 "Photo: Sean Boyd | Daily 49er")
The presence of the 1991 National Champion Long Beach State men's volleyball team could not emotionally lift the current 49ers past No. 1-ranked USC.
No. 6 LBSU fell in five sets — 23-25, 25-20, 25-23, 23-25, 15-12 — Friday night at Walter Pyramid.
The Beach (8-6, 7-4 Mountain Pacific Sports Federation) came into the contest with something to prove. The last time both teams met, USC swept the 49ers right out of the Galen Center.
But it was not to be.
The 'Niners threw everything they had at the Trojans (10-1, 10-1 MPSF), but their efforts fell just short.
Both Jim Baughman and Mike Klipsch notched double-doubles in the 49ers' efforts. Baughman led the match with 21 kills and posted career highs in both service aces (4) and digs (10).
"It was a good game," Baughman said, "We'll see them again."
Klipsch fueled the LBSU attack, notching a season-high 59 assists, and added 10 digs of his own.
LBSU did its best to stifle USC's main attacker in Murphy Troy, who posted only 12 kills on a .147 hitting percentage. What Troy lacked in his attack, he made up for in his serves. Troy led the match with a staggering five aces.
LBSU and USC combined for 14 aces on the night.
USC added three more double-doubles to the mix with Troy (12 kills, 11 digs), outside hitter Tony Ciarelli (17 kills, 13 digs), and outside hitter Tri Bourne (13 kills, 12 digs).
"When they're passing the ball really well, that team's a handful," LBSU interim head coach Andy Read said.
LBSU came out of the gates roaring, putting up 21 kills in the first set alone. It looked the roles were going to be reversed this time around.
That would be the last time the LBSU attack would perform so fluidly, however. In each set after, the 49ers would not notch more than 11 kills.
"Eleven kills in a 25-point game is probably not going to get it done," Read said.
Freshman Taylor Crabb continued to develop, putting up career highs in both kills (16) and attacks attempted (47). Ryan Meehan also added a career-high 10 kills for the 49ers.
LBSU will continue the season on the road next Wednesday at No. 3 UC Santa Barbara, and then return locally to visit Pauley Pavilion and No. 8 UCLA on Friday. Both matchups are scheduled for 7 p.m. starts.
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