University Southern California Trojans
USC
Long Beach St
Men's Volleyball Defeated By Long Beach State, 3-0
February 16, 2002 | Men's Volleyball
Feb. 16, 2002
LONG BEACH, CA - Nick Marbach recorded double-digit kills for the second time this week in Long Beach State's three-game sweep over USC Saturday night in the Pyramid. The win is the team's second in a row, and third in its last four matches. The 49ers are now 6-8 overall and 4-4 in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation. USC dropped its record to 4-11, 1-8 in the MPSF. Game scores were 30-25, 30-20, 30-26.
Marbach led all player with 12 kills while hitting .348. Tim May pitched in with nine kills and Scott Touzinsky had seven to go along with six digs. The Trojans were led by Brook Billings who had 10 kills at an .080 hitting percentage. Neither team was outstanding in the numbers department. LBSU hit .186 for the match, the Trojans .011 with 29 hitting errors.
The 49ers had the first string of points in the match, extending out to a 10-5 lead on a kill of an USC overpass by May. The Trojans would comeback after taking their first timeout, changing momentum slightly and eventually tying the game at 16-16.
A series of errors on the USC side of the net, including overpasses and setting errors contributed to Long Beach State opening a 24-19 lead. After closing to within 24-23, again it would be Trojan miscues allowing Long Beach State to take control. A blocking error, attack error and an ace paved the way to the 49ers 30-25 game one victory.
Hitting percentages of .400 for LBSU and -.083 for USC added up to an 12-8 lead early in game two for the 49ers. Those numbers turned out to be a good indicator of how game two went, culminating in an easy 30-20 game two victory. Marbach had five kills in game two alone as LBSU hit .467 in the game, USC just -.032.
Game three was the best of the match with neither team separating from one another toward the end. May was a factor in the clincher, hurting the Trojans with four kills and a block. The 49ers were outstanding on defense in game three, recording 12 digs, including four from libero Kelly Caldwell.
