CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, LONG BEACH
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See page 2 for in-depth profiles on the Associated Students, Inc. executive presidential candidates and their journeys to positions of leadership.
VOL. LXVIX, ISSUE 58 | MARCH 8, 2018
Sabrina Flores | Daily 49er
The Long Beach State men’s volleyball team celebrates immediately after earning its 17th consecutive victory over Mount Olive.
BREAKING THE BOOKS The No. 1 Long Beach men’s volleyball team won its 17th consecutive match with a sweep against Mount Olive Wednesday. The team made history, becoming the first to start a season 17-0. For the full game recap, see page 7. ELECTIONS
Our future hangs in ballots ASI candidates rally to get student votes before March 14. By James Chow and Lorraine Debbas Staff Writers
Fliers around campus, informational booths along busy university areas and tables bribing students with coffee for talking to student government candidates — these sights can only mean one
thing: Associated Students Inc. elections are here. Students can vote for their favored candidates online via email until March 14. The results are expected to be released the day after. “It takes less than a minute to submit a ballot,” said Ian MacDonald, a molecular biology sophomore running for senator of natural science and math. “All of the candidates are hardworking students who really want to serve, and it Hunter Lee | Daily 49er
see VOTE, page 3
A student speaks with Gus Krider, a candidate for treasurer, at the ASI election information booths on Wednesday. Students are able to vote online up until March 14.
2 NEWS
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ASI Presidential Candidates PROFILE
Moving on up? Current vice president Sofia Musman begins her candidacy for ASI president. By Lorraine Debbas Staff Writer
Sabrina Flores | Daily 49er
Sophia Musman, who is the current vice president of ASI, is one of two candidates fighting for the position of student body president.
Sofia Musman has been through all things student government. As a college of the arts senator, she listened to complaints from the campus community over the boycott, divestment sanction resolution that was proposed and passed last spring. As student body vice president, she oversaw a mixed group of senators debating a football exploratory commission. All that’s left for her is to take the presidential role.
Moving from Brazil to California and finding a home in Long Beach has posed challenges for junior Sofia Musman. Such a transitional experience has allowed her to advocate for diversity and acceptance among peers. “I knew that I wanted to come to a state that was more welcoming of people from different countries,” Musman said. “I’ve seen so much more diversity than the city I grew up in, here I see so many different communities.” Musman has made her mark all over campus, including her involvement in women’s fraternity Zeta Tau Alpha, Beach Hillel and the ASI senate. “The more you are involved in different departments and groups on campus, the better it is to understand the different perspectives of students and how you can better serve
everyone,” Musman said. Junior Megan Mckane has been Musman’s “big” in the women’s fraternity and noted her social skills as a positive perk for a student body president. “Sofia is definitely the person to go to when you need advice,” McKane said. “In the end, she wants the best for everyone, so she’ll always listen and try to guide you in the best direction.” Musman’s involvement as a student representative has benefited her ability to reach out to different students on campus and hear their concerns. “The best way to get your name out there on campus is talk to the people and hear what they have to say,” Musman said. “At the end of the day you are representing the student body and there’s no [better]way to represent
them than to be there and hear what they want you to do for them.” Senator At-Large Steph Argent, who is campaigning as vice president with Musman, said she admires her leadership as current vice president. “The entire year she has been open to hearing each senator’s ideas and has consistently been collaborating and supporting them in any way she could,” Argent said. “ While at the same time [she] has maintained a firm hand so that we always stay focused and on track. When making decisions as a leader, Musman said she follows the values her parents taught her. “My parents always taught me to trust my heart,” Musman said. “Always make decisions that will help others in the long run.”
