CSULB spikers tame Tigers in five games

When the game is on the line, Nichelle Burton of the Cal State Long Beach women's volleyball team says she wants the ball.

Such was the case Friday night at The Gold Mine when Burton came through with a match-winning kill, lifting the 10th ranked 49ers to a 5-15, 15-2, 12-15, 15-2, 15-13, victory over 5th ranked University of Pacific.

The 49ers (13-3, 8-1) were led by Burton, the All-American senior outside hitter, and junior outside hitter Brita Schwerm, who led CSULB with a career high 27 kills. Burton had 24 kills and 23 digs.

"I just thought Brita and Nichelle were brilliant tonight," 49er coach Brian Gimmillaro said. "Brita was magnificent, I've never seen her play better."

Going into the fifth game, the 49ers had all the momentum after dominating the fourth game. But the team has had bad luck in fifth games in recent years.

Since 1991, the 49ers had lost four of their last five matches that reached the pivotal fifth game, the most recent being a loss to 8th ranked UC Santa Barbara.

Gimmillaro suggested that most powerful teams tense up in the final game because they're so used to blowing other teams away. "When you're a dominant team, the emotions are against you in the fifth game," Gimmillaro said.

But the 49ers didn't seem to tense up in this fifth game. With the game tied at 8-8, they went on a 5-1 run to take control of the match.

When the 49ers reached game and match point, it was just a matter of time before Burton put the game away.

After two failed attempts by Burton, Pacific climbed back to within one, 14-13, and poised for a comeback. But the third time was a charm as Burton put one away from the corner to give the 49ers the win.

"This was the biggest win of the season to date," Gimmillaro said. "We made the plays,"

For her efforts, Burton was named Big West Conference Player of the Week.

On Saturday, the host 49ers defeated San Jose State, 15-10, 3-15, 15-7, 15-7. SJSU came into the game with a 6-2 record in the Big West and just behind the four-way tie for first place.

The Spartans had a strong threat in 6-1 outside hitter Paola Paz-Soldan. Soldan has been among the conference leaders in kills per game for most of the season.

The 49ers jumped on the Spartans early, taking an 11-0 lead in the first game. The Spartans eventually settled down and were able to outscore the 49ers 9-1 to pull to 12-9.

The 49ers would get their 13th point with a block of a PazSoldan kill attempt from Schwerm and sophomore outside hitter Michelle Jones and the 14th on a service ace by Jones. The game ended when the Spartans were called for crossing under the net. Game two saw the 49ers lose composure and fall behind 8-0. The 49ers eventually lost 15-3, getting their points from freshman Kristin Harris' two aces and a Schwerm kill.

The 49ers took control of game three and took all the momentum back from the Spartans. The offense of senior middle blocker Traci Dahl, Burton and Schwerm, combined with good defense, led the 49ers to consecutive 15-7 games and the match.

"I feel that we rose to the occasion, and we're starting to play a lot better as a team," Burton said of the 49ers' weekend victories.