Long Beach State Beach men's volleyball

The Long Beach State Beach men's volleyball team is the NCAA Division I men's volleyball team for the Long Beach State University. Alan Knipe is the current head coach of 14 years, though he's been with the program since 2001.

Long Beach State Beach
UniversityLong Beach State University
Head coachAlan Knipe (16th season)
ConferenceBig West
LocationLong Beach, CA
Home arenaWalter Pyramid, 2019 (Capacity: 5,000)
NicknameLB 49ers
ColorsBlack and Gold[1]
         
NCAA Tournament champion
1991, 2018, 2019
NCAA Tournament runner-up
1970, 1973, 1990, 1999, 2004
NCAA Tournament semifinal
1970, 1973, 1990, 1991, 1999, 2004, 2008, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019
NCAA Tournament appearance
1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1978, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1990, 1991, 1999, 2004, 2008, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019
Conference tournament champion
1973, 1990, 1991, 2017, 2018
Conference regular season champion
SCIVA: 1973
WIVA: 1990, 1992
MPSF: 1999, 2000, 2001, 2008, 2017
Big West: 2018, 2019

Program record and history

Year Head Coach Overall
Record		 Conference
Record		 Conference
Standing		 Postseason
(SCIVA) (1970–1978)
1970 Randy Sandefur 6–4 3–2 3rd NCAA Runners-up
1971 Randy Sandefur 5–4 2–3 4th NCAA Regionals
1972 Randy Sandefur 6–8 2–4 5th NCAA Regionals
1973 Randy Sandefur 15–3 9–2 1st NCAA Runners-up
1974 Randy Sandefur 3–10 3–10 6th
1975 Miles Pabst 2–10 2–10 6th
1976 Miles Pabst 5–7 5–7 5th
1977 Dick Montgomery 4–10 4–10 6th
1978 Dick Montgomery 13–6 9–5 4th NCAA Regionals
(CIVA) (1979–1985)
1979 Dick Montgomery 14–9 9–9 6th
1980 Dick Montgomery 21–7 13–5 4th
1981 Don Paris 15–13 9–7 4th NCAA Regionals
1982 Ray Ratelle 15–15 4–12 7th NCAA Regionals
1983 Ray Ratelle 20–9 11–5 2nd NCAA Regionals
1984 Ray Ratelle 15–10 10–8 5th NCAA Regionals
1985 Ray Ratelle 14–19 3–15 9th
(WIVA) (1986–1992)
1986 Ray Ratelle 19–15 7–13 7th
1987 Ray Ratelle 18–15 5–13 7th
1988 Ray Ratelle 20–14 8–10 6th
1989 Ray Ratelle 22–9 12–8 6th
1990 Ray Ratelle 28–7 14–2 1st NCAA Runners-up
1991 Ray Ratelle 31–4 14–2 2nd NCAA Champions
1992 Ray Ratelle 27–4 15–1 1st
(Mountain Pacific Sports Federation) (1993–2017)
1993 Ray Ratelle 18–13 12–7 2nd
1994 Ray Ratelle 13–15 7–12 5th
1995 Ray Ratelle 18–9 12–7 3rd
1996 Ray Ratelle 21–6 15–4 2nd
1997 Ray Ratelle 19–10 12–7 2nd
1998 Ray Ratelle 22–7 13–6 2nd
1999 Ray Ratelle 22–4 17–2 1st
1999 Ray Ratelle 22–417–21stNCAA Runner-Up
2000 Ray Ratelle 23–516–31st
2001 Alan Knipe 18–712–51st
2002 Alan Knipe 13–18 9–13 7th
2003 Alan Knipe 17–13 11–11 8th
2004 Alan Knipe 28–718–42ndNCAA Runner-up
2005 Alan Knipe 22–10 14–8 5th
2006 Alan Knipe 22–10 14–8 4th
2007 Alan Knipe 11–17 6–16 10th
2008 Alan Knipe 23–718–41stNCAA Final Four
2009 Alan Knipe 14–1411–117th
2010 Andy Read ✝ 12–178–1410th
2011 Andy Read ✝ 15–1412–106th
2012 Andy Read ✝ 15–1510–126th
2013 Alan Knipe 24–818–6T-2nd
2014 Alan Knipe 18–1015–9T-4th
2015 Alan Knipe 15–1311–117th
2016 Alan Knipe 25–817–5T-2ndNCAA Final Four
2017 Alan Knipe 24–716–21stNCAA Final Four
(Big West Conference) (2018–present)
2018 Alan Knipe 28–19–11stNCAA Champions
2019 Alan Knipe 28–210–01stNCAA Champions
Total:819–463

