49ers Don’t Need to Be Spectacular to Advance

Long Beach State was successful in its first match of the NCAA women’s volleyball tournament Saturday night, although definitely not spectacular.

Then again, spectacular wasn’t needed against Minnesota. With outside hitter Jenn Snyder getting a team-high 18 kills, and star setter Misty May steadily improving from a left knee injury, Long Beach defeated Minnesota, 15-10, 15-13, 15-6, Saturday in the second round at the Pyramid.

The 49ers weren’t as polished as perhaps they should have been this late in the season. But Coach Brian Gimmillaro isn’t complaining.

“Well, we played OK,” Gimmillaro said. “I’ve been through this before, and my experience is that some people play well in the playoffs and some people don’t. But no matter how you play, you have to find a way to play hard and win.”

Which is what the 49ers have done better than most teams this season. They are 33-2, with Big West Conference rival Pacific providing both defeats.

The 49ers have struggled at times because of injuries. However, they have managed to avoid long stretches of poor play by sticking together and buying everything Gimmillaro preached.

They had better listen even more closely now, because Gimmillaro wasn’t pleased that several 49ers were more concerned with how they played rather than the end result against Minnesota. That simply won’t due, Gimmillaro said.

“Their level of play is not something they should be thinking about now,” said Gimmillaro, who has won two national titles since 1989. “I noticed that some of them were focusing on that, and I told them not to worry about it.

“At this time of year, all that matters is the outcome.”

Next up for Long Beach is Michigan State, which Gimmillaro believes might be the strongest team remaining in the field. The Spartans were a preseason No. 1 pick in the polls. Long Beach and Michigan State will meet at the University of Florida in Gainesville.

“They are a very, very good team,” Gimmillaro said. “You’d rather not face a team this good quite so early [in the playoffs], but that’s just the way it worked out.”

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Regaining form: May hasn’t fully recovered from her knee injury, but she’s getting there, Gimmillaro said.

“She’s definitely more mobile,” he said. “She isn’t completely healed yet, but she’s giving us everything she can. As she becomes more mobile, we’ll become better.”

The sophomore setter had 11 kills and 48 assists in the victory over Minnesota. May’s lateral movement has obviously improved, but she still can’t make quick movements the way she did before partially tearing her posterior cruciate ligament during a match Nov. 1.

Although she was sidelined down the regular-season stretch, May definitely wasn’t overlooked in the coach’s balloting for awards. She was selected Big West player of the year Tuesday, becoming Gimmillaro’s seventh player in the last nine years to win the award.

“It is really flattering to follow in the footsteps of all the great players who have won this before,” said May, a graduate of Newport Harbor High. “But this award can’t be won by just one player. Everyone has a hand in it.”

Gimmillaro is most pleased by May’s continuing development.

“Misty came here for one reason--to be the best setter in the nation,” he said. “I think that’s why people come to Long Beach State, because they believe this is the best place for them to develop their skills.

“By the time she’s done, we want Misty to be the best setter in the country at any level of volleyball.”

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Press-breaker: Tommie Davis can’t be stopped. Well, at least in certain situations.

A reserve sophomore point guard on the men’s basketball team, Davis, nicknamed “Tank” for his muscular build, is among the best ballhandlers in the Big West. He moves faster dribbling than most players can run, and opponents are beginning to take notice.

He repeatedly broke Oregon State’s full-court press in the 49ers’ 68-56 nonconference victory Tuesday at the Pyramid. His ability to break presses in the Boilermaker Invitational helped Long Beach achieve a split in the tournament hosted by Purdue.

Davis had 16 points and eight assists Saturday in an 86-71 loss to Purdue in the title game. He was named to the all-tournament team.

“We’ve got a lot of people who can score, and it’s my job to break presses and get the ball to them,” Davis said. “With me in the game, people aren’t going to be able to press us. I think teams are starting to figure that out.”

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Coming Attractions

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

* Men’s basketball: At George Mason, Tuesday, 4:30 p.m.

* Women’s basketball: Against San Diego State at the Pyramid, Tuesday, 7:30 p.m., Against Loyola Marymount at the Pyramid, Sunday, 2 p.m.

* Women’s basketball: In NCAA tournament vs. Michigan State at Gainesville, Fla., Thursday, time TBA.