Women's volleyball bounced from NCAA Tourney

Volleyball • Freshman Alexis Crimes goes up for the kill during the 3-0 loss to UCLA in the NCAA Tournament Saturday. Claire Howie/Online Forty-Niner

 

By Moria Khou
Online Forty-Niner
Staff Writer

The Beach looked and played like the championship teams of old, as they handed Utah (24-7) an early first round exit from the NCAA Division I Women's Volleyball Championship in straight games, 30-19, 30-25, 33-31 at Pauley Pavilion, Friday.

Long Beach State (24-7) however reverted to show its true identity against UCLA (20-10), who exposed the inexperienced group that had not built the kind of chemistry needed to advance in the tournament. The 49ers' season came to an end by the same fate they ended Utah, a loss in three games, 31-29, 30-24, 30-27, Saturday.

"Not taking anything away from UCLA, we just didn't play well," Head Coach Brian Gimmillaro said. "There were pivotal plays in each of the games where we made mistakes and errors when the game was at balance and the players weren't discipline enough."

Led by sophomore Robin Miramontes' six kills, The Beach totaled a .400-attack percentage in game one against the Utes. Utah's senior Tracy Neumeier committed a ball handling error that gave the 49ers an 11-point win in the first frame.

Senior outside hitter Liana Bortoto's kill put the Utes on the scoreboard first in game two. Junior Shelly Sommerfeldt also contributed to Utah's attack with seven kills to put the Utes atop, 19-17. Bortoto then committed three consecutive attack errors, as Utah combined for 10 errors in the frame that relinquished the lead. Mariko Crum and Dyanne Lawlor combined for a block against 6-foot-7 freshman Emillie Toone to give The Beach the second game.

Utah jumped onto an early 6-1 advantage in the deciding game. The Utes managed to hold onto the lead and had four game-point opportunities at 29-26. Long Beach State kept its composure and chopped away at the lead. A kill by redshirt freshman Makini Thompson tied the score at 29 all. Mirmontes' soft lob over the net sealed the victory, as the Utes were not able to return the ball.

"There was no sense to panic in the third game," Gimmillaro said. "We made some really big plays at the end that brought us back. I tell my team to save the panic for the airplane."

Lone senior and setter, Jillian Mazzarella's 43 assists were more than the 39 combined for the Utes. Junior Heather Laudato also totaled 11 digs.

Joy quickly dampened into grief and all hopes were thrown aside as UCLA dispelled any notions the 49ers had of advancing to the regionals in Seattle.

Juniors Sara Kroneberger and Taylor Peyton were the only two players in Long Beach State's lineup to have advance past the second round and the rawness of the team showed.

"We came out jumpy and couldn't get our emotions under control," Mazzarella said.

Opposite side hitter, Miramontes opened the game with a kill followed by two attack errors by UCLA to put the 49ers ahead, 3-0. The Bruins clawed its way back into game one with defense and eventually took a 27-23 lead. Long Beach State tied the score at 29 on an attack error by sophomore Becky Green. Inexperience and lack of discipline overcame The Beach as they committed an error that gave UCLA a 31-29 victory.

"To win game one would have been a lot of extra motivation," Laudato said. "It just didn't happen [Saturday]."

Green opened game two with a service ace for UCLA. Miramontes replicated the outside hitter's ace and had one of her own to even the score at 11-11. Redshirt freshman, Lawlor tied the game once more at 13 with a service ace also, but that was the last time Long Beach State tied. Senior Brynn Murphy's eight kills in the second game put the Bruins up 2-0.

The 49ers came out strong in game three, looking to extend the match by utilizing Crimes in scheme. Eventually, Thompson's kill gave The Beach an 8-4 advantage. Once more, the Bruins rallied back and sophomore Nana Meriwether's kill shot evened the game at 22. UCLA never looked back as freshman Rachel Johnson spiked the ball down the center of the court for the match to advance UCLA into the round of 16.