By snoadmin
Caitlin Ledoux and Janisa Johnson’s combined 27 kills were not enough to upset the No. 7-ranked University of Washington as the No. 22 Long Beach State women’s volleyball team lost its last match of the Mizuno Invitational on Saturday at the Walter Pyramid.
The 49ers fell in four sets to the Huskies — 13-25, 25-15, 27-29, 11-25 — in front of a home crowd of 1,862.
After dropping the first set, the ‘Niners (2-1) responded well as they made quick work of Washington (3-0) in the second frame. However, the third frame would set the tone for the match as both teams went on a seesaw exchange of points before the Huskies were able to capitalize on several errors committed by the ‘Niners to take the set, 29-27.
“That was the difference of the game,” LBSU head coach Brian Gimmillaro said in frustration. “We had three set points in that match; three. We got tired when we needed to be strong.”
The third frame featured quick runs by both teams to start the frame as LBSU scored four of the first five points. Washington came back with a fury of kills by winning eight of the next nine points. Johnson made a couple of keys plays beginning with an emphatic kill, followed by a block against Washington’s star player Krista Vansant, who had 12 kills, to close up the score, 11-9.
Johnson finished with 13 kills, but committed a woeful 11 attack errors for a .053 hitting percentage. Meanwhile, Ledoux registered a team-high 14 kills to go with nine attack errors on a dismal .111 clip.
LBSU finished with a season-high 33 attack errors to Washington’s 22.
Later in the set, after rallying from a 21-18 deficit, the 49ers won the next three points, tying the set at 25. A block from Haleigh Hampton, who led the 49ers with six, had LBSU ready to take the set and lead, 2-1. However, back-to-back errors on serves by freshman Erin Juley and Ledoux were taken advantage of by the Huskies, who won the frame 29-27.
“I told them it wasn’t over,” Gimmillaro said of the Huskies’ third set victory. “But with the home town crowd buzzing like they were and with three set points … We had to win that match.”
But it would be the beginning of the end for the ‘Niners. A series of large runs by Washington in the fourth frame found LBSU in a 12-point deficit, 17-5. From there, a visibly tired 49ers would drop the set, 25-12.
“We were not in great shape,” Gimmarillo said. “Janisa [Johnson] was great. She went crazy in this game; she was superb, but we’re not in great shape.”
As the battle went on between both teams, competition was flowing within the 49ers between setters Ashley Vasquez and Erin Juley. Vasquez started the game, but was subbed in by Juley by the end of the first period. Juley’s stellar play was the difference in the second set of the match, resulting in the 49ers’ lone win.
“There was things that she did at the net that we could have suggested to do something else,” Gimmillaro said of Juley. “It’s not fair that Erin gets thrown in the fire with those mistakes because she needs experience.”
After a match that had emotions running high, Gimmillaro quickly subdued it by mentioning that the season has just begun.
“Now it’s going to get tough,” Gimmillaro said. “Haleigh is hurting, that’s going to be tough in Hawaii, but we’re playing as tough as any team in the country.”
Gimmillaro hinted that today’s roster was not official as practice is still open to the positions.
“You have to earn your spot. We’ll see on Monday,” Gimmillaro said.
The 49ers will begin their next matches in Hawaii at the Hawaiian Airlines Wahine Volleyball Classic as they will first face No. 11 UCLA on Thursday at 5 p.m.
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