The Beach wins ninth straight

By Jay Seidel, On-line Forty-Niner

April 14,1998

Long Beach crushes UC San Diego to extend win streak"We broke them in the first game...

 

Many students enjoy their spring break in places like Palm Springs, Lake Havassu and even Mexico. However, the No. 7 Long Beach State men's volleyball team traveled to Palo Alto, Stockton and San Diego and enjoyed every minute of it.

 

The Beach (20-6) won all four of its matches over the break, making a total of nine straight. The latest loss for The Beach came against UC Santa Barbara on March 10.

 

"We've played real well," 49er Coach Ray Ratelle said. "These are matches that we need to play well."

 

The team first traveled to Stanford, where they defeated the Cardinal in four games, 15-13, 15-13, 8-15, 15-6.

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"We broke them in the first game..."

-Ray Ratelle,

men's volleyball coach

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The Beach followed up the victory with a win against a tough Pacific team. The Tigers battled The Beach in a five game match, where they eventually came up short. The Beach won, 13-15, 15-9, 11-15, 15-13, 15-8.

 

A revenge match against San Diego State was next for Long Beach. The 49ers redeemed their March 3 loss at The Pyramid by sweeping the Aztecs, 15-11, 15-3, 15-10.

 

A quick win over UC San Diego finished up the team's week. The Beach swept the Tritons 15-2, 15-4, 15-11.

 

"We broke them in the first game," Ratelle said. "Then we just controlled it from there."

 

The Beach has already clinched a spot in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation playoffs. The team will need to win its last regular season game against USC tonight at the Goldmine.

 

"We need to be ready to play," Ratelle said. "USC will be tough. They need to win to get into the playoffs."

 

The Beach swept the Trojans in Los Angeles when the two teams met earlier this season.

 

The change of venue for tonight's match should not pose a problem for the team, Ratelle said.

 

"The team practices there, so they're used to it," Ratelle explained.

 

The team will also honor its four seniors at the match.