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Long Beach State had best serving performances of the season to win inaugural Big West Tournament championship.
Long Beach State had a season-high 10 aces as it swept Hawai’i 25-23, 25-14, 25-19 in the Big West Tournament finals on Saturday in Long Beach, California.
Outside attacker TJ DeFalco led all players with a four aces against the Rainbow Warriors. The Big West Player of the Year and Karch Kiraly Award finalist also had a team-high eight kills on a .357 attack percentage.
Besides DeFelco, two more 49ers finished with multiple aces in the championship match on their home court. All-MPSF setter and Lloy Ball Award finalist Josh Tuaniga had three aces, while All-MPSF opposite and Bryan Ivie Award finalist Kyle Ensing added two aces.
Outside attacker Bjarne Huus also had an ace to go along with his seven kills and zero attack errors on a .583 attack percentage.
Long Beach State, which entered the postseason with a nation-best .379 attack percentage, out-hit Hawai’i .369 to .152. In addition, four of the 49ers starters had at least four kills and hit more than .300 against the Rainbow Warriors.
Opposite Rado Parapunov in the loss had a match-high 10 kills but was held to a .087 attack percentage.
This championship victory comes a week after Hawai’i upset Long Beach State in the regular season finale. That match ended the 49ers’ undefeated season and secured the No. 2 seed in the conference tournament for the Rainbow Warriors.
Hawai’i despite the loss is still projected to earn the final at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament, according to the latest Off the Block bracketology. Long Beach State was projected to be the No. 1 seed for the NCAA Tournament regardless of its results in the conference tournament.
The at-large bids and entire NCAA Tournament field will be announced Sunday.