Long Beach State women’s volleyball concluded their road trip with a 3-1 defeat at UC Santa Barbara. Freshman Preslie Yates shone with career highs in both blocks and kills, while teammates Logan King and Elise Agi each contributed 15 kills. Despite their efforts, the Beach couldn’t overcome the Gauchos’ strong defense, which included a significant dig advantage, to secure the win. UCSB won the first two sets 25-21, before Long Beach claimed the third set 25-18, but ultimately lost the fourth set 25-14.
By the NumbersLong Beach State recorded 12 blocks in total, with 8 from Preslie Yates.UC Santa Barbara outperformed Long Beach in digs, 66 to 47. Yes, But
While Long Beach State showcased strong individual performances, the team’s overall defense struggled against UCSB’s coordinated attacks. The loss highlights the need for improvement on both offense and defense to consistently compete at a higher level.
State of PlayThe match marks Long Beach’s 8th loss of the season, leaving them with a 10-4 record in the Big West.Both Long Beach State and UC Santa Barbara are now tied in conference standings at 10-4. What’s Next
Long Beach State will return home to conclude their regular season with two matches against UC Riverside and UC Davis. They will aim to leverage home-court advantage and seek to improve their chances in the Big West standings.
Bottom Line
Despite the loss, standout performances from young players like Preslie Yates signal potential for future success. The team’s focus will need to shift to enhancing defensive strategies if they hope to contend effectively in upcoming matches.