UCLA
Long Beach St
Long Beach State Edges UCLA, 3-2, in Men's Volleyball
June 21, 1999 | Men's Volleyball
March 4, 1999
Fifth ranked UCLA dropped its fourth consecutive match, a 3-2 decision to Long Beach State Wednesday before 735 in Pauley Pavilion.
The Bruins (11-6, 9-5) lost 15-12, 10-15, 15-7, 13-15, 15-17 in two hours, 56 minutes.
Long Beach State (11-1, 9-1) got a career high 45 kills from freshman David McKeinzie. The 49ers also outblocked the Bruins 18-15, including 6-3 in the crucial fourth game.
The turning point in the match came in Game 4 with Long Beach State behind 2-6. The 49ers reeled off seven straight points, which included four blocks, to take a 9-6 lead that they never relinquished. In Game 5, the 49ers rallied from a 2-4 deficit to take leads of 9-6 and 13-10 before the Bruins came storming back to tie the game 15-15 on a kill by junior Matt Davis. But junior Evan Thatchers service error gave the 49ers a 16-15 lead and his attack error gave them the match.
The loss overshadowed Thatcher's career high 30 kills and a career best 21 digs by Davis, who started for senior outside hitter Fred Robins, who was out because of illness. UCLA All-American middle blocker Adam Naeve also was on the Bruin bench, nursing a sprained ankle.
Senior Danny Farmer hammered 23 kills (.541) and sophomore Mark Williams added 21 (.386). Junior All-American setter Brandon Taliaferro was credited with a season best 97 set assists.
The loss marked the first time in school history the Bruins have lost four consecutive matches, a span of 1111 matches since 1963.
