Injuries do not slow down The Beach

By Michelle Fithian, On-Line Forty-Niner

Monday, October 19, 1998

The Long Beach State women's volleyball team remains undefeated this season after shutting down the University of Idaho Thursday night and defeating Boise State on Saturday.

The 49ers pushed their record to 18-0 this season and 8-0 in the Big West. The Beach continues to play at the top of its game ranking No. 1 in both the AVCA/USA Today and Volleyball Magazine polls for the second week in a row.

Health is the 49ers greatest concern this season. Junior outside hitter Mariah Marquis became the newest member of the 49er disabled list after falling down after a block Thursday night.

Early Saturday, The Beach learned that Marquis, a two-time All-State selection at Golden West College in Huntington Beach, had torn her anterior cruciate ligament and she would miss the rest of the season. Monday the 49ers will find out if Marquis will need reconstructive surgery.

"It doesn't look good," said 49er head coach Brian Gimmillaro.

The Beach has suffered a great deal this season due to injuries in the starting lineup. Senior outside hitter Jessica Alvarado suffered a stress fracture in her left leg earlier this season that has left her out of practice and in reserve as a starter.

Junior outside hitter Veronica Walls is still suffering from an injury to her shoulder despite playing in all three games against Boise on Saturday.

Both May and junior outside hitter Anja Grabovac are suffering from serious knee problems and May has been wearing a back brace to boot.

Despite the series of health problems the 49ers are facing, once on the court they did not disappoint. The Beach held its ground after the loss of Marquis early in the second game and downed Idaho in three straight games defeating them 15-6, 15-0, 15-1.

The 49ers were led by May who hit .643 while assisting 26 times and racking up nine kills, two digs and two block assists. May racked up four service aces as Idaho was no match for her powerful jump serve.

Many of May's sets were directed to her four-year partner, senior middle blocker Benishe Dillard, who hit .538 for the match while racking up a whopping 15 kills, five digs, two blocks, two block assists and one service ace.

"Benishe and May were physically and emotionally tough," Gimmillaro said.

Grabovac tallied eight kills, three digs and three service aces while hitting .500.

The bench came forward and proved to be strong and deep against Idaho. Red-shirt freshman middle blocker Tayyiba Haneef hit .429 and pounded three down while fellow red-shirt freshman Keri Nishimoto came in and served an ace and tallied two digs.

The 49ers beat Boise State Saturday night in three straight games 15-4, 15-5, 15-2. The Beach stepped onto the court and shut down the Broncos hitting .380 for the match while Boise hit -.020. The Pyramid filled up with 2,343 screaming fans who watched May hit .500 while racking up 26 assists, nine digs and eight kills in a match that lasted a mere one hour and three minutes.

Dillard tallied 11 kills, five digs and six block assists while hitting .563. Dillard ranks fourth on the Long Beach State all-time career block assist chart.

Junior outside hitter Kristy Kierulff stepped up into the starting position and pounded down seven kills and digging 10 out of the floor and adding three block assists to her season totals.

Junior middle blocker Brandy Barratt rotated with Walls in the front row and hit .714 racking up seven kills while Walls hit .429 and racked up four kills for the match.

The Beach will be on the road this week facing New Mexico State on Thursday and North Texas on Saturday.