Long Beach, Stanford Play Volleyball Dream Game of 1991 a Season Too Late
The Cal State Long Beach women’s volleyball team will play host to Stanford in its season opener tonight in a matchup that was eagerly anticipated last season, but never happened.
The teams appeared on a collision course for the NCAA tournament final, but Stanford, 30-2 and ranked No. 1 in the American Volleyball Coaches Assn. poll, was upset in the West Regional final by UCLA. Long Beach, 36-2 and ranked No. 1 by the NCAA, won the Northwest Regional but lost to UCLA in the NCAA final.
Top players from each team are gone. Long Beach outside hitter Antoinnette White, the 1991 AVCA player of the year, will be replaced by sophomore Nichelle Burton. Stanford outside hitter Kristin Klein, Volleyball Monthly’s 1991 player of the year, will be replaced by senior Kristi Paaso. Among Stanford’s three returning starters is Bev Oden, All-American middle blocker.
Stanford (1-0) defeated Loyola Marymount on Wednesday, 15-2, 15-4, 15-13.
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