      National champion         Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

Team facts

Head coach

  • 1970–1974: Randy Sandefur
  • 1975–1976: Miles Pabst
  • 1977–1980: Dick Montgomery
  • 1981: Don Paris
  • 1982–2000: Ray Ratelle
Ray Ratelle was the Head Coach for 19 seasons with an overall win-loss record of 385-190 (.670) and conference record of 207-137 (.602), with 3 Conference titles and 3 NCAA appearances. 1990 NCAA Finalist and in his 10th year, won the first ever Men's NCAA Championship team title of any sport in Long Beach State's history of athletics. Ratelle was also named Coach of the Year in both 1990 and 1991.
  • 2001–present: Alan Knipe
Alan Knipe's win-loss record presently stands at 334-149 (.692 percentage). He has been to the final four a total of eight times: twice as a player (1990, 1991) and six as a coach (2004, 2008, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019). He was a member of Long Beach's—1991--NCAA Men's VB National Championship Team; coming up a game short in coaching the 2004 team to NCAA Runners-up, he coached the 49ers to its second and third NCAAchampionships in 2018 and 2019. He was the head coach of the U.S. National Team, until 2012, and he returned to LBSU upon completing his service.

Conference

  • 1970–1978: SCIVA
    • Overall Record (incomplete): 50–56
  • 1979–1985: CIVA
    • Overall Record: 114–82
  • 1986–1992: WIVA
    • Overall Record: 165–68
  • 1993–2017: Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF)
    • Overall Record: @Good, ~79.5%
  • 2018–present: Big West Conference
    • Overall Record: 19-1

Home court

The volleyball team played in the Goldmine gymnasium at CSULB until 1994. Since November 30, 1994, the team has played at the Walter Pyramid. The 18-story tall complex has played host twice to the NCAA Men's Volleyball Championships (2001, 2003). Its infrastructure utilizes 18,000 steel tubes and connection modules. It cost approximately $22 million to build.

National championships

  • 1991: NCAA by defeating USC

With an overall record of 31 wins and just 4 losses, the 1991 NCAA Men's Volleyball Champions swept three out of their five post-season opponents. In the WIVA Tournament (Irvine, CA) the 49ers beat UCSB and SDSU 3–0 before overcoming county/national nemesis, the UCLA Bruins 3–2. From there it was on to Hawaii for the '91 Final Four. 'the Beach' said aloha to Penn State in a clean sweep 3–0; they then needed an extra game winning 3–1 over longtime rival USC for their first national championship to date.

1991's team included these mentionable leaders: Alan Knipe, Brent Hilliard (NCAA Final Four MVP), Brett Winslow, Matt Lyles, Zach Small, Jason Stimpfig and Ray Ratelle (Asics/VB Mag. & AVCA C.O.Y.). No other 'BEACH' Men's VB Team has ever won as many games as this singular team; they were a combined 89% in their win-lost ratio.

  • 2018: Won second NCAA title by defeating UCLA 3-2 (at Westwood, Los Angeles). They defeated Ohio State University (defending national champions) 3-1 in the semi-finals.

With co-Valuables Josh Tunaniga, JR-Setter AND TJ DeFalco, JR-Outside Hitter, eight thousand in the stands were treated to a thrilling five-setter match (in overtime) favoring the men of south L.A. county.

  • 2019: Won third NCAA title by defeating Hawaii 3-1 (at Long Beach). LB defeated Pepperdine University 3-1 in the semi-finals.

