49ers dominate weekend invitational

By Lyndsey Shinoda
Daily Forty-Niner
 
The Long Beach State women's volleyball team defended its home turf this weekend, sweeping the New Mexico State Aggies and the Nevada Wolf Pack in the LBSU Invitational at The Pyramid.

In Saturday's game against Nevada (2-7), 2,025 fans watched as the 49ers (8-1) won 15-7, 15-12 and 15-4. Despite the win, players and Head Coach Brian Gimmillaro were displeased with the team's performance.

"We're not playing hard enough for what I want," Gimmillaro said. "The effort was not there."

Middle blocker Tayyiba Haneef led the 49ers' offensive attack with 14 kills and a .458 hitting percentage.

"All around we just didn't play well," Haneef said. "We pretty much got out-hustled and it didn't feel good. We didn't perform to our expectations. We are a championship team and that wasn't championship level."

Captain Cheryl Weaver echoed Haneef's sentiments.

"We didn't play as well as we could've," Weaver said. "We made too many mistakes. We won but we weren't really happy with the way we performed."

In Friday night's game, The 49ers easily disposed of the New Mexico State Aggies (3-7), 15-0, 15-3 and 15-9. Cheryl Weaver led all players with 10 kills.

Ashanti Taylor was back on the floor this weekend and contributed seven kills against Nevada and three past New Mexico.

Although Haneef and Taylor were back in action, outside hitter Chantae Weathers was sidelined with a dislocated thumb and did not play. Outside hitter Sarah Connor also dislocated her thumb in Thursday's practice, but played in both matches.

"In 24 years, and watching 100,000 games, I've never seen a dislocated thumb," Gimmillaro said. "We had two dislocated thumbs in two days. Sarah's a pretty gutsy kid."

Connor, who played with her thumb taped, said she felt fine.

"I'm just icing and heating it, hoping that it holds up on me," Connor said.

LBSU setter Brittany Hochevar said the team was glad to have Haneef back in the lineup.

"She (Haneef) contributes so much personality that brings this team together," Hochevar said. "She's playing phenomenally."

Hochevar played a solid match Friday, with one kill, 26 assists, three serving aces and five digs.

"Weaver worked hard, and Elisha (Thomas) worked hard," Hochevar said. "It makes my job easier."

The 49ers hit the road this week as Big West Conference matches begin. The Beach face UCSB at 7 p.m. Friday and Cal Poly at 7 p.m. Saturday.