Junior outside hitter Caitlin Ledoux collected a match-high 23 kills to lead the Long Beach State women’s volleyball team to a Big West Conference road victory Saturday night.
The 49ers (19-6, 9-3 Big West) outlasted UC Davis — 19-25, 25-21, 25-21, 26-28, 16-14 — to remain a game behind Cal State Fullerton in the conference standings. The Titans (21-5, 10-2 Big West) defeated Pacific on the road in four sets Saturday.
The Beach grabbed a two-point lead on five separate occasions in the fifth set before a Janisa Johnson kill and Katie Denny attack error accounted for the sixth, and final, two-point margin to close the match.
Ledoux added nine digs to finish one shy of a double-double. Johnson added a double-double with 13 kills and 13 digs. LBSU freshman Delainey Aigner-Swesy chipped in with nine kills, which tied a career-high, and nine blocks.
The win improved the ‘Niners to 13-0 all-time against the Aggies (16-10, 7-6 Big West)
UCD was led by Melanie Adams’ 14 kills and 13 digs.
The Aggies came from behind to win the fourth set, 28-26.
LBSU raced out to 9-4 lead but UCD chipped away to tie the frame at 13. Haleigh Hampton later responded with kills on four of five points to put the ‘Niners back on top, 20-14, and force an Aggies timeout.
UCD battled back to tie the set at 22. From there, it went back and forth until Denny capped the comeback with a service ace to force the deciding set.
The 49ers won the pivotal third set, 25-21.
Tied at 9, LBSU used an 8-2 run highlighted by a Megan Johnson ace to take control. Ahead 24-18, the 49ers withstood a late UCD rally and closed the frame on a Ledoux kill.
The ‘Niners overcame an early four-point hole to take set two, 25-21.
Trailing 10-7, The Beach went on a 6-0 run to take a 13-10 lead. The Aggies pulled to within 20-19 but could not get any closer.
UCD capitalized on seven LBSU hitting errors to post a 25-19 win in set one.
Tied at 10, the Aggies scored nine of the next 12 points to build a cushion they would not relinquish.
The 49ers will return home to face Cal State Northridge on Thursday night. First serve at the Walter Pyramid is scheduled for 7 p.m.
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