The payback match against UC Riverside didn't go as smoothly as the Long Beach State women's volleyball team had hoped it would. A contest that saw a total of 18 service errors (LBSU: 5 UCR: 13), and a lot of sloppy play was eventually won by the 49ers.
The Beach avenged an Oct. 1 loss at the hands of the Highlanders with a straight-set victory — 25-23, 25-23, 25-16. The win extended the 49ers' winning streak to a season-high seven matches.
Although the brooms were out in a sweep of the Highlanders, LBSU head coach Brian Gimmillaro expressed concern over his team's inconsistent play.
"I didn't really like the way we played, but it's part of it," Gimmillaro said. "You gotta win when you don't play well."
Senior outside hitter and captain Caitlin Ledoux looked a bit off her game through the first two sets, and Gimmillaro attributed that to a lack of practice time.
"[Caitlin] hasn't practiced all week," Gimmillaro said. "Even good players can lose their sense of feel. She's fighting that."
Ledoux finished the match with eight kills to go with a lackluster .034 hitting percentage.
Sophomore outside hitter Delainey Aigner-Swesey led the way for The Beach (15-6, 9-2 Big West Conference) with 11 kills for a .375 clip. Sophomore middle blocker Haleigh Hampton wasn't far behind, collecting nine kills on a .312 hitting percentage. Freshman setter Erin Juley picked up 27 assists on the night, while senior libero Lauren Minkel led the ‘Niners' with 11 digs.
The opening set should have been called the ‘Battle of the Serves‘ — both good and bad. UCR (5-18, 2-7 Big West) came up with five service errors and two aces, while The Beach had four aces, with two apiece from Juley and freshman serve specialist Tyler Jackson. The Niners also committed two service errors of their own en route to a 25-23 first-set win. Hampton and Aigner-Swesey led the way for the 49ers in the opening set. Hampton collected five kills while hitting .375. Aigner Swesey had two kills for a .222 clip.
The second set was fairly similar to the first, with both teams struggling with serves. UCR committed five more errors to raise their total to 10 for the match. The Beach committed three of its own, bringing its total to five through the first two sets, but it was Hampton and Aigner-Swesey who put the ‘Niners' on top with a commanding two-set lead. Hampton collected three more kills, pushing her total to eight for the match. She also patrolled the net with three block assists and one solo at the break.
Aigner-Swesey took control late in the second as she came up with four kills, including contributions to the last three points that guided the 49ers to a second-set victory.
Aigner-Swesey looked like one of the few ‘Niners who established rhythm to their game, but Gimmillaro said that even she along with the rest of her teammates were a bit ‘herky-jerky' in their play.
"[Delainey] didn't have much [flow] tonight either," he said. "It was just the way it was."
Aigner-Swesey said she could feel the angst on the court throughout the match, but felt she needed to put a jolt into her team.
"I felt that our team needed something to uplift them," she said.
The ‘Niners' jumped out to an early 10-5 third-set lead led by a resurgent Ledoux and Aigner-Swesey. An ace from Jackson then forced UCR coach to call a timeout. The Highlanders pulled within two, 11-9, after the break, but the Highlanders couldn't sustain the attack for long. Ledoux came on strong with five kills to put a quick end to a rather close match.
Gimmillaro stressed the importance of his team maintaining its composure if it hopes to have sucess against Cal State Northridge on Saturday.
"Were just so anxious in our play," he said. "We're impatient."
Aigner-Swesey said she and her teammates were playing uncharacteristic
"No one was in the right mindset," Aigner-Swesey said. "We were nervous, especially because the games were so close. We felt very anxious out there."
The Beach will attempt to shake off the nerves Saturday night against CSUN. First serve is set for 7 p.m. at the Walter Pyramid.
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