Gimmillaro sets high standards 

The Pyramid is not the house that Misty May built. It is the house that Long Beach State womenís volleyball coach Brian Gimmillaro built. 

Eric Boyum

His 44 consecutive home-game winning streak will be challenged on Wednesday against No. 23 ranked Kansas State.

Gimmillaro said he has established "the most successful program over the past 10 years in womenís volleyball."

The numbers donít detract from his claim. Gimmillaro has compiled a .809 winning percentage in the 487 games he has coached.  Currently, he is approaching coaching immortality with his team riding a 36-game winning streak, currently the fourth longest in history. 

If the 49ers defeat Kansas State, they will move up one more spot on the list by matching the 37 wins set by Florida in 1996. The all-time record of 44 games set by Stanford is not that far out of reach. 

"I like streaks," Gimmillaro said. "I think coaches that donít like them try to find reasons why they are not that good."

The coach of the LBSU womenís volleyball team believes his team is that good. He believes that every year, despite the obstacles, his team should win. 

This belief has produced national championship trophies in 1989, 1993 and 1998, six Final Four appearances, six Big West Conference championships and National Coach of the Year honors in 1998. 

This volleyball powerhouse is among the best in any sport. 

No Division I team has duplicated the feat of repeating as undefeated national championships since the North Carolina womenís soccer team went 97 games without a loss from 1990-94. 

This was done with only 100 schools competing in soccer. 

Gimmillaroís volleyball teams compete with three times that many, as more than 300 colleges field womenís volleyball squads.

So just how long does the coach believe the streak will last? 

"We plan on the streak going on forever," Gimmillaro said, smirking sheepishly.

You have to love this guyís attitude. 

Of course, Gimmillaro knows that the steak will end someday. 

With not having played a game since losing his setter Misty May, middle blocker Benishe Dillard and outside hitter Jessica Alvarado, Gimmillaro said the team will need immediate contributions from all players. 

Add in a knee injury to outside hitter Anja Grabovac that will sideline her for three weeks and the task of continuing the streak is even more difficult. 

"My concerns are that we are playing a Top 25 team without our senior leader and captain," Gimmillaro said.

Just like the magnificent streak of soccer dominance that North Carolina enjoyed for four years, unfortunately, all good things must come to an end. 

Letís just hope it doesnít end this week.