The Beach returned to the court and debuted its new lineup of transfers and freshmen in an exhibition game against former Long Beach State women’s volleyball players Saturday night at the Walter Pyramid.
For assistant coach and class of 2005 alumnae Erika Dilliard, Saturday night was a good opportunity for the new 49ers roster to iron the wrinkles out.
“I love the alumnae game because it’s a great opportunity for these kids to go through a game situation and get some of those nerves out before opening weekend,” Dilliard said. “And we have a lot of new people on this team and are trying to figure out what lineups and combinations we’re going to run.”
Both transfers, outside hitter Nele Barber from Marquette and middle blocker Hayley Benson from Ball State, made quite an impression with head coach Brian Gimmillaro.
“I was impressed with Nele, and I think she can be better,” Gimmillaro said. “I’ll show her a few things this week that will help her but I think she’s really an improved player.”
LBSU welcomed back more than a dozen former players to The Beach for the alumnae match. For some of these ex-players, it was a trip back to the glory days.
“Coming back in the Pyramid; it’s been awhile and it’s awesome,” said Ashley Lee, class of 2011. “To play with old teammates and players I’ve never played with but who are Long Beach alumnae, that was a great experience.”
The current 49ers took the first set, winning 25–16. Although LBSU managed to blow past the Alumnae team, the coaching staff absorbed every bit of the live action.
“This is an important match because its competition and when you compete you get to see where we are and this is a club that hasn’t played together,” Gimmillaro said.
Overall, the current 49ers showed up with an almost entirely new roster compared to last year, featuring 11 freshman players. However, LBSU does return the reigning Big West Player of the Year, senior setter Jenelle Hudson, and the reigning conference Freshman of the Year, sophomore middle blocker Ashley Murray.
“I felt like we had a lot of good chemistry for a new team and I feel like it’s going to grow,” Murray said. “I definitely feel like if everyone keeps working and keep listening to Brian we can definitely be better than last year.”
Maybe the most encouraging sign of Saturday night’s exhibition was the performance put on by Hudson.
“To watch Jenelle, she’s our senior setter and team leader, take this new group and lead was great,” Dilliard said. “Last year we had a bunch of seniors and she had her role and was incredible. But this year she has a new perspective on the team and that was really cool to watch.”
The alumnae won the second set 26-24 after Hudson’s dunk attempt failed because she jumped into the net. But the current 49ers finally won the third set 25-17 to take the match.
LBSU will start the regular season with a three-game home stand starting on Friday and ending on Sunday. The 49ers will welcome Alabama, Duke and Saint Mary’s to the Walter Pyramid.