October 6, 2007

Another big BWC match for LBSU
By Frank Burlison, Staff writer

LONG BEACH - How competitive is the Big West Conference volleyball race?

That's a rhetorical question.

Going into Friday night action, three teams had 3-1 conference records and two others stood at 2-1 while a third was 3-2.

"The conference is much, much better than we anticipated," Long Beach State coach Brian Gimmillaro said earlier this week.

His is one of the teams with a 3-1 BWC record, which the 49ers will take with them into the Walter Pyramid for tonight's match against a Cal State Northridge squad that is 3-2.

The 49ers, who have won seven of their past eight matches, are 9-5 overall while the Matadors, who handed Cal State Fullerton its first BWC defeat Tuesday night, is 6-11.

There are multiple newcomers throughout the conference and most of them are improving rapidly, Gimmillaro said in explaining improvement of teams such Pacific, Cal State Fullerton and CSUN.

After tonight, the 49ers play four of their next six matches away from Long Beach.

"And going on the road is gong to be tough for everyone this season," Gimmillaro said.