The No. 7 Long Beach State women’s sand volleyball team fell to undefeated USC in the American Volleyball Coaches Association National Championship Match Saturday in Gulf Shores, Alabama.
In their third appearance in the 4-year-old National Championships event, the 49ers (16-7) once again advanced to the championship match.
Four pairs of 49ers lost to No. 1 USC in the semifinal match, dropping the team to the consolation bracket, where they faced off against Pepperdine in a single elimination. LBSU crushed the Waves, earning a re-match against the Trojans in the National Championship Match.
With LBSU making it to the team championship match, two 49er teams earned a bid in the single elimination round of 16 for the AVCA Pairs Championship Sunday.
Delainey Aigner-Swesey and Chelsea Cabrajac fell to Shannon Dugan and Mackenzie Phelps of Grand Canyon University in two sets. Anete Brinke and Tyler Jackson lost in three sets to Brittany Tiegs and Nikki Taylor of Hawaii.
LBSU is set to finish its season ranked No. 2 in the nation.
