Scott Leads Long Beach Over Hawaii

Long Beach State women’s volleyball Coach Brian Gimmillaro has asked middle blocker Danielle Scott to do a lot more hitting this season, not only from the back row, but at the net.

But Scott, who ranks second in the nation in kills, came up with several key blocks Saturday night that helped Long Beach sweep Big West Conference rival Hawaii at the Northwest Regional final in the campus gym. As a result, Long Beach advances to the NCAA final four for the fourth time in the last five years.

The 49ers (30-2), who defeated the Rainbow Wahines (19-11) in both conference matches this season, started sluggishly in the 15-12, 15-7, 15-12 victory Saturday. Playing without the intensity they displayed in the opening moments of Friday night’s 3-1 victory over Ohio State, the 49ers appeared content to attack from the right side of the net, with Scott getting most of the sets. Hawaii, meanwhile, found a hole in the middle of the Long Beach defense and attacked it successfully.

Hawaii led 8-6, but over the next several minutes the Wahines committed four attack errors. Suddenly, Long Beach had six unanswered points and a 12-8 lead on its way to victory. Hawaii got within 13-12 in the third game, but otherwise the 49ers were pretty much in control.