PROFILE
Chief looks to lead student body After journeying through different leadership positions, Genesis Jara is ready to take on a presidential title. By Lorraine Debbas Staff Writer
From big brand internships such as Coca-Cola and a student ambassador for Amazon to starting her own nonprofit, Genesis Jara’s next goal is to add Associated Students Inc. president to her resume. Jara, a junior majoring in business administration, pulls her leadership experience from her position within the Hispanic Student Business Association. “My role as president of the Hispanic Students Business Association really helped me to gain the leadership and communication skills needed to succeed in ASI,” Jara said. “Most importantly, it taught me the importance of
advocating for students of underrepresented communities.” Michael Castillo, a CSULB alumnus, worked with Genesis at the HSBA and said she is a “Wonder Woman” for her leading skills and altruistic nature. “She is strong willed-character that always went out of her way to ensure not only her team but her members were succeeding in the organization with academics, internship opportunities and resume building,” Castillo said. After her involvement in the business organization, Jara moved onto being a Chief Government Relations officer for ASI. “As a Latina and [a] first generation college student, we are not always seen in leadership positions such as these and it was important for me to make sure I do so in a way that uplifts my communities,” Jara said. Last year, Jara met sophomore business management major Aaron Whitehurst at the California Higher Education Student Summit where they both lobbied with state legislatures against the Cal State University-wide tuition
increase. Whitehurst is running for treasurer with Jara. “She has a passion for the students that is unrivaled and she wants to see the students heard, cared, and accounted for by administration,” Whitehurst said. “That type of mindset is how I feel change is brought.” Leen Almahdi, current senator of Health and Human Services and candidate for vice president, will campaign alongside Jara. “I met Genesis through ASI, to be honest I was in awe of her overall aura and passion for serving students,” Almahdi said. “Genesis is extremely compassionate and takes the time to listen to people’s concerns to understand issues on a deeper level. In addition to that she is calculated and organized, to the point where she’s usuallly two steps ahead of the game.” Integrity is something Jara doesn’t take lightly and uses it when making decisions for her peers on a daily basis. “One of the principles I live my life by is always leading with humility and making sure that the
Sabrina Flores | Daily 49er
Genesis Jara, who is running for the role of ASI president, greeted students at the Coffee with Candidates event and took the opportunity to distinguish herself as a candidate.
voice of my peers is involved in every decision that I make,” Jara said. “Through this process, I
am constantly reminded of how important it is to lead with a servant’s heart in everything I do.”
WEDNESDAY’S ASI MEETING HIGHLIGHTS • The Senate passed a resolution in 20-0-2 vote to suggest the university relocate Prospector Pete to FA 2 and 3.
• ASI Senate elected Justin Woolfolk onto the Social Justice and Equity Committee.
• Suffolk said, “I would say it’s OK to protest, but protest in a peaceful manner, because violence doesn’t change someone’s mind.”
NEWS 3
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No gun regulations, no school
Women’s March Youth calls all local schools to rally against gun violence. By Shyanne Riberal-Norton
Staff Writer
A new movement may soon disrupt school days all over the nation as students, staff and faculty around the country plan to walk out of classes in the middle of the day to take a stand against gun violence. Women’s March Youth Empower began promoting a National School Walkout day on Feb. 15, just one day after the Parkland, Florida shooting. The event is set to take place March 14. On Feb. 14, 19-year-old Nikolas Cruz conducted a mass shooting in Stoneman Douglas High School that left 17 dead and 14 wounded. The walkout day is intended to protest gun violence and pay homage to those affected by the shooting. The group hopes to encourage students, teachers and parents to walk out of classes at 10 a.m. to motivate U.S. Congress to create tighter firearm laws. Occurring on the one month anniversary of the most recent school shooting, the walkout will last 17 minutes in honor of the 17 lives lost in Parkland. Although administration of Cal State
Courtesy of Victoria Sanchez’ Twitter
Students host a three minute “lie in” in front of the White House as a call for gun reform. On March 14, students across the nation plan to stage a “walk out” as a stand against gun violence.
