#15 UCLA Downs Long Beach State in Four Sets

#15 UCLA DEF. LONG BEACH STATE 3-1 (25-21, 17-25, 25-23, 25-23)

UCLA improves to 5-2 while Long Beach State falls to 6-5 overall.
Walter Pyramid, Long Beach, CA.
Sept. 13, 2018
Attendance: 1,409
Box Score
UCLA Recap/Long Beach State Recap

#15 UCLA continued its nine-match road trip on Thursday night with a quick drive down the 405 Freeway for a matchup with the Long Beach State 49ers.

In front of its home crowd, Long Beach State came out of the gate strong as the 49ers raced to an early 5-2 advantage. But the Bruins slowly chipped away and took their first lead at 22-21. Following a timeout by Long Beach State, a UCLA kill and a pair of 49ers’ errors gave the Bruins the first set, 25-21.

The second set was all Long Beach State as the 49ers grabbed the early lead and never relinquished it. The 49ers converted 17 of 38 attacks (.342) while limiting UCLA to 10 of 30 to nab the second set, 25-17.

Spriggs' 10th kill of the match ties it as 23-23! #GoBeach pic.twitter.com/cZ5YhFF3lo

— LBSU W. Volleyball (@LBSU_WVB) September 14, 2018

UCLA quickly moved on from the second set, as the Bruins jumped out to an early 11-6 lead. The 49ers slowly made their way back into the set, forcing a Bruins’ timeout after tying the score at 23. UCLA managed the final two points to take the set, 25-23.

Spriggs goes back-to-back to give LBSU a 13-12 lead over UCLA #GoBeach pic.twitter.com/BCNGTHue1J

— LBSU W. Volleyball (@LBSU_WVB) September 14, 2018

The Bruins carried their momentum into the fourth set and held off a late Long Beach State rally, to capture the set and the win.

WATCH: Head Coach Joy McKienzie-Fuerbringer, Hailey Harward, and Kashauna Williams speak with the media in the postgame press conference following @LBSU_WVB's set back to No. 16 UCLA #GoBeach #LBNation

https://t.co/d7AA3teHJ6 via @LBSUAthletics

— LBSU W. Volleyball (@LBSU_WVB) September 14, 2018

MATCH NOTABLES

UCLA outside hitter Mac May led the Bruins with 17 kills and 11 digs. Outside hitters Jenny Mosser and Hawley Harrer also tallied double figure kills, with 11 and 10 respectively.
UCLA’s defense played a huge factor in the match as four Bruins finished with at least 10 digs. Libero Zana Muno led the way with 15, libero Savvy Simo registered 13 and setter Devon Chang and May each chipped in with 11.
Defensive specialist Hailey Harward and outside hitter Kashauna Williams each contributed 16 kills to lead LBSU. Harward finished with a double-double, adding 14 digs.
UCLA was held to a .210 hit percentage, eight points below its season average, but LBSU was held to just .199 on the attack.
Sibling Rivalry: Twin sisters, Carley Aigner-Swesey (LBSU setter) and Sawyer Aigner-Swesey (UCLA defensive specialist/libero) squared off for the first time in their collegiate careers. Carley finished with 50 assists and 13 digs for the 49ers, while Sawyer didn’t make it into the match.
UCLA improves to 64-24 all-time against LBSU. The Bruins have now won eight straight against the 49ers dating back to LBSU’s 3-0 win in 2009.

UP NEXT

#15 UCLA plays at #10 USC Wednesday at 11 p.m. E.T.
Long Beach State will take on Lamar at 10 p.m. E.T. Friday and Fresno State at 10 p.m.E.T. Saturday as part of the LBSU Mizuno Invitational. Southern Utah, UC Irvine, and LMU will also participate in the tournament.