Notable players

  • Taylor Crabb – 2013 AVCA P.O.Y.; AVCA 2013 & 2014 1st Team All-American, 2012 Volleyball Magazine 3rd Team All-American
  • Bob Ctvrtlik – Asics/VB Mag. honorable mention All-American (1983), First U.S. Olympic Team Member/49er who won Olympic Medals in men's volleyball (1988, gold; 1992, bronze)
  • Torey Defalco – a.k.a. The Brethren, T.J. DeFalco; 2017 and 2019 AVCA Player of the Year. 4-time AVCA First Team All-American
  • Tyler Hildebrand – 4 yr starter who simultaneously doubled as the U.S. National Team's setter (2003–2012), 3-time AVCA—and Asics/VB Mag.--1st Team All-American (2004–2006), all 3rd team MPSF 15th Yr. Anniversary Team. Current Associate Coach (2013–present).
  • Tim Hill – 2-time all SCIVA Conference Player, AVP Hall of Famer
  • Brent Hilliard – 4-time All-American (1990 Asics/VB Mag. Freshman; AVCA 1st Team: 1991, 1992; AVCA 2nd Team: 1993; Asics/VB Mag. 1st Team: 1991–'93), 1992 AVCA National Player of the Year, MVP of 1991 Final Finals, all 1st team MPSF 15th Yr. Anniversary Team, U.S. Olympic Team Member (1992, Bronze Medalist). Hilliard's #7 jersey is retired hanging in LBSU's Pyramid.
  • Tom Hoff – 2-time AVCA—and Asics/VB Mag.--1st Team All-American (1995, 1996), U.S. Olympic Team Member (2000; 2004; 2008, gold medalist), all 2nd Team MPSF 15th Yr. Anniversary Team, Collegiate triple-doubles leader (K-B-D)
  • Mark Kerins – Asics/VB Mag. 1st Team All-American (1990), Asics/VB Mag. 2nd Team All-American (1989), AVP Beach Pro (1993–2000), Senior captain of the most superior 49er men's team assembled in LBSU history.
  • Alan Knipe – 2-time AVCA—and Asics/VB Mag.--All-American (1991, 2nd team; 1992, 1st team), 2004 AVCA Coach of the Year (LBSU Men's VB), U.S. National Team Coach (2009–2012), 2017 MPSF C.O.Y.
  • David Lee – 2004 AVCA 1st Team All-American, 2008 Olympic gold medalist.
  • Paul Lotman – 2008 AVCA 1st Team All-American & National Player of the Year
  • David McKenzie – 3-time All-American (AVCA 2nd Team: 1999, AVCA 1st Team: 2000, 2001 & Asics/VB Mag. 2nd Team: 1999, Asics/VB Mag. 3rd Team: 2000), holds the NCAA record for kills in a game (58/106 attempts), all 3rd team MPSF 15th Yr. Anniversary Team, sibling to Joy Fuerbringer (class of 1993, NCAA National Women's VB Champion, AVCA All-American)
  • Miles Pabst – 2-time All-American who led the team to the 1973 NCAA Final Four, U.S. National Team Member, First 49er to return to LBSU as head coach (1975–1976)
  • Dodge Parker – Pioneer from VB factory Punahou School ('69 class), 1986 LBSU Hall of Fame Inductee, NCAA Men's VB (1970, 1973) & International Volleyball Association's Star, U.S. National Team Member (1973–'80ish)
  • Scott Touzinsky – 2001 MPSF Co-Freshman of the Year, 2004 AVCA First Team All-American, and 2004 NCAA All-Tournament, 2008 USA Olympic Gold Medalist
  • Josh Tuaniga – 2018 NCAA MVB POY. Four-time AVCA All-American (2016–2019), 2016 Off the Block all-Freshman, inaugural 2018 BWCT MVP.
  • Brett Winslow – 4-time All-American, 1996 Olympian and team captain of the 1991 national title squad. Winslow's #15 jersey is retired hanging in LBSU's Pyramid.

References

  1. "Colors | California State University Long Beach". Retrieved May 19, 2019.
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