Youth, Injuries Haven’t Slowed Women’s Volleyball Team

Brian Gimmillaro is at it again.

You would think he couldn’t keep this thing rolling so smoothly for so long, if only because of the law of averages.

Get real.

Just when it looked as if the Long Beach State women’s volleyball team might face a down cycle--by their standards, anyway--Gimmillaro has his charges racing toward excellence again. It is a common occurrence at Long Beach, and there’s no dispute where the credit belongs.

“I am very happy with what we’re doing,” Gimmillaro said. “We’ve been playing very well and we’re receiving contributions from the entire team.”

Long Beach (25-0, 12-0 in the Big West Conference) is ranked third in the nation in the USA Today/American Volleyball Coaches Assn. poll. That the 49ers are mowing down the Big West isn’t big news. After all, their run of four consecutive conference titles ended only last season.

What is somewhat surprising is the 49ers are back near the top despite youth and injuries. Next season was when they were supposed to make another championship run. They’re ahead of schedule because of their coach.

Gimmillaro has convinced the 49ers they can win any time--anywhere. He has convinced them they can overcome anything.

The 49ers received some bad news Sept. 25, when Anja Grabovac, their standout freshman outside hitter from Croatia, tore the anterior cruciate ligament in her left knee and was lost for the season. Big problem? Not at Long Beach.

“The other players responded well and filled the void,” Gimmillaro said.

And it wasn’t a fluke. The 49ers stepped up again during the weekend when star sophomore setter Misty May injured her left knee. They won two important Big West road matches with Shawnee Hayes, an emergency replacement, playing setter for the first time in her career.

“It really is kind of remarkable,” Gimmillaro said. “We’ve had some key injuries, and you never know how young people are going to respond to taking on more responsibility. The development of our team has been a big factor.”

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The replacement: Not only did Hayes fill in admirably for May, she made a big statement.

Hayes, a 5-foot-7 junior defensive specialist, was selected Big West player of the week. A 49er has won the award five times this season.

“We have three setters on the team and they were all hurt,” Gimmillaro said. “We just looked around and asked if anyone was willing to try, and Shawnee said she would.

“What she did was just amazing. It’s like if Mike [Piazza] went out with an injury and [Raul] Mondesi went behind the plate and did a great job.”

Well, that may be a reach, but you get the idea.

Hayes, setting for the first time at any level, had 10 digs, 21 assists and two aces in a three-game victory Friday at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. Then on Saturday against No. 18 UC Santa Barbara, Hayes had 12 digs, 61 assists and a career-high three kills. Her assist total was the third-highest in a Long Beach match this season.

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Looking good: The first recruiting class for men’s basketball Coach Wayne Morgan is shaping up nicely.

First to commit was Schea Cotton, younger brother of 49er men’s basketball standout James Cotton. Schea, a 6-5, 210-pound forward at Bellflower St. John Bosco High, is generally considered among the top five players nationally in the class, so this qualifies as a big-time victory for Morgan.

Next was Jeff Howard (6-10, 230), a talented forward/center from Hillcrest High in Dallas. And now, Inglewood point guard David Egans said he’s also Long Beach bound.

“I had a great time on my visit,” Egans said. “I hit it off with [assistant] coach [Clyde] Vaughan from the beginning. Coach Vaughan was straight with me and Coach Morgan told me exactly what he expected from me, exactly what he wanted me to do. I liked that.”

Colorado State, Tulsa and UC Irvine also were recruiting Egans (6-4, 170), who averaged 14 points and five assists as a junior.

49er Notes

Junior forward Akeli Jackson played well Saturday as the Black team defeated the Gold, 46-41, in an intra-squad scrimmage at the Pyramid. Jackson had 15 points and six rebounds, and he was generally pleased with the 49ers’ development. “It wasn’t a real game, so you can’t get too excited, but it was good for right now,” Jackson said. “We still need a little more preparation. We’re still going through a learning process on offense and defense, but it’s getting there.”

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Coming Attractions

Here’s a look at key games this week for Long Beach State:

* Women’s volleyball plays at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Idaho and 7:30 p.m. Saturday against Pacific at the Pyramid.

* Water polo plays at noon Saturday at UCLA.