The562’s coverage of Long Beach State athletics for the 2022-23 season is sponsored by Marilyn Bohl.
The562’s coverage of Long Beach State Basketball is sponsored by CSULB Distinguished Alumnus Nelson Farris.
The562’s coverage of Long Beach State men’s basketball for the 2023-24 season is sponsored by Arline & Mike Walter.
It’s a strange time for Long Beach State men’s basketball as they prepare to start the 2024 Hercules Tires Big West Basketball Championships tonight in Henderson, Nevada.
The Beach (18-14, 10-10) is the No. 4 seed and will take on No. 5 UC Riverside in the quarterfinals at Dollar Loan Center Center. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
This could be the last game for LBSU coach Dan Monson after he and the school announced this week they’ll be parting ways at the end of the season.
READ MORE about the Monson situation.
“It’s everyone’s last dance,” Monson told his team on Monday when the news broke. “(Monday) was an emotional day but I think (the players) are in a good spot because it kind of hit all of them that this is what we’ve been working on. Everybody understands to enjoy and appreciate the last week we have together.”
UC Riverside (16-17, 10-10) beat Cal State Bakersfield 83-78 in the first round on Wednesday. LBSU beat UCR 83-75 at Walter Pyramid on Jan. 6 and then the Beach won the rematch 65-53 on Jan. 27.
“We’ve got to play with emotion and not be so emotional,” Monson said.
MEN’S VOLLEYBALL
No. 2 LBSU shook off a slow start and came to life along with the 2,000+ fans gathered last Friday at the Walter Pyramid for the Beach’s Big West opener, hosting No. 15 UC Santa Barbara. Long Beach dropped the first set before roaring to full strength and taking the match 22-25, 25-21, 25-20, 25-20.
READ MORE about the wins over UCSB.
LBSU hosts No. 3 Hawaii on Friday and Saturday at Walter Pyramid.
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
A program record 12 made 3-pointers in the Big West tournament helped No. 7 seed LBSU earn a win over UCSB in the first round on Wednesday 90-75.
The Beach spread the ball around as Savannah Tucker led the way with 17 points, while adding six rebounds. Meanwhile, Sydney Woodley and Cheyenne Givens each contributed 16 points, while Jada Crawshaw chipped in 14. Rounding out the barrage of double-figure scorers for LBSU were Casey Valenti-Paea and Patricia Chung who each recorded 10 points.
LBSU takes on UC Irvine today in the quarterfinals.
BASEBALL
The Dirtbags (10-3-1) split four games with UCLA and Wichita State last week and are already starting Big West Conference action at UC Santa Barbara this weekend.
READ MORE about the midweek loss to Dartmouth.
SOFTBALL
Jacuqelyn Bickar, Sara Olson and Carly Robbins all hit over .300 last week in the Louisville Slugger Invitational at the LBSU Softball Complex, but the Beach (4-21) only had one victory in five games.
WOMEN’S TENNIS
The Beach picked up a pair of home wins over East Carolina and UC Davis last week. Justine Dondonay clinched the match for LBSU against ECU with a 6-1, 3-6, 6-2 win at flight three. Against the Aggies, the Beach turned in an excellent singles performance winning 5-of-6 flights to secure the win.
WOMEN’S WATER POLO
The No. 10 Beach took down No. 13 UCSB thanks in part to nine saves from goalkeeper Chelsea Olivier. Lara Luka scored a hat trick while Martina Cardona added two goals and an assist.
BEACH VOLLEYBALL
No. 9 LBSU hosted the Beach Invitational and won all four of its games including a 3-2 win over No. 6 LMU.
