The Beach rolls on as Big West play begins

By Michelle Fithian, On-Line Forty-Niner

Monday, September 28, 1998

Opening the Big West Conference, the Long Beach State women's volleyball team racked up two victories this weekend.

The 49ers defeated University of the Pacific on Saturday night after shutting down Utah State on Thursday.

The 49ers played exceptionally despite the absence of senior outside hitter Jessica Alvarado due to a stress fracture in her left leg and the serious knee problems senior setter Misty May has been playing with.

The Beach fought hard and wore down the No. 10 ranked Tigers in front of 3,323 in four games (15-12, 10-15, 15-6, 15-5) Saturday night in Stockton. Leading the team was junior middle blocker Brandy Barratt pounding 13 kills and five digs while hitting .440. Junior outside hitter Veronica Walls continues to play impressively hitting .389 and racking up 10 kills.

Junior outside hitter Anja Grabovac tallied 13 kills while fellow outside hitter Kristy Kierulff had a career high of 11 kills, and senior middle blocker Benishe Dillard had 10 kills. May ended the match with eight kills, 10 digs and 48 assists.

The Beach defeated Utah State Thursday night in Logan, Utah in three straight games (15-4, 17-15, 15-9). Five 49ers tallied "double-double's" in the match led by Grabovac who nailed 14 kills and 11 digs. Dillard, AVCA National Player of the Week this week, had 12 kills and 15 digs. Barratt tallied a career high of 13 digs and racked up 12 kills.

May had a season high of 15 digs and assisted her teammates 48 times.

The 49ers dominated the first game, winning 15-4 with a hitting score of .364 while the Aggies managed just seven kills in the game.

The 49ers have won 20 consecutive Big West Conference regular season games, dating back to the 1996 season, and have won the last 17 meetings with Utah State.

The Beach continues its trip on the road looking to remain undefeated facing UC Santa Barbara on Friday, Oct. 2 and meeting Cal Poly San Luis Obispo on Saturday.