No. 25 49ers Advance In NCAA Tournament.
Long Beach State defeats UNLV in five games.

Nov. 30, 2007

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LOS ANGELES – Michaela Hasalikova had 17 kills on .406 hitting to lead the 49ers to a tough five-game victory in Long Beach State’s NCAA Tournament opener Friday night. Alexis Crimes added 21 kills to lead all hitters for the match. The 49ers advance to Saturday's second round with the 30-20, 28-30, 30-27, 23-30, 15-10 win.

With her 21 kills, the 49ers’ star Crimes moved past Antoinnette White for third place in career kills with 1,732 in her career. Her combined hitting and blocking with Hasalikova would prove to be the difference in the long match along with solid all-around play from Ashley Lee and Nicole Vargas, each of whom came away with a double-double on the night.

From the start of the first game, the match did not look to be nearly as close as it was. With the tournament-tested 49ers making their 21st consecutive trip to the NCAA first round, UNLV was making their first and the Rebels looked like it early. The 49ers unreeled six straight points to open the game, and after taking a 20-10 lead, easily made sideouts to take a 30-20 win.

Game two looked to follow the same pattern early, but UNLV recovered from .000 team hitting in the opening game to outhit the 49ers in the second, .163 to .148. Long Beach State took the first five points, capitalizing on a Jada Walker service error to open the game. After holding onto the lead for most of the game, UNLV started to work their way back, cutting the lead to two at 26-24. Long Beach State moved ahead 28-25 after a Maria Aladjova attack error, but UNLV closed out the game with five consecutive points to grab a 30-28 win.

Reducing their hitting errors in game three, the 49ers were able to recover nicely from an early lull and hold on to a game three decision by a 30-27 score. UNLV held a 15-13 lead through the midpoint of the game, but the 49ers were able to turn around the momentum late in the game after a Naomi Washington kill to tie the game at 27-28, and a kill by Quincy Verdin closed out the win. Game four belonged to the Rebels though, as UNLV forced 11 Long Beach State service errors on the way to a 23-30 win.

UNLV opened game five by taking two quick points, but a Camille Cunningham attack error swung the tide towards the Beach, where the 49ers took a 3-2 lead after a Crimes kill. The 49ers would rally one more time to take a 9-5 lead after a double-touch call on Erin Greenwood. However, UNLV fought all the way back to a 10-10 tie following a Jada Walker service ace. Long Beach State went back to Hasalikova to get a big sideout, and after three straight attack errors, the 49ers closed out the game and the match with a Nicole Vargas ace.

Long Beach State continues tournament play tomorrow, as the 49ers face the winner of the evening match between USC and Pepperdine. That game is scheduled for 7 p.m. in the Galen Center on the campus of USC.