49ers Set for a Perfect Ending

Tayyiba Haneef sat at the podium, speaking confidently and feeling at ease in the spotlight of the NCAA women’s volleyball championships. The imposing, 6-foot-7 Long Beach State outside hitter was at home.

“We came in on day one and decided we wanted to be undefeated and win the national championship and from that day, everyone has worked toward that goal,” she said. “I do feel like it’s our rightful place to be here.”

So far, the 49ers’ season has been one of atonement. Now it is about closing the deal as they head into tonight’s national semifinal against Arizona at Cox Arena trying to make history as the third team to go through a season undefeated.

Perhaps thinking that the 49ers were in for a downturn after three final fours and an NCAA title, the coaches’ association ranked Long Beach eighth before the season. Injuries and roster shakeups contributed to last year’s 24-8 record, a year in which the 49ers were knocked out in the regional semifinals by Hawaii.

Free of all that this season, the top-ranked 49ers (32-0) have lost only six games and none in the NCAA tournament. Only UC Santa Barbara took them to five games, on Sept. 21.

Middle blocker Cheryl Weaver, a reserve on the undefeated 1998 title team, said the 49ers don’t feel any pressure.

“You can ask anyone on the team and we all feel we deserve to be here,” she said. “This is a comfortable setting. A lot of teams come to a final four and get a little bit nervous but we have proven to ourselves that we can play at the championship level.”

Long Beach jumped to No. 2 in the nation after its four-game victory over defending NCAA champion Nebraska in the second match of the season. It has held the top ranking for the last 10 weeks.

Long Beach Coach Brian Gimmillaro went so far as to say the 49ers were the surprise team, at least according to preseason prognosticators who ranked them eighth.

“Last season we finished 14th and haven’t added any personnel and in the preseason, we were ranked eighth,” he said. “Then we won and now we’re No. 1. If there’s a surprise team this year, I think by all standards it’s Long Beach.”

Arizona (25-4) earned its first final four bid with a five-game victory over Pacific 10 rival USC.

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Weaver and Haneef were named to the American Volleyball Coaches Assn. All-America first team, while senior setter Keri Nishimoto was named to the second team.

It is Weaver’s third consecutive first-team selection and the first nods for Haneef and Nishimoto.

Weaver is a leading contender for national player-of-the-year honors. USC sophomore middle blocker Katie Olsovsky and Pepperdine sophomore outside hitter Katie Wilkins also were named to the second team.

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At a Glance

NCAA Division I

Women’s Volleyball Championships at Cox Arena, San Diego State

Semifinals: Today, Long Beach State (32-0) vs. Arizona (25-4), 6 p.m. (ESPN2, delayed, 8 a.m., Friday); Nebraska (31-1) vs. Stanford (31-2), approximately 8 p.m. (ESPN, delayed, noon, Friday).

Final: Saturday, Long Beach State-Arizona winner vs. Nebraska-Stanford winner, noon, ESPN2.

Fast fact: Long Beach State is trying to win its fourth national title and become the third team to go undefeated. Nebraska is trying to become first repeat champion since Stanford in 1996-97.