Stanford Tops Long Beach in Women’s Volleyball

Cal State Long Beach never played Stanford last season when the teams were expected to meet in the NCAA final, but when the 49ers finally had their opportunity Friday, they were overpowered by the hitting and blocking of Bev Oden.

Oden led all players with 23 kills and six block assists as Stanford defeated Long Beach, 15-12, 15-4, 11-15, 8-15, 15-12, before 1,267 at Long Beach. Danielle Scott and Alicia Mills each had 22 kills for Long Beach.

The 49ers (0-1) are ranked second in the American Volleyball Coaches Assn. preseason poll behind UCLA, the defending national champion. Stanford (2-0) is ranked fourth.

Friday, the teams battled to a fifth game that was decided on a kill by Cary Wendell. After the Cardinal broke a 2-2 tie, it maintained at least a two-point lead throughout.

Stanford won the first two games easily before letting Long Beach back into the match in the third, when Long Beach took a two-point lead for the first time on a kill my middle blocker Yukie Nagasawa to make the score 10-8. Long Beach then outscored Stanford, 5-3, to win the game.

“I’m angry because the discipline of our block and our team defense broke down,” said Long Beach Coach Brian Gimmillaro, whose team had only four block assists to Stanford’s 13.