NCAA VOLLEYBALL / NORTHWEST REGION : Long Beach Women Battle to Get Past Ohio State

Ohio State did something Friday night that few women’s volleyball teams have done this season. The Buckeyes averted a sweep by Long Beach State and in the process gave the third-ranked 49ers all they could handle before losing in the Northwest Region semifinals.

Long Beach’s 15-6, 15-9, 13-15, 15-12 victory at the Long Beach gym marked only the fifth time this season that the 49ers (29-2) have not won a match in three consecutive games. The 49ers have lost only nine games this season.

Long Beach advanced to the regional final against Hawaii tonight at 7:30. The Rainbow Wahines defeated University of the Pacific, 15-6, 15-13, 12-15, 15-10, to advance.

After a slow start in which numerous errors led to a two-game deficit, Ohio State (24-6) outplayed the 49ers. The Buckeyes held off Long Beach in the third game, then took leads of 9-4 and 12-9 in the fourth. But Long Beach, with outstanding digs by Danielle Scott, won without needing a fifth game.

Long Beach played almost flawlessly in the first half of the match. The 49ers gained a 12-1 lead within 12 minutes of the match’s start.

Ohio State was more competitive in the second game, although the Buckeyes committed several service errors that hurt them. Long Beach committed several unforced errors in the next few minutes, as well, but built a 12-9 lead.

Back-to-back service errors by the Buckeyes opened the door for the 49ers. Long Beach ran off three points in a row and Scott ended the game, sending a set from Joy McKienzie off the block of Tricia Stragliotto.

In defeating Pacific (21-10) for the third time this season, Hawaii (19-10) built big leads and survived rallies in all but the third game. Outside hitter Kristal Attwood, from Manhattan Beach Mira Costa High, led Hawaii with 23 kills.