 "Photo: File Photo")
The departure of one of the greatest players in Long Beach State women's volleyball history, senior outside hitter Caitlin Ledoux, and fellow classmate Lauren Minkel leaves this team in the hands of more than "A Few Good Women" for next season.
Ledoux is one of five players in 49ers history to have finished her career with at least 1,000 kills and 1,000 digs. Ledoux tied Cheryl Weaver for fifth all-time on the LBSU career kills list with 1,589 and is among the top 10 in career digs with 1,101.
She is also one of only three 49ers in history [Alexis Crimes and Misty May-Treanor] to be named to the All-Big West Conference first team in four consecutive seasons.
Minkel lived up to all the intangibles and leadership that is expected out of the libero position. She finished 34 digs short of the school record, amassing 1,653 for her career.
The 2011 season was one to be remembered for the 49ers. They posted a 23-7 record overall, including a 14-2 mark in the Big West, giving them their 12th conference title. The Ledoux-led Beach squad also ran off 15 consecutive victories — the longest LBSU winning streak in 10 years.
As easy as it seemed for the ‘Niners, they were thrown a few curveballs along the way. The Beach was more injured than healthy throughout the season, which makes its 23-7 mark even more admirable. Ledoux, Haleigh Hampton, Janisa Johnson and Alma Serna sustained significant injuries that caused them to miss a considerable amount of match and practice time.
Not to mention, fifth-year co-captain Michelle Osunbor and senior Jocelyn Neely were unable to play a single set due to season-ending injuries.
The question bears asking, if this LBSU team was injury-free for the entire year, what would this past season have looked like?
Maybe, the 49ers would have gone undefeated in Big West play, instead of losing to two opponents (UC Santa Barbara and UC Riverside) they would decisively beat later in the season when they were closer to full strength. Had they gone 16-0 in conference, though, the ‘Niners' Ratings Percentage Index (RPI) ranking would've been higher, and as a result, they would've faced a far more favorable opponent in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
Unfortunately for the 49ers, though, it's too late to think about what could've been had they not faced the No. 20-ranked University of San Diego for the second consecutive season and lost.
Looking in the rearview is not an option for this squad. It's all about the future, and what obstacles it must overcome moving forward. Next year's 49ers will have to move on without Ledoux, Minkel, Osunbor and Neely, but that shouldn't be as much of a problem as it may seem given the young talent on this team.
The young and not-so-restless
LBSU head coach Brian Gimmillaro has put together a solid group of young players who are poised for breakout seasons in 2012, if they hadn't already made their mark in 2011.
Despite a multitude of injuries, the underclassmen put in a lot of work this season, and it showed in their performance.
The middle blocking positions are set with sophomore Hampton and freshman Serna providing the roof over the heads of their teammates. Hampton recorded a team-high of 330 kills and finished first in the Big West in blocking with 184.
Hampton was also named first team All-Big West for the second consecutive season. Serna played through multiple injuries over the course of the season, and still finished second behind Hampton on the Big West blocks list with 149.
Freshman setter Erin Juley's 1146 assists helped lead the ‘Niners to a .253 hitting percentage, which was good for first in conference play. Juley took over the position from sophomore Ashley Vazquez with her stellar performance against then No. 7 Washington, and played every set from that point on.
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