The paint has dried on the new court in the Walter Pyramid, and the Long Beach State women’s volleyball team is ready to welcome its first set of visitors.
This weekend, the ‘Niners (1-2) will play three matches in as many days when they host the annual Long Beach State Mizuno Invitational.
The lone setback facing the Beach is the loss of starting middle blocker Alma Serna, who is out for at least the weekend after spraining her ankle during the first set of the season Friday at the Kentucky Classic.
LBSU head coach Brian Gimmillaro said the team will need extra contributions from players such as senior outside hitter Janisa Johnson and junior outside hitter Delainey Aigner-Swesey if it wants to be successful in Serna’s absence.
Johnson leads the team with 60 kills so far on the young season. She recorded two double-doubles and averaged five kills per set in three matches at the Kentucky Classic.
“The style of the team changes, but we’re going to have to fight through the matches this weekend.” Gimmillaro said. “It’s a harder style. Everybody has to be a better player, not just score more but be a better player.”
Gimmillaro added that the team’s defense would have to change and improve while playing without its sophomore middle blocker.
“When you have the best blocker [junior Haleigh Hampton] and one of the other really strong blockers [Serna] in the whole country out, it’s hard to stop the ball at the net,” he said. “Other lines of defense have to be better, which are difficult. Everything has to be better.”
The Mizuno Invitational begins Thursday when LBSU squares off with James Madison at 7 p.m.
On Friday, the ‘Niners return to the court to take on the University of San Diego (2-1). The No. 20 Toreros have eliminated LBSU in the first round of the NCAA tournament two years in a row.
LBSU leads the all-time series against San Diego, 10-7, but the Toreros have won seven straight matches and are looking to keep the streak alive behind junior middle blocker Chloe Ferrari.
Ferrari led the charge in the 2011 matchup with a double-double on 14 kills and 14 digs.
The tournament concludes Saturday when the 49ers face the University of Wisconsin at 7 p.m.