MONDAY, MAY 3, 1999

Volleyball team wins NCAA bid

By Greg Hanson

On-Line Forty-Niner

The Long Beach State men's volleyball team will participate in the NCAA Final Four next week, despite losing to USC in the semifinals of the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Tournament at Provo, Utah on Thursday.

Winning an at-large bid, the 49ers were selected by the NCAA to participate in the Final Four that takes place this Thursday and Saturday at UCLA.

The at-large bid usually goes to a team from the MPSF, but not always. The 49ers made a good case. They had the second-best record in the nation at 21-3 and they won the Pacific Division of the MPSF. The 49ers were picked for the tournament yesterday.

The second-ranked 49ers lost to USC, 15-10, 14-16, 7-15, 9-15. It was their fourth match this season against the seventh-ranked Trojans. Long Beach won the previous three matches, which all lasted at least four games.

The Beach took control in the first game, taking a commanding 2-0 lead in the match after building up a 14-10 lead in the second game.

But the 49ers soon collapsed, allowing USC's defense to hold them at game-point four times. The Trojans took the lead, won that game, 16-14, and never looked back.

Long Beach had only two service aces while committing 26 service errors. The Trojans had six aces.

Outside hitter David McKienzie had 36 kills and hit .317 for The Beach. Curtis Jackson had 11 kills and eight digs and setter Chris

Seiffert had 87 assists and seven digs in the match.

The 49ers will play the winner of the Midwest Intercollegiate Volleyball Association, Indiana-Purdue, in the first round of the Final Four this Thursday. Brigham Young, who went on to beat USC Saturday night and win the MPSF, will play Penn State, winner of the Eastern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association.

The 49ers have not played third-ranked Indiana-Purdue (23-3) this season.

The All-MPSF teams were announced last week and four 49ers were honored. Middle blocker Matt Prosser was selected to the second team, Seiffert and McKienzie made the third team and outside hitter Jim Polster was an honorable mention.