Long Beach State Takes the Fight Out of Illinois

Top-ranked and undefeated Long Beach State defeated Illinois in straight games Thursday night to advance to the Mountain Regional final of the NCAA women’s volleyball tournament.

Long Beach (33-0) swept aside the Fighting Illini, 16-14, 15-4, 15-11, before 3,159 at the Pyramid, and will meet Texas at 7:30 tonight for the right to advance to the Final Four at Madison, Wis., on Dec. 17 and 19.

The 49ers trailed, 14-12, before winning the first game. In Game 2, Long Beach had five service aces, including three by Misty May.

“I think our fight showed [in Game 1],” said May, the reigning player of the year. “They were a really physical team, the first physical team we played in a while.”

Benishe Dillard led the 49ers with 14 kills and a .407 hitting percentage and teammate Jessica Alvarado added 10 kills. Mary Coleman led Illinois (22-11) with 17 kills and a .444 hitting percentage.

In the first match, Texas defeated two-time defending champion Stanford, 16-14, 15-5, 4-15, 16-14. It marked the fifth-ranked Cardinal’s earliest exit from the tournament since 1993 and broke its 12-match postseason winning streak.

The Longhorns (27-4) were led by Demetria Sance with 18 kills. Stanford finished 27-4.

Elsewhere, fourth-ranked Florida moved within one victory of its third straight Final Four appearance with a 15-13, 12-15, 15-9, 15-9 East Regional semifinal victory over No. 10 USC at Gainesville, Fla.

The Trojans (24-5) were led by All-American Jasmina Marinkovic with 22 kills. Jenny Manz and Jenni Keene had 19 and 18, respectively, for the Gators (34-2).