Photo by Dexter Bercero

Team USA wins at The Pyramid

Jenn Snyder’s ice cream will taste extra sweet this week for the 16-0 Cal State Long Beach women's volleyball team. By achieving the goal of scoring double digits Tuesday against the U.S. Olympic team, the 49er players will have the flavor of their choice.

“We get ice cream if we get double digits tonight,” Snyder said after the 7-15, 3- 15, 10-15 loss to Team USA. “Woohoo! I want Chocolate Brownie, and I'm the one who made the deal with Brian.”

It sounds like coach Brian Gimmillaro will be buying.

The 49ers had several double digits to their credit, including scoring more points than the University of Pacific or Stanford on Team USA's post-Olympic tour.

Stanford scored only 14 total points and UOP had only eight points. The 49ers had seven in the first game, three in the second and a whopping 10 in the final match. That 10 may be just any of 31 flavors this week.

Snyder, who wears jersey number 10, had 10 kills against Team USA. She may be asking for an extra scoop of Chocolate Brownie for the extra number ten.

CSULB graduate Tara Cross-Battle, who went to Atlanta with Team USA, had a high amount of praise for her former school.

“Brian’s team is doing great things, they’re going to do really good (this year),” Olympic outside hitter Cross-Battle said while signing balls and posters. “Their offense is quick, and they are a better all-around team all (than either Stanford or UOP).”

To a standing ovation of 3,088 fans, Cross-Battle was honored with a plaque which has pictures of her playing on each team. She still holds 15 CSULB records, including career digs of 1,578. Her 2,767 kills equal an NCAA record. She was selected for the AVCA All-America team in each of her four years at CSULB (1986-89).

After the post-Olympic tour Cross-Battle returns to play professionally for team Leche Mossa in Sorocaba, Brazil.

“It was simply an ‘up’ to play the legends,” Snyder said.

Linda Snyder, mother of the junior transfer from Glendale, Ariz., was also happy watching her daughter for the first time at her new school, playing the greats of American women’s volleyball.

“When she transferred over here it was the first time I missed a game,” #10’s mother said. Snyder accomplished 8 digs in addition to the ice cream-winning 10 kills.

After the match, Cross-Battle joined the 49ers for a single game of rally scoring, which was also won by the Olympians, 15-9.

“I think we came out a little nervous. It was just great (to play the Olympic team),” team captain Misty May said after the game.

May had 5 kills, 33 assists and 8 digs on Tuesday night, attracting attention from someone who knows talent.

“I think she has a lot of potential. She is real smart on the court,” head Olympic coach Terry Liskevych said of the 49er captain.

For the second time this year May was named Big West Conference player of the week. That represents the third time in the first five weeks of conference play that a CSULB player has received that award.

Middle blocker Nique Crump was named Big West player of the week on Sept. 23. She earned her second triple double of the season in the hard-fought battle Saturday at UOP. May tallied an impressive 59 assists, 15 digs and 14 kills against the Tigers. Her total for the week was a staggering 90 assists, 20 kills and 21 digs. May was also picked player of the week for Sept. 16.

The 49ers are still unbeaten in conference matches after beating UOP in five games at home. This year’s Beach squad has beaten the 1991 team's school record of the most consecutive wins at the start of a season. Demonstrating the 49ers’ depth against UOP, five players had double kill figures. Snyder and Jessica Alvarado led the way with 18 each. Michelle Jones had 16, and May and Crump totaled 14 and 11, respectively.

Tonight the Beach takes on 17th-ranked UC Santa Barbara. The Gauchos have taken three of the past four matches against the 49ers.