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	Vol.7, No 21, October 5, 1999
	LBSU returns to first  By Elyse Medlin Daily Forty-Niner Long Beach State fans had the right idea when they donned gold-colored headbands branded with a big letter "K" during volleyball matches this past weekend.   WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL The LBSU womenís volleyball team "killed" its competitors in two home matches. Thursdayís win over UC Santa Barbara and Saturdayís victory against Cal Poly San Luis Obispo propelled the 49ers into a first-place tie in the Big West Conference. "I haven't pushed the team like this in many years," LBSU Head Coach Brian Gimmillaro said. "I rode them." Rode them right over school records, that is. Setter Keri Nishimoto shattered Misty May's single-match assist record against UCSB with 95 assists, despite recovering from a re-sprained ankle. She also recorded a career-high 19 digs and two aces for the match. Nishimoto's performance was "pretty courageous," Gimmillaro said. The 49ers broke team records with 108 kills and 104 assists. The previous record was 107 and 94, respectively. Coincidentally, the old records were set in a UCSB match last year. Saturday night's sweep over unranked Cal Poly (15-8, 15-11, 15-11) was not a record-breaking match. However, the win extended the 49ersí current home-win streak to 52 games. The Mustangs came back from an early Game 1 deficit of 5-1 to tie the score 5-5. LBSU outside hitter Veronica Walls and middle blocker Cheryl Weaver helped the team to a 10-5 score. Four LBSU aces and 21 kills ensured the win. The 49ers led Game 2 (7-3) before the Mustangs took charge and scored seven consecutive points. Senior 49er Anja Grabovac had three kills in a row, which led to a 15-11 win. During a tight Game 3, senior Kristy Kierulff brought 2,400 fans at The Pyramid to their feet when she made an incredible run to save a ball heading for the bleachers.  "Kristy did some exciting things and brought the crowd into the game," assistant coach Debbie Green-Vargas said. Thursday night's victory over UCSB was one of the closest volleyball matches in The Pyramid this season. Two of the four games had final scores of 17 (17-15, 15-11, 15-17, 15-13).  UCSB senior Roberta Ghelke recorded an all-time opponent-high 38 kills and 22 digs for the match. "They set up their line-up so that they could get the ball to Ghelke," Gimmillaro said.  This was true in Game 1. The 49ers traded points evenly, until the Gauchos pulled away for a 10-6 lead. LBSU fought back to tie the game at 14. LBSU senior Veronica Walls received a rousing ovation after an awesome kill. Nishimoto evoked the same response from the crowd after she dumped a point to bring the score to 16-15. UCSB hit long for game point, giving the game to the 49ers.  In Game 2, the 49ers led by as many as nine points (11-2). LBSU had a difficult time closing the game, with three kills by Ghelke to impede its way. Grabovac's blocked shot turned out to be the 49ersí game-winning point. Gimmillaro said his team lost its focus in Game 3, which it lost (15-17). "As long as we stayed focused in the game, we were very good," Gimmillaro said. "When we were about to win, we just wanted to win so badly that we thought about winning instead about playing." Strong defense by the 49ers and great passing were the keys to a Game 4 victory. LBSU made an early run to grab an 8-3 lead.  The Gauchos returned with five unanswered points, tying the score at 8-8. Weaver helped widen the gap with seven kills. UCSB came back with four serving aces in a row to bring them two points shy of the game. However, the 49ers pulled through thanks to a kill by Brandi Barratt.  Weaver was named MVP for both matches, recording a career-high 24 kills in the UCSB match with a .444 hitting percent. UCSB responded by defeating No.1-ranked Pacific on Saturday night, which has created a three-way tie for first place in the conference. Tonight, the 49ers travel to Cal State Fullerton for a 7 p.m. game.		Cristian Vera Aleman/ Daily Forty-Niner 49er Keri Nishimoto dives for a shot Thursday at the Pyramid.                                                                                                                                                                                                   LBSU returns to first Picnic celebrates 50 years of CSULB history Education funding first, report says Crime Log Three women killed on Long Beach freeway Toy story Raise CSULB standard Gun makers not responsible for crime 'I want Snoop on campus' Reznor returns to familiar territory with new album UCSB snaps losing streak 49ers split again Fall 99 ISSUES DAILY 49ER HOMEPAGE
Forty-Niner Publications, Department of Journalism, California State University, Long Beach ©1999 All rights reserved.