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spikes the ball over the net to the
opposing UC Riverside Tracey Roman
/ Online Forty-Niner
49ers dominate Titans, pound Highlanders
By Andrew De Lara
Online Forty-Niner
Staff Writer
A blast from the left side capped off a decisive game- three victory over the
UC Riverside Highlanders and a dominating weekend was an ideal present for Long
Beach State outside hitter Quincy Verdin.
The freshman outside hitter celebrated her birthday in the Walter Pyramid Saturday
night as the 49ers rocketed to their fifth consecutive Big West conference victory,
pummeling the Highlanders.
Sophomore middle blocker, Alexis Crimes, who lead the Beach with 15 kills
and four blocks, pushed a 5-0 lead early in game three, pounding several ‘tomahawk’ kills
off Highlander errors.
Verdin was deliberately set later in the game as a crowd-dazzling blast pushed
the score to 28-17. The Highlanders made two attack errors, completing
the victory for the Beach.
A 15-4 run in game one, and a mechanical 30-23 game two victory ensured a convincing
sweep by the 49ers.
The Beach dominated conference foe Cal State Fullerton just one night prior,
sweeping the Titans 30-15, 30-16, 30-17. “It’s nice to see Robin
[Miramontes] get back into the mix,” said Head Coach Brian Gimmillaro,
referring to the versatile junior opposite hitter, who smashed in 11 kills against
the Titans and recorded eight digs versus the Highlanders. “It’s
the first time in her career that she played both positions [opposite and outside
hitter].”
Due to a series of injuries, the 49ers have constantly shuffled their line-up,
but the past weekend displayed that their depth is second to none.
Sophomore setter Dyanne Lawlor started both matches at the helm, but freshman
Nicole Vargas was rotated in during later games.
“
I’ve never done it,” said Gimmillaro, referring to his interchanging
use of two setters. “We have a tall setter in Dyanne who can block
and sets the ball at a higher point, and we have a talented freshman setter
in
Nicole,
who provides defense and can run a more sophisticated offense.”
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