays four matches in the Thanksgiving classic, including two against Top 100 opponents in Utah and TCU.

From LBSU reports