Freshman
leading the way for 49ers
By Gina Ponce
On-line Forty-Niner
 A
freshman getting as much playing time as
Tyler Hildebrand gets on the Long Beach
State men’s volleyball team in any sport
is rare.
Hildebrand is only the third freshman setter
to start at LBSU. Head coach Alan Knipe
said the other two starters were two of
the best players ever at CSULB.
 “Time
will tell, but he’s put in a pretty elite
category for now,” Knipe said.
Hildebrand came to Long Beach from Mesa,
Arizona where he played volleyball for two
years in high school. Hildebrand said volleyball
was just something he wanted to try out
because it looked it fun. In addition to
volleyball, he was involved in basketball,
football, baseball and golf.
Hildebrand said he came to LBSU 100 percent
to play volleyball. Right now he has an
undeclared major, but is thinking about
going into psychology. You can do a lot
of things with psychology and the classes
are interesting, Hildebrand said.
When not playing volleyball, Hildebrand
said he enjoys hanging out with friends
and having fun in California.
Currently, Hildebrand is leading the country
in assists per game.
“I think I try to play hard every time I
play. It’s a challenge to be good every
day,” Hildebrand said.
This first season has been a surprise the
freshman setter said. When he came to college
he expected to be up against several setters
for one spot, but there were only three
and two ended up quitting. Hildebrand did
not know if he would really be starting.
“[Tyler’s] really competitive and a really
gifted all-around athlete,” Knipe said.
“He has a great set of setter’s hands, and
the ball comes out really nicely off them.
He has the ability to set the ball fast
enough and accurately enough to run an offense,
which most freshmen don’t have.”
Knipe said the setter of a volleyball team
is like the quarterback of a football team
or the point guard of a basketball team.
When he comes into practice he is looking
to get better and for his teammates to get
better, he said.
“[Tyler] truly enjoys playing the game.
He raises the level of the team just by
how hard he goes every day, his leadership
and the pride he has for his game,” Knipe
said.
Hildebrand is a pretty complete player for
where he is in his development Knipe added.
Hildebrand feels blocking, defense and serving
are his biggest weaknesses. Those three
areas need to get much better for the team
to be as successful it would like to be,
Hildebrand said.
“Tyler is definitely going to be one of
those guys who isn’t content with the team.
He sets a high standard for himself and
that will bring the whole level of the team
up just by example,” Knipe said.
“I hope to bring a little bit more leadership,
a sense of control, be real consistent and
take some pressure off the other guys’ backs
who are leaders,” Hildebrand said.
Hildebrand said the best thing about being
on the team is being on a team. There is
a sense of being a part of a family, he
said.
“I have the opportunity to do something
every day most people don’t get to do.
It’s hard to go to the gym every day, but
then you realize how lucky you are to be
a part of a team sport,” Hildebrand said.
“We’re really happy with Tyler,” Knipe said.
“I think he just wants to win anything and
everything he can compete at.”
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