CSULB spikers beat two conference foes

The Cal State Long Beach women's vol leyball team returned to The Gold Mine for the first time in three weeks and swept past two Big West Conference teams.

The 49ers (8-2, 4-0) defeated New Mexico State 15-10, 15-2, 15-1, in front of 1,012 spectators Friday night. The Roadrunners fell to 2-9 for the season, 1-2 in the conference.

The 49ers opened the first game with a commanding 13-3 lead. The Roadrunners cut into the huge lead, however, scoring the next seven points. Nichelle Burton, CSULB's senior outside hitter, ended the gam e with two of her 10 kills on the night.

CSULB used four setters in breezing past NMSU in the second game. The 49ers led 6-2 when freshman outside hitter Kristen Harris served nine consecutive points to end the game.

The main story in the third game was freshman Stephanie Streeks' first appearance for the 49ers. Streeks, who redshirted last season, earned her first two kills late in the game.

"It felt good," Streeks said of playing in the third game. "There was (a lot of) team support. It felt good to finally be in a game situation."

Traci Dahl, CSULB's senior middle blocker, led everyone with 14 kills and a .565 hitting percentage.

The Roadrunners committed 28 errors while spiking another 28 kills.

Saturday night, 49ers coa ch Brian Gimmillaro gained his 251st victory at CSULB. Gimmillaro now leads all 49er women's volleyball coaches in victories. The previous record was held by Dixie Grimmett. The 49ers had an easy time with Nevada, 15-5, 15-5, 15-4.

The Wolf Pack (5 -8, 1-3) played a close first game, trailing 9-5 when two kills by Burton, one by Dahl and an ace by sophomore setter Heather Hofmans paced a six-point run by the Niners.

In the other two games, the 49ers had leads of 13-2 and 13-3 enroute to their sixth straight win over Nevada.

Dahl (17 kills) and Burton (16 kills) paced the 49ers against Nevada. Junior outside hitter Brita Schwerm added another 11 kills.

"It's easy to double team an outside hitter," Gimmillaro said. "So they double team Nichelle, and our job is to score when they do that."