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We will have our full preview of the Long Beach State men’s volleyball team–ranked No. 2 in the nation–on the website next week.
The Long Beach State men’s volleyball team opened the season at home in the Walter Pyramid with a pair of dominant wins, sweeping Long Island University and beating Saint Francis in four sets. The Beach (2-0) proved why they’re the No. 2-ranked team in the nation, with a host of returning All-American and All-Big West players. Beach head coach Alan Knipe said he wasn’t bothered by his team dropping a set to Saint Francis, and loved the way his team responded in the fourth frame, coming back from losing the third to win the fourth 25-16.
“What really impressed me was the response in the fourth set, I’m really happy with it,” he said. “Not every match is going to be a sweep–we got challenged and we responded.”
On Friday, the Beach won 25-19, 25-17, 25-17 and hit .305 to Long Island’s .081, as setter Aidan Knipe dished out 28 assists. Clarke Godbold hit .500 with 12 kills to lead the way outside, while libero Mason Briggs had 10 digs.
On Saturday, the Beach took down the Red Flash 25-21, 25-20, 21-25, 25-16. The Beach hit .313 and held Saint Francis to .157. The Beach were led by Sotiris Siapanis’ 13 kills on .400 hitting and Godbold’s 12 kills. Knipe had 40 assists and middle blocker Simon Torwie flashed his big serve with four aces and six blocks. The Beach kept SF off-balance with their aggressive serving, tallying 11 aces in the process.
“The different variations of serve is something we’ve been working on,” said Knipe. “It was a big push in the Fall…we want to serve with heat and location.”
The Beach hit the road to face Merrimack College in Massachusetts and then to the NJIT Tournament to face George Mason and NJIT. They won’t return to the Pyramid until Jan. 26 when they host Pepperdine.
Knipe, a former Olympic and National Team coach, said he feels a responsibility to bring his team, a perennial national championship contender, to new areas; as well as to bring new programs out to Long Beach.
“We want to grow the game, we want to schedule people that show athletic directors and conference commissioners that have invested in the sport that their teams will get a chance to come out to the West Coast and play some teams,” he said.
