Report by LBSU
Long Beach State put on an offensive clinic in the first of two exhibitions with Canada’s McMaster University, winning 30-24, 30-23, 36-34 Tuesday Night. Dean Bittner led the 49ers with 16 kills on .440 hitting.
Mike Klipsch guided a stellar 49er effort, handing out 51 assists as Long Beach State hit .361 overall on the night, and .443 over the first two sets with the starting lineup in action. Along with Bittner’s 16 kills, both Kyle Friend and Dan Alexander finished in double figures with 11 kills. Alexander also led the team in hitting at .769 (11-1-13).
Long Beach State came out hot, hitting .577 in the first set. The 49ers opened up with an early lead at 6-3 after an Alexander ace. Kyle Friend’s fourth kill of the set following a McMaster service error led to the first Marauder timeout at 16-12. A quick ace by Friend then put 49ers ahead by five at 18-13, and The Beach finished the first set with a 30-24 win on an Alexander kill.
Two consecutive Pestolesi aces helped the 49ers take a 4-1 lead in the second set, and then back-to-back blocks featuring Alexander put Long Beach State ahead by a six-point cushion at 11-5. After taking the lead, Long Beach State would never again relinquish it, eventually winning 30-23.
After Long Beach State switched up the lineup to start the third set, McMaster got on the board first in the third set and opened a 3-0 lead before the 49ers answered with an Alexander kill. The 49ers worked their way back, tying the set for the first time at 9-9 with a solo Jim Baughman block, and continued to push, taking a 12-9 lead before a McMaster timeout. With a 16-13 lead, the 49ers swapped out Klipsch and Bittner, and McMaster rallied, taking a 23-21 lead after a solo block by Tyler Santoni. Down 27-24, Long Beach State rallied to tie the set after a Bittner kill, and took the lead 30-29 on a Friend kill after holding off set point. 34-33 Baughman-Alexander block. Bittner, Alexander block closes out match 36-34.
The Beach takes on the Marauders again on Wednesday night in the third night of action against McMasters. The free event begins at 7 p.m. in the Walter Pyramid.