Long Beach State women’s volleyball delivered a commanding performance Saturday afternoon, sweeping Cal State Fullerton in straight sets (25–13, 25–22, 25–15) at Titan Gym to secure another important Big West Conference victory.
The Beach controlled much of the contest, combining an efficient offensive attack with strong defensive execution to defeat the Titans on their home court. The victory improved Long Beach State’s overall record to 16–4 and its conference mark to 8–2, while Fullerton fell to 6–17 overall and 1–9 in Big West play.
Long Beach State established its presence early, taking the opening set 25–13. The visitors maintained their offensive rhythm throughout the frame, putting Fullerton under pressure and building momentum heading into the second set.
The Titans responded with a more competitive effort in the second set, challenging Long Beach State in what became the closest frame of the afternoon. Despite Fullerton’s resistance, the Beach held firm and secured a 25–22 victory to take a commanding two-set advantage.
With the opportunity to complete the sweep, Long Beach State maintained its composure in the third set. The Beach closed out the match with a decisive 25–15 victory, preventing the Titans from extending the contest.
Sidney Hamaker led Long Beach State’s offensive attack with 14 kills while hitting an impressive .385. Kyler Birkelbach contributed 10 kills and five blocks, providing a strong presence at the net. Madi Maxwell helped direct the offense with 25 assists, while Izzy Mahaffey anchored the defensive effort with 23 digs.
As a team, Long Beach State finished with 46 kills and a .308 hitting percentage, significantly outperforming Fullerton’s 31 kills and .097 hitting percentage.
For the Titans, Bella Risling led the offensive effort with eight kills, while Sibley Oster recorded 25 assists. Marisa Nakata added nine digs, and Zariah Crosby contributed three blocks.
The victory highlighted Long Beach State’s ability to execute on both sides of the ball as the Beach continues its push through the Big West Conference schedule.
For Cal State Fullerton, the loss serves as another challenge in a difficult conference campaign, with the Titans looking to regroup and find consistency in their remaining matches.
Long Beach State will look to build on its momentum as the conference season progresses, with each victory becoming increasingly valuable in the race for postseason positioning.