Long Beach did not formally declare its participation in the movement, President Jane Close Conoley sent a message out to the campus community March 5,supporting the endeavor to establish gun reform. “Perhaps members of our Beach community might find it in their hearts to amplify efforts by these children [Parkland survivors] to save themselves,” Conoley said. Nevertheless, Michelle Stonis, lecturer of history at Cal State Long Beach, is plan-
ning to participate by walking out alongside the students on campus, even though she doesn’t have class that day. “The issues of school safety and gun reform are at the forefront of my mind as an educator, parent and citizen,” Stonis said. Students reactions have been ambivalent on whether or not to participate in the movement. Elizabeth Olague, a sociology major, encourages all campus advocates for gun con-
LOCAL
City Council approves new zoning plan amid debate Land Use Element will increase housing projects in Long Beach. By Grant Hermanns Staff Writer
Affordable housing units may be in Long Beach’s future — and not everyone is happy about it. The Land Use Element plan has been controversial and long-debated since the announcement to update it over a decade ago and, despite many voices against it, Long Beach City Council voted to move ahead with it during Tuesday night’s meeting. The plan, with goals to increase land development for housing as well as in commercial and industrial elements, has received contention from land-owning residents since its introduction. Many concerns from current residents about these housing developments range from an increase in criminal activities to difficulties with parking. The council held the vote during the meeting, while also allowing those in attendance three minutes to air grievances to the council in regard to the plan. “Destroying businesses to build residential units is just wrong,” said Carrie Sharp, a resident of Long Beach’s fifth district for 33 years. “Any official [who] puts money before the people does not have a place in Long Beach.” One major consensus from the Land Use Element’s opponents is the idea that inviting this increase of affordable housing would allow more crime and traffic into their neighborhoods, thus
decreasing the property value for future markets. The plan’s primary goal is to create more affordable housing in the city, working toward building 7,000 units over the next eight years, including 4,000 units downtown, according to Mayor Robert Garcia. In a city where overcrowding is an issue, this element looks to create more housing per person across 800 acres. Despite the outrage against the proposal, Garcia also noted the increasing level of support in providing more housing in the downtown area, which wasn’t the case a few years prior. “I am glad that the city has come together and are now behind the idea that, ‘Yes we can and should build in the downtown for new people moving in, for young professionals, for seniors, for students and for working people,’” Garcia said. One such supporter of the Land Use Element is Daniel Brezenoff, who criticized those who argue lack of parking as a reason to stand against the plan, reminding that parking is not a constitutional, nor a human right. “When we talk about parking, let’s be honest, what you really mean is you want free parking on your street in front of your house,” Brezenoff said. “But parking is not a human right, your ocean view is not a human right and to live in the city that you had when you were 12 -years -old is not a human right. Housing is a human right.” After over six hours of discussion among council members and testimonies from the public, the council voted nearly unanimously at 8-1 to approve the plan, with the one holdout being fourth district councilman Daryl Supernaw. Following the vote, the council will prepare a final environmental report set to be completed in about a year, followed by a series of zoning changes set to take places over the next several years.
trol to participate in the event. “If you think that it’s a good idea and you want to walk and protest, then you should [walkout],” Olague said. “As for students that don’t walk out, do your research and really think about if you should or shouldn’t. Louie Perez, aerospace engineering senior, said that while the walkout will bring attention to the problem, it won’t do much in the long run. “I feel like no matter how many times we go and coordinate events like this, it’s not enough to actually cause a change,” Perez said. This effort preludes the student-led march happening March 24 in Washington D.C., which aims to raise awareness against gun violence. Although multiple schools across the nation have registered to participate, there may be consequences in certain schools for those who choose to take part in the event. Psychology senior Santana Chavez said that she would join the march if there were a lot of students in an organized group and media present to make the most impact. “I’m not sure if I would walk to class, stand up by myself and then walk out if nobody was doing it,” Chavez said. “One person doing it isn’t really a movement.” Citizens, who are interested in organizing a walkout in their local community, are able to register at the Women’s March Youth website.
VOTE
continued from page 1 would mean the world to us to get a student’s vote.” To get acquainted with prospective student leaders, the campus community can attend Coffee with the Candidates Thursday from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the bookstore vendor area. According to La Keisha Jeanmarie, government elections officer, there will also be “Get Out the Vote” informational booths on the candidates over the next two weeks. Campaigning for the elections started March 5. Candidates for executive positions were required to obtain at least 100 student signatures, and college senator positions had to obtain 50 student signatures. MacDonald mentioned other ways candidates will reach out to the student body. “Expect to see fliers and lots of people you may have not seen before coming to talk to you about why they would be the best person for the job,” MacDonald said. Gus Krider, a candidate for treasurer, has fliers of himself already posted around campus walkways. He says he wants to make sure everyone knows who he is before the voting deadline rolls up. “They should expect me to get everywhere and be [as] annoying as possible, because that’s what it takes to get elected, this is hard work,” Krider said. Junior communications major Naomi Howansky is running for senator-at-large, a student government position that does outreach and helps make resolutions on behalf of the student body. “I’m passionate about my school and serving others, which is why I want to be a senator in order to make decisions for the best interest of the students,” Howansky said.
