Beach advances to Sweet 16

SAN JOSE -- Here comes Hawaii.
 
With wins in the opening rounds of the NCAA Tournament this weekend, the women's volleyball team advanced into the Sweet 16 and a trip to Honolulu for its second match of the year against No. 3-ranked Hawai'i (29-1), which is hosting the West Regionals. Also competing are No. 14-ranked UC Santa Barbara and the University of Minnesota, which is ranked ninth. The winners of both contests will face off Friday.

The 49ers earned the right to advance by the slimmest margin possible. Teetering on the brink of elimination in the second round, the 49ers rallied from a two-game deficit Friday to defeat No. 17-ranked Santa Clara University, 9-15, 15-17, 15-9, 15-10 and 19-17 at the Event Center at San Jose State University.

After disposing of San Jose State (22-10) in the first round f the Tournament Thursday with scores of 17-15, 13-15, 15-11 and 15-4, The Beach (24-7) advanced for a match against Santa Clara (27-5), which knocked off Sacramento State (21-12) in Thursday's other contest.

Led by seniors Ynez Carrasco, Amy Kohl and Roz Pelayo, the Broncos played hungrier in the early going and jumped out to a two-game lead that put the 49ers' postseason hopes of reaching the Final Four in jeopardy.

Game 2 was a close win for Santa Clara. With the score deadlocked at15-15, Kohl served up an ace and then Carrasco, who finished the match with a career-best 36 kills and 17 digs, blocked a bid from Elisha Thomas that sealed the Bronco win.
"After the second game I got everybody's attention in the locker room," 49er Head Coach Brian Gimmillaro said. "I wasn't happy, I didn't believe we were carrying out the game plan that we set up. I wanted to make sure everyone knew this match wasn't over."
 
In Game 3, the 49ers built a 5-1 lead before the Broncos, spearheaded by offensive-powerhouse Carrasco, closed the gap to avoid falling too far behind.

Tied at 9-9, senior Mariah Marquis served an ace that began a 49er run of six consecutive points that concluded with a Brittany Hochevar-Thomas block and the game-deficit was cut in half.

"We all just looked deep inside ourselves and found a way to do it," said Hochevar, who posted 16 kills and 15 digs in the match. "I remember looking at [Melissa] Ohta and it was like, 'you block it, I'll dig it and game's over,' and that's kind of the attitude we took."

The 49ers ensured a decisive Game 5 with a 15-10 win in the fourth frame.
Hochevar tallied two points in a row to begin the game and the 49ers held onto the lead throughout the frame but Santa Clara, again riding the play of Carrasco, continued to battle as The Beach turned up the pressure.

"They started passing really well and it was hard to control Tayyiba [Haneef] and Cheryl Weaver," said Bronco setter Pelayo, who finished with 85 assists and 11 digs. "They were getting the kills when they needed to."

Haneef and Weaver paced the 49ers as Long Beach worked steadily to game point, but the Broncos did not give in so easily. It was only after five unsuccessful attempts that The Beach closed the game, 15-10, when Kohl's return of an Ohta serve sailed out of play.

The match-deciding Game 5 was scored by the rally method, in which it is not necessary to be serving to gain points. Because of this, the final frame was a tense battle with no room for mistakes. From the opening serve, it was a tightly played contest and the score was tied nine times.

With the score at 11-11, Carrasco slammed a marker down the line and, on the next serve, Haneef hit the net for a 13-11 Bronco lead. After a timeout the 49ers pulled within one when Carrasco was called on the net, but she made up for it on the next play. The 49ers got out of trouble with Santa Clara at match point on markers from Weaver and Hochevar.

The Beach got pivotal points from Thomas and Marquis as the score reached 17-17, and then Haneef notched a kill that gave Long Beach match point and serve. Seconds later, Kohl's return off a Tracy Bulquerin serve went long and wide, giving the 49ers the match win.

"All I thought was get it in and give us the chance," Bulquerin said. "We finally understood what they were doing and found a strategy against it."

Haneef led the 49ers with a career-best 36 kills.

"I almost feinted," she said of the achievement. "I didn't know until they told me in the locker room."

Weaver posted 27 kills and Hochevar had 16 kills and 15 digs. Setter Keri Nishimoto had 92 assists and 23 digs.

Marten Lewerth/Daily Forty-Niner

Tayyiba Haneef (right) and Kelsey Young celebrate the 49er victory over Santa Clara.

Mariah Marquis  (above) shares a moment with Sarah Connor and Cheryl Weaver (far left)  after a group hug (below) celebrating the 49er win over Santa Clara that took five games and three hours to complete.