49ers
finish regular season at tournament
By
Kyle Cavaness
Online Forty-Niner
Contributing Writer
The 49ers’ women’s volleyball team went 2-1 at the Baden Thanksgiving
Tournament this weekend, sweeping South Dakota State and Pittsburgh Friday
but falling to the Florida A&M Rattlers in their final regular season match
Saturday night.
Saturday night was also Senior Night at The Walter Pyramid, as the 49ers honored
seniors Erika Chidester, Sara Kroneberger, Heather Laudato, Rosie Lewis and
Taylor Peyton. All of the seniors were recognized for both academic and athletic
achievements, and all will either graduate in the spring or continue on toward
further educational goals.
This game concluded the tournament, hosted at The Walter Pyramid over Friday
and Saturday. The tournament also included UC Santa Barbara.
The loss was a difficult one for the 49ers, who won the first game but lost
the following three to the Rattlers and finished the season at 25-6. Statistically,
Long Beach State was ahead the entire night, making the defeat even more frustrating.
“
When you out-dig [the other team], out-hit them and out-block them, you usually
win,” said Head Coach Brian Gimmillaro after the game Saturday. “We
made [several] incredibly untimely decisions.”
Both Gimmillaro and A&M Coach Tony Trifonov struggled with calls by the
referee and line judges throughout the games. Trifonov got a warning from the
referee for an outburst in the third game.
LBSU earned a .253 hitting percentage to only .191 from Florida A&M. Chidester
led the 49ers with a double-double, earning a match-high 20 kills and 15 digs,
followed closely by Alexis Crimes with 18 kills and six blocks. Dyanne
Lawlor also had a double-double with 60 assists, 11 digs and four blocks. Taylor
Peyton totaled 16 digs for the match and Heather Laudato had 13.
Andreina Ruiz led Florida A&M with 16 kills, trailed by Adriana Kostadinova
with 15. The Rattlers led the 49ers in serve aces, 9-1, but in the end, fate
seemed to overcome LBSU’s numbers Saturday night.
“
When you hit the ball, and the girl protects her face on the other side, and
it bounces [back] over the net onto your side and lands, it might not be your
night,” Gimmillaro said.
Friday was much more successful for the 49ers, with sweeps over South Dakota
State and the University of Pittsburgh. Ali Daley led LBSU with 17 kills over
South Dakota, followed by Crimes with 12. Laudato continued to build her record
as the 49ers’ career leader in digs, with 12 against South Dakota State
and 20 against Pittsburgh. Crimes earned the most kills against Pittsburgh
with 17, followed by Robin Miramontes with 13.
Play will continue for the 49ers in the NCAA Tournament. LBSU was ranked 24
of 25 in the Division I CSTV/AVCA Coaches Poll.
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