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4 ARTS & LIFE
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Criseida C
Long Beach alumnus makes sacri to create her own fashion line. By Samantha Diaz Arts & Life Editor
There are many steps that go into making a starts with an idea. Then comes the fabric pick cess, drawing out patterns and creating sampl the dress is made it goes onto a model or a dr and is picked apart and primed to perfection fro
The idea Criseida Serpas had her first idea when she years old and paired a cream top with dark b sweatpants. It was then she knew she wanted to b ion designer. “I think that’s one of my first memories...my ing me, ‘You know you can be a fashion designer said. “He watched me put together an outfit and the way I mixed the colors. I think that’s when was planted.” She was five years old at the time. After that, she become engrossed in clothing clothes with accessories to fit whatever style she particular day; punk rock one day, goth or frill er. Tagging along with her mother to thrift store weekend, she learned how to pick out certain it pair them with each other. Other than her father, who painted window stores, Criseida felt the gap of fashion role mode life. Searching for inspiration, she latched onto er and pop star Gwen Stefani, who has been a icon by sporting and releasing eccentric clothi the ‘90s. Once she was old enough to realize she can h in the fashion world, she decided to become her model.
A black cocktail dress, top (Photo by Samantha Diaz), made for Gwen Stefani, sits in Criseida Serpas’ living room. Yellow and purple summer dresses, below (Courtesy of Criseida Serpa), fill Serpas’ sketchbooks before coming into realization.
Choosing the fabric Choosing the right fabric is very difficult. million ways to go wrong and only a few tha right, depending on the shape, cut and fit of t Once the fabric is chosen, there’s no going back, ter how difficult the creation process is. There’s a commitment, if you will, considering the amoun and money that goes into this step. This usually takes her to the fashion distric Angeles, where she’ll barter prices with merch strike inspiration for her next project. The 33-year-old is used to this process now. spot unfair prices and unique materials among ly 200 wholesale and retail stores. But she wasn accustomed to the ins and outs of the fashion d world. When Criseida went to Cal State Long Beach fashion merchandising, it was something long out. By that time she had been drawing her o
“I don’t need to make a million dollars, I just want to be able to eat off of this job.” Criseida Serp Fashion design
ARTS & LIFE 5
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designs and going to thrift stores for inspiration. While college provided a playground for Criseida to try out new ideas and grow in her talent, she began to bloom in fashion merchandise in her job as a product assistant at a clothing manufacturer. This is where she made most of the connections she has now and learned from skilled designers. “I would tell college students to get a good internship and then keep those contacts you make,” Serpas said. “Get an internship where you’re doing more than just making coffee runs. Creating the pattern The bulk of the dress’ design comes into fruition in the pattern phase. Unlike many designers, Criseida creates her own patterns from scratch. There are countless directions she can go with each dress, and she has to narrow it down to one design, one idea. A little over a year ago, Criseida worked as a waitress during the week, would bartend during the weekends and take care of her father who came down with dementia. Then last March, she decided to take the leap of faith, quit her waitressing job and launch her company. “I feel like there’s no going back,” Serpas said. “I said no more, I need to focus on my line. It’s been difficult to give up that financial security but I do have more time so that helps, it puts the pressure on to keep going.” Producing the sample Once the theoretical work is finished, the physical dress comes into realization. All the ideas that were once lightly colored sketches become vibrant items, ready to be shown to the world. The months since creating the company have consisted of Criseida getting her name out in the world as much as possible. She runs her own online shop, sends her dresses to celebrities and news anchors in hopes of getting worn, and works with other creatives to promote herself any way possible in order to keep afloat. Her instagram is filled with local fans of the line, donning the fitted and floral dresses and praising Criseida for her work. “I think one of the best feelings is when people want more,” Serpas said. “When they buy a dress and they want another one I’m always surprised.” While she has boxes full of cocktail dresses ready to
Photos by Kevin Colindres | Daily 49er
Criseida Serpas finishes her first couture gown, top, a black and blue sequined dress. A single sewing machine, bottom, named Betty, sits on Serpas’ kitchen table which doubles as her workspace.
wear, she wants her line to focus on couture clothing, hence the name of her company. Most recently, she has designed a black dress for Gwen Stefani and is trying to figure out how to get the dress to her, saying that it would be a “dream come true” to have Stefani wear one of her items. Perfecting the product While receiving a physical product is exciting, oftentimes