King University Tornado downed at #3 Long Beach State

AJ Drooker/Men's Volleyball | King University

By Press release submission

Jan 15, 2023

The King University men's volleyball team faced their third ranked team in as many nights as they took on third-ranked Long Beach State University in their season-opener. The Tornado hung with the 49ers early, but Long Beach State took the contest 3-0.

THE BASICS

FINAL SCORE: #3 Long Beach State 3, King 0 (25-17, 25-12, 25-14)

LOCATION: Walter Pyramid; Long Beach, Calif.

RECORDS: King 0-4; Long Beach State 1-0

HOW IT HAPPENED

First Set

The teams traded points early on as King took a 5-3 lead behind an AJ Drooker kill and a Long Beach State error.
However the 49ers responded with three straight points and six of the next seven to take a 9-6 advantage.
A pair of Jackson Carroll kills pulled King within three twice, but Long Beach State again scored three straight, extending their lead to 19-13.
The 49ers scored three of the final four points to take the set 25-17.

Second Set

Long Beach State got off to a hot start, taking an 8-2 lead before a pair of King points, the second from an Aaron Milstead kill.
The 49ers gradually extended their lead and used five straight points to open up a 20-9 lead.
Long Beach State then scored five of the last eight points to take the set 25-12.

Third Set

King took a 3-1 lead before three straight 49er points gave Long Beach State a 4-3 lead.
A Kellan Kennedy kill followed by a block from Kennedy and Warren Davis later evened the score at 9-9.
Kennedy came up with another kill that evened the score before Milstead and Carroll teamed up for a block that gave King a 12-11 lead.
However, Long Beach State scored three straight points before going on runs of 4-0 and 6-0 to take the set 25-14 and the match 3-0.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

Carroll led King with seven points while Drooker followed with five.
Kennedy and Davis posted three and two blocks kills each.
Jack Sarnowski handed out 16 assists while Justin Sawyer registered five digs.

FOR THE FOES

Sotiris Siapanias led Long Beach State with nine kills, four blocks and four digs.
Spencer Oliver followed with eight kills and four digs.
Aidan Knipe handed out 31 assists and Mason Briggs posted six digs.

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