49ers’ Title Bid Falls Short

Brigham Young rallied to win its third NCAA men’s volleyball title in five years, defeating Long Beach State in five games Saturday night.

Top-seeded BYU (29-4) overcame three 49ers’ championship points to win, 15-30, 30-18, 20-30, 32-30, 19-17, in a match between the schools that played for the 1999 championship, won by the Cougars.

After 49er hitter Scott Touzinsky hit into the antenna, the Cougars spilled onto the court to celebrate, holding up the NCAA trophy.

Joe Hillman had 14 kills for BYU, while Jonathan Alleman and Fernando Pessoa each added 13 kills and combined for 15 digs. Touzinsky had a match-high 17 kills. He added five aces and eight digs.

Long Beach (28-7) went on a 7-4 run, capped by a double block by Touzinsky and Duncan Budinger to give the 49ers a 10-6 lead in the final game. But the Cougars battled back, with Alleman breaking a 17-all tie with a crosscourt spike.

Touzinsky’s error gave BYU the victory.

BYU, a winner of 28 of its last 29 matches, played in its fourth championship in five years. The Cougars also won the NCAA title in 2001.

They advanced to the finals by winning a match between the schools that met in last year’s title match, defeating defending champion Lewis in three games.

Second-seeded Long Beach advanced by defeating No. 3 Penn State.

It was the fourth meeting between the schools, which play in the dominant Mountain Pacific Sports Federation. BYU won the three previous matches, including a four-game victory May 1 in the MPSF finals.

The 49ers dominated the first game, forcing the Cougars into several hitting errors. BYU had trouble handling Touzinsky’s sharp jump serves. He had four aces in the first game, including three during a 7-0 run that made it 19-3.

The Cougars quickly regained their composure and evened the match in Game 2, building a double-digit lead behind Pessoa’s six kills. BYU had a 16-8 advantage before Long Beach was able score back-to-back points.

There were 14 ties and two lead changes in the fourth game before Alleman’s solo block pushed the match into a fifth game.

The 49ers were making their sixth championship appearance and first since 1999.

Long Beach’s NCAA title, in 1991, came in Honolulu, with a team that was led by middle blocker Alan Knipe, who is the 49er coach.