The No. 10 Long Beach State men’s volleyball dropped back-to-back matches to No. 6 Hawaii over the weekend in the Walter Pyramid.
The 49ers (8-8, 5-8 Mountain Pacific Sports Federation) got off to a terrific start against Hawaii (13-3, 10-2 MPSF) in the first set, taking a 10-5 lead with back-to-back blocks from junior middle blocker Taylor Gregory and junior opposite hitter John La Rusch. Hawaii regained the lead after consecutive hitting errors from LBSU and took the set after a service error from the 49ers.
The 49ers took the second set from the Warriors by out-blocking them 11.5 to 6.5. Sophomore middle blocker Bryce Yould totaled six block assist in set two and eight on the night while averaging a .143 hitting percentage for the match. Yould battled through back and foot injuries during the weekend’s matches.
“I could have done better,” Yould said. “I think everyone has something they can look back on and clean up. The team is trying to put together our best match out there and hopefully get a win.”
In the second and third sets, head coach Alan Knipe changed up the offense, taking out sophomore setter Curtis Stallings and putting in sophomore back-up setter Matt Butler. Knipe said both setters were working hard during practice and getting in equal reps.
“We weren’t really clicking offensively the way we wanted to,” Knipe said. “You can change the setter and get a different feel on the court. I thought Matt did a good job.”
The 49ers put up a big front at the net, but failed to overcome the explosive swing of Hawaii senior middle blocker Taylor Averill. Averill ended the night with 14 total kills on 22 swings, leading him to a .545 hitting percentage.
Saturday night, an abdomen injury kept junior outside hitter Cody Martin out of the starting lineup and senior libero Ryan Windisch slowed up after running into the bleachers at the end of the second set.
“Ryan ran into an immovable object and the bleachers won,” Knipe said. “I’m not really sure what is going on but we will have to wait and see. With [Martin], we can’t afford to lose him for the rest of the year so we might have to go the short end without him.”
Hawaii head coach Charlie Wade said playing difficult teams early in the season has helped his team prepare to face off against a talented 49er roster.
“Every night is so competitive in the league,” Wade said “We’re very much in tune with the fact that you have to play well and play at a high level to win.”
The 49ers will face a pair of top-10 teams this week at No. 8 UC Santa Barbara Tuesday night and No. 9 UCLA Thursday night. Both matches are expected to start at 7 p.m.