No. 1 Long Beach State Takes Down No. 3 UCLA in Thrilling 3-1 Victory
In a highly anticipated matchup, the No. 1 Long Beach State Beach volleyball team defeated the No. 3 UCLA Bruins 3-1 in a sold-out Walter Pyramid on Friday night. The victory marked a significant win for the Beach, solidifying their position as the top-ranked team in the nation.
Electric Atmosphere at the Walter Pyramid
The sold-out crowd at the Walter Pyramid created an electric atmosphere, with fans from both sides cheering on their teams with passion and enthusiasm. The energy in the arena was palpable, with every point contested fiercely by both teams.
Beach Dominates Early, Bruins Fight Back
Long Beach State came out strong, taking the first set 25-20. The Beach’s powerful offense, led by outside hitters TJ DeFalco and Kyle Ensing, proved too much for the Bruins to handle.
However, UCLA refused to back down, fighting back to take the second set 25-22. The Bruins’ middle blockers, Daenan Gyimah and Grant Maleski, were instrumental in their team’s comeback, combining for several crucial blocks.
Beach Regains Momentum, Takes Third and Fourth Sets
The Beach regained their momentum in the third set, taking it 25-18. DeFalco and Ensing continued to pace the Beach’s offense, while libero, Mason Briggs, made several spectacular digs to deny the Bruins’ attacks.
In the fourth set, Long Beach State closed out the match with a 25-22 victory. The Beach’s balanced attack and stingy defense proved too much for the Bruins, as they secured the win and improved their record to 15-0.
Post-Match Reaction
“We’re thrilled to get the win against a great UCLA team,” said Long Beach State head coach, Alan Knipe. “Our guys played with a lot of heart and determination, and it paid off in the end.”
UCLA head coach, John Speraw, praised his team’s effort, saying, “We fought hard and gave it our all, but Long Beach State was just a little better tonight. We’ll learn from this and come back stronger.”
Implications for the Rankings
The victory for Long Beach State solidifies their position as the top-ranked team in the nation. UCLA, meanwhile, will likely drop to fourth or fifth in the rankings, depending on the outcome of other matches this week.
The win also marks a significant milestone for the Beach, as they extend their winning streak to 15 matches. With the victory, Long Beach State sends a clear message that they are the team to beat in college volleyball this season.
Conclusion
In a thrilling matchup, the No. 1 Long Beach State Beach volleyball team defeated the No. 3 UCLA Bruins 3-1 in a sold-out Walter Pyramid. The victory marked a significant win for the Beach, solidifying their position as the top-ranked team in the nation. With their winning streak now at 15 matches, Long Beach State is poised to make a deep run in the NCAA tournament.
Leave a Reply