The562’s coverage of Long Beach State athletics for the 2023-24 season is sponsored by Marilyn Bohl.
The562’s coverage of Dirtbags Baseball for the 2024 season is sponsored by P2S, Inc. Visit p2sinc.com to learn more.
The Long Beach State Dirtbags (9-1-1) are off to their best start since 1989 after winning their fourth straight game on Tuesday against UCLA.
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The Dirtbags take a trip to Kansas this weekend for a series with Wichita State.
MEN’S VOLLEYBALL
Last week In the final non conference matchup of the season, No. 2 LBSU used strong serving and effective defense to defeat No. 9 Penn State 25-17, 25-14, 24-26, 25-14 at Walter Pyramid Friday night. It was the Beach’s fourth straight win and lifted them to 14-1 on the season and 5-1 against nationally ranked opponents.
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LBSU hosts UC Santa Barbara on Friday at 7 p.m.
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
A win at Fullerton earned LBSU (12-16, 7-11) its spot in the 2024 Big West Championship. Sydney Woodley led the way averaging 17.0 points per game last week on a 52.2 (12-23) field goal percentage, while going a perfect 5-for-5 from long distance. She tied her career-high with 21 points in a loss at UC Irvine, while just missing a double-double with nine rebounds.
LBSU hits the road to Santa Barbara and Davis this week.
SOFTBALL
Malayna Terrones was named the Big West Freshman of the Week after a pair of home runs in a pair of victories for the Beach. A two-run home run from the Los Alamitos High product helped kick start LBSU’s 7-6 win over Michigan in the team’s home opener.
Terrones also had a hit as part of LBSU’s seven runs scored against No. 17 Texas A&M, and hit another two-run shot as part of the 14-6 win over San Jose State, scoring a pair of runs after also reaching on a hit by pitch.
LBSU is hosting games as part of the Louisville Slugger Invitational this weekend. The Beach is scheduled to face San Diego State on Friday at 7 p.m., Princeton on Saturday at 12:30 p.m., Grand Canyon on Saturday at 3 p.m. and Utah State on Sunday at Noon.
MEN’S BASKETBALL
The Beach (18-12, 10-8) slid down to fourth place in the Big West standings with losses to Fullerton and Irvine last week. LBSU hosts UC Santa Barbara on Thursday at 7 p.m. and then UC Davis on Saturday at 3 p.m. for the last home game of the season.
INDOOR TRACK & FIELD
Hailey Fune’ was named MPSF Women’s Athlete of the Year again after winning the pentathlon for the second year with a school-record 3,889 points. On the same day, Fune’ went 19-1 1/4 (fourth longest in school history) in the long jump to finish fourth. She also was fourth in the high jump (5’6”). She began the day by breaking the school record in 60m hurdles, running a time of 8.30.
WOMEN’S WATER POLO
At the Claremont Convergence last week No. 9 LBSU beat Mount St. Mary’s 21-8 No. 22 Long Island 13-9. Lara Luka scored her 50th goal of the season and Hailey Multz had a career-high six goals against Mount St. Mary’s. Mariah Walker averaged 4.5 goals per game for the tournament.
WOMEN’S TENNIS
LBSU split its matches in Hawaii. Despite dropping a 4-3 contest to Big West foe Hawaii, Rhona Cook was the bright spot as she knocked off No. 99 Ana Vilcek in a pivotal three-set contest at flight one. The Beach also beat Hawaii Pacific.
BEACH VOLLEYBALL
Last weekend No. 9 played some of the best teams in the nation in losses to No. 1 UCLA and NO. 3 USC but still beat No. 13 Washington 3-2.
MEN’S GOLF
The Beach finished in a tie for third place with Arkansas State as they carded a 17-under par performance at Lake Las Vegas Intercollegiate. LBSU was led by senior Clay Seeber who fired a 69-75-66 for a 6-under par finish in a tie for fourth place.
WOMEN’S GOLF
LBSU freshman Andee Avery was top 10 at the GCU Invitational in Phoenix, closing out the tournament five-under par to help propel the Beach into a sixth place finish.
