Dec. 2, 2005

Box Score | Quotes

LOS ANGELES, CA - San Diego turned in a repeat performance of its four-game victory over Long Beach State on September 17, knocking the three-time national champion 49ers out of the NCAA Tournament during First Round play at UCLA's Pauley Pavilion Friday night. USD (23-5) received 24 kills from All-WCC MH Christie Dawson (Apple Valley, CA) to oust Co-Big West Champs Long Beach State (25-7) by game scores of 30-28, 25-30, 30-26 and 30-28. San Diego advances into Saturday night's 7pm second round match against UCLA (19-10).

San Diego raced off to a fast start in the first game of the four-team regional, forcing Long Beach State and 21st-year head coach Brian Gimmilaro to call a pair of quick timeouts after trailing 9-3. The ensuing adjustments and production from senior MB Erika Chidester (Covina, CA) led to a six-point 49er run and a tie game 9-9.

WCC All-Freshmen Team selection OH Jeanne Fairchild (Albuquerque, NM) made an early contribution offensively to counter the LBST run and sophomore MH Moira McCarthy (Indianapolis, IN) added one of her six Game One kills to fuel a USD surge that put the Toreros up 20-14. McCarthy hit .625 in the first game- flooring significant attacks down the stretch, as USD took the opener 30-28.

Despite McCarthy's continued success in Game Two, it was Long Beach State and junior opposite Robin Miramontes (Upland, CA) taking control of the second frame. Miramontes had seven of her 13 kills in Game Two, helping the 49ers build a 14-7 lead.

San Diego patiently chipped away at the deficit and an outstanding defensive play by Sherburne brought USD to within three, 21-18. Dawson, San Diego's 2005 offensive catalyst, would keep the Toreros close, but the two local rivals adjourned for the 10-minute intermission tied up at one game apiece.

The momentum Long Beach State gained after winning Game Two, 30-25, carried over to the early stages of Game Three. However, a long rally resulting in a Fairchild point on the outside evened the game at 9-9, and the 49ers elected to call timeout moments later trailing by two. McCarthy, an alumnus of Cathedral High School in Indianapolis, Indiana, sparked USD with consecutive points, the first coming on a defensive block, pushing the Toreros out in front 18-14.

Christie Dawson had 24 kills to lead USD over Long Beach State in NCAA Tournament First Round action at UCLA

Continuing an outstanding second half of the 2005 season, in which she emerged as the Toreros top attacker, Dawson reached 19 kills by the end of Game Three- a 30-26 USD victory.

Second-year MH Laurel Abrahamson (Bloomington, MN) began the fourth and final game with four of USD's first five points. A complete team effort that included aces from seniors L Jackie Bernardin (Bakersfield, CA) and L Monica Peterson (Los Angeles, CA), 15 of Sherburne's 68 assists, outside offense supplied by Fairchild and OH Erin Wiskar (Port Moody, British Columbia) and the powerful swing of Dawson was too much for the 49ers to overcome.

Led by seventh-year Toreros head coach Jennifer Petrie, USD has won eight straight. San Diego advances into Saturday night's 7pm second round match against UCLA (19-10).