LONG BEACH, Calif. – The King University men's volleyball team faced their third ranked team in as many nights as they took on third-ranked Long Beach State University in their season-opener. The Tornado hung with the 49ers early, but Long Beach State took the contest 3-0.
THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: #3 Long Beach State 3, King 0 (25-17, 25-12, 25-14)
LOCATION: Walter Pyramid; Long Beach, Calif.
RECORDS: King 0-4; Long Beach State 1-0
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Set
- The teams traded points early on as King took a 5-3 lead behind an AJ Drooker kill and a Long Beach State error.
- However the 49ers responded with three straight points and six of the next seven to take a 9-6 advantage.
- A pair of Jackson Carroll kills pulled King within three twice, but Long Beach State again scored three straight, extending their lead to 19-13.
- The 49ers scored three of the final four points to take the set 25-17.
Second Set
- Long Beach State got off to a hot start, taking an 8-2 lead before a pair of King points, the second from an Aaron Milstead kill.
- The 49ers gradually extended their lead and used five straight points to open up a 20-9 lead.
- Long Beach State then scored five of the last eight points to take the set 25-12.
Third Set
- King took a 3-1 lead before three straight 49er points gave Long Beach State a 4-3 lead.
- A Kellan Kennedy kill followed by a block from Kennedy and Warren Davis later evened the score at 9-9.
- Kennedy came up with another kill that evened the score before Milstead and Carroll teamed up for a block that gave King a 12-11 lead.
- However, Long Beach State scored three straight points before going on runs of 4-0 and 6-0 to take the set 25-14 and the match 3-0.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Carroll led King with seven points while Drooker followed with five.
- Kennedy and Davis posted three and two blocks kills each.
- Jack Sarnowski handed out 16 assists while Justin Sawyer registered five digs.
FOR THE FOES
- Sotiris Siapanias led Long Beach State with nine kills, four blocks and four digs.
- Spencer Oliver followed with eight kills and four digs.
- Aidan Knipe handed out 31 assists and Mason Briggs posted six digs.
UP NEXT
- The Tornado take on 11th-ranked USC on Saturday at 4:00 p.m. (ET) at Long Beach State.
- Long Beach State faces Lindenwood University on Saturday.
