By Who: No. 1 UCLA (8-0, 4-0)
When: Wednesday at 7 p.m.
Where: Pauley Pavilion, Los Angeles
Need to know: UCLA leads the all time series, 48-36, against Long Beach State. However, the 49ers have a 19-12 edge in their matchups with the Bruins over the last 13 years.
The Bruins and the 49ers split their season series from 2012-14, but in 2015 LBSU swept UCLA for the first time since 2009.
Despite not having a single senior on the roster this season, UCLA does return several starters from 2015. Most notably, outside hitter J.T. Hatch comes back for his sophomore season after picking up second-team All-Mountain Pacific Sports Federation and 2015 MPSF Freshman of the Year honors.
Five Bruins are averaging over two kills per set through the first eight games this season. Freshman outside hitter Dylan Missry leads the team with 2.91 kills per set, sophomore outside hitter Jake Arnitz ranks second with 2.89, junior middle blocker Mitch Stahl is third with 2.38, Hatch follows with 2.33 and freshman setter Micah Ma’a rounds out the top five with 2.21.
