{"id":35560,"date":"2025-11-03T05:58:25","date_gmt":"2025-11-03T05:58:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/35560\/"},"modified":"2025-11-03T05:58:25","modified_gmt":"2025-11-03T05:58:25","slug":"long-beach-state-sweeps-cal-state-fullerton-to-open-rivalry-week","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/35560\/","title":{"rendered":"Long Beach State Sweeps Cal State Fullerton To Open Rivalry Week"},"content":{"rendered":"

FULLERTON, Calif. \u2013 Long Beach State went on the road and cruised to a 25-16, 25-23, 25-21 win over the Titans behind a fantastic night from junior Anabel Kotzakov<\/a>.
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\nThe Beach hit .300 overall and got a spark from Kotzakov, who finished with 15 kills on .407 hitting, two off her career high in just three sets, while adding a pair of aces and three blocks. That came with 12 digs as well, as the junior recorded her first double-double of the season.
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\nNieko Thomas<\/a> had five total blocks as well, while Sidney Hamaker<\/a> also finished with double-digit kills with 10, and Madi Maxwell<\/a> guided the offense, finishing with 35 assists while hitting .455 with five kills herself.
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\nLong Beach State (16-6, 9-2 Big West) got off to a quick start against the Titans. Putting together four blocks in the first set, the Beach pushed out to a 4-0 lead with two quick blocks and didn’t look back, hitting .367 in the set. With the early advantage, Cal State Fullerton (7-16, 2-9) was never really able to threaten the lead, particularly after kills from Logan King<\/a> and Rhiann Sheffie<\/a> helped the Beach push out to a 19-12 lead. A block from Sheffie and Anabel Kotzakov<\/a> bookended the set as Long Beach State closed out a 25-16 win.
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\nCal State Fullerton took their first lead of the match in the second set at 4-3, but Long Beach State quickly pulled back in front 7-4 with a block from Madi Maxwell<\/a> and Nieko Thomas<\/a>. The Titans continued to chip away, taking the lead at 9-8 and eventually pushing to a 13-10 lead. Kotzakov and Thomas hit back-to-back kills to help LBSU tie the set at 14-14, and then an ace from Maxwell followed by a kill from Logan King<\/a> put the Beach on top 20-18. Cal State Fullerton would tie the set once more at 23-23, but an authoritative sideout kill from Kotzakov and Maxwell hammering a mistake from the Titans gave the Beach a 25-23 set two win.
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\nLong Beach State opened a 4-1 lead early on kills from Kotzakov and Thomas, and then continued to build a lead up to 10-6 following the seventh block of the night from the Beach. With the momentum, Long Beach State continued to build their lead, creating a seven-point cushion at 18-11. Cal State Fullerton battled back, cutting the lead down to two at 23-21, but the Beach closed out the win 25-21 to finish off the sweep.
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\nLong Beach State’s rivalry week continues on Saturday, when the Beach welcomes UC Irvine into the Walter Pyramid for the Black and Blue Rivalry. The match will begin at 6 p.m., with live coverage on ESPN+.
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