Women’s
volleyball overpower
opposition
By
Andrew De Lara
Online Forty-Niner
Staff Writer
The Long Beach State women’s volleyball team brought a new meaning to
the term tomahawk Sept. 23-24 as they axed the UC Davis Aggies and the St.
Mary Gaels.
The three games played against UC Davis showed Beach power with a 3-0 sweep,
30-15, 30-26, and 30-13.
Nicole Vargas had her fifth double-double on the season with 11 digs and 38
assists.
“
We’re slowly getting better, and I’m trying to put Nicole [Vargas]
in tough situations to get her ready,” said Head Coach Brian Gimmillaro,
referring to his freshman setter.
A dominating game three performance in The Walter Pyramid Sept. 23 saw the
Beach capitalize on a wave of free-ball errors by UC Davis, leading to multiple
crowd-dazzling tomahawk kills.
LBSU junior outside hitter Rosie Lewis ignited the win for the 49ers with a
team-high 14 kills and five blocks, while senior middle blocker Erika Chidester
complemented with 13 kills and six blocks during her first full home game back
from injury.
The Beach came out of the gates on fire with four kills from Lewis and a 9.5-0
49er blocking advantage in the first set, but game two saw a minor slump by
the Beach, as the Aggies (2-12) took an early 8-4 lead.
“
We’re just not experienced or disciplined enough to be completely consistent,” Gimmillaro
said, referring to his newly assembled line-up and the small let-down.
And although a tool off the block on the left side by Lewis picked up the pace
at 11-10, the Aggies brought the score to 27-26 with an attack error by
sophomore middle blocker Alexis Crimes (11 kills, eight blocks).
A block by freshman outside hitter Ali Daley started a run capped off by a
solo block by Crimes to end the second set.
The third game of the match led to total domination by the 49ers as a 5-0 run
sparked by a swing from junior opposite Robin Miramontes sealed the deal with
a kill by Chidester.
The Beach ended the match with a stunning 20.5-4 block advantage on the Aggies.
The Sept. 24 game against St. Mary’s, for the first time in 11 years,
was played in the Goldmine Gym.
LBSU, now 10-3, defeated the No. 21-ranked Gaels 3-1, now with a record of
9-3.
The 49ers were at the top of their game with Ali Daley having a career-high
24 kills and Rosie Lewis having seven digs and 16 kills. Overall, LBSU’s
.343 attack percentage overpowered the Gaels defense.
The Gaels took an early lead in the first game, but the 49ers fought back with
a kill by Lewis to win 30-26.
After an error by LBSU in the second game, St. Mary’s took advantage
and kept a strong lead until Chidester clinched the game with a kill to win
30-27.
Once again St. Mary’s was leading the third game, 20-15, but a rally
by the 49ers put the game at a 24-24 tie. The Gaels scored the last few points
to win the game 30-27.
The 49ers were forced to take a timeout in the fourth game when they fell behind
23-18. LBSU powered up during the quick break and the offense ignited a run
to make the score 26-25.
Alexis Crimes and Daley teamed up with a pair of kills to squeeze ahead by
one point to win 29-28.
Alexis Crimes, middle blocker, is a 2005 candidate for All-American with 3.67
kills and 1.44 blocks per game.
She was already awarded All-Tournament Team at the UNLV Classic and All-Tournament
Team in the San Diego Invitational. This season she had a career- high 13 blocks
against Sacramento State. Crimes was also an academic All-Star in 2004-2005.
The women will head to UC Santa Barbara to begin conference play Sept. 30 at
7 p.m.
Kim Oswell contributed to this article.
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