Phillips’
return boosts 49ers title hopes
By Karl Peterson
On-line Forty-Niner
The
Long Beach State women’s volleyball team
received a big boost on Tuesday when the
NCAA Division I Committee of Satisfactory
Progress declared senior outside hitter
Lindsay Phillips eligible for the rest of
the season, including this weekend’s games
against the University of the Pacific and
Cal State Northridge.
“It will take some adjustment time to play
herself into shape, but we will be a better
team with her,” 49ers head coach Brian Gimmillaro
said.
Phillips who has missed almost half of her
final season at The Beach because of academic
ineligibility had to prepare a petition
to the NCAA in order to be reinstated on
Tuesday.
Gimmillaro expects Phillips to start in
both games this weekend at The Pyramid.
Phillip’s return comes just in time for
a match with one of the 49er’s rivals, Pacific
(9-5, 4-1) at 7:30 p.m. Friday.
The Tigers are the only Big West team to
have a winning record throughout recent
years against The Beach, 23-20, including
four straight wins in 1999 and 2000.
“It will be a very, very good match with
two good teams playing each other,” Gimmillaro
said.
This will be an important game for LBSU
because both teams have only one loss in
Big West play and hope to stay within striking
distance of undefeated UC Santa Barbara
for the Big West Championship.
Pacific will be led by junior Jennifer Joines
who blocked, digged and spiked her way to
AVCA/Sport Imports National Player of the
Week honors this week.
The Beach will then host CSUN (7-6, 2-3)
at 7:30 p.m. Saturday.
LBSU women’s volleyball has the eighth best
attendance in the nation this year and Saturday
the crowd should be no different when the
Matadors come to The Pyramid.
CSUN should be competitive with the 49ers,
as the Matadors are talented and have beaten
some quality teams this season.
“Sometimes they (CSUN) play very well and
sometimes they lose matches that they shouldn’t,”
Gimmillaro said. “That will be a good match
too.”
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