Long Beach Gets Close Victory

If the volleyball world was looking for Long Beach State to show decisively it is the nation’s top team in its match against UC Santa Barbara Tuesday night, it can wait a little longer.

What the top-ranked 49ers proved is that they have the tenacity and the setter to defend their ranking successfully.

Senior setter Misty May was at times dominating, leading the 49ers over the Gauchos, 15-13, 16-14, 7-15, 20-18, in front of 2,663 at the Pyramid. It was the second-largest crowd to see a Long beach State volleyball game.

With the victory, Long Beach improves to 21-1 overall and 12-0 in Big West.

The final game was a 56-minute anxiety test that eventually became the highest-scoring game in Long Beach’s record books.

“I just kept wondering when it was going to end,” said May, who had 75 assists and 16 digs. “It was exciting, but I was afraid it was going to be a 32-30 game.”

It certainly was not easy for May, who twisted her ankle when she landed on teammate Stephanie Streeks’ foot near the end of the second game. She left momentarily to have it taped and played the rest of the way with a noticeable limp.

“That was one of the pivotal points in the match,” Long Beach Coach Brian Gimmillaro said. “I think she’s the best player in the nation and so I’m concerned about the injury. I think she isn’t going to be feeling too well tomorrow. It will probably swell up.”

Had Santa Barbara (23-2, 10-2) not played so sloppily throughout the match, it might have pulled off an upset. Long Beach did not start well in any of the games but came back when it had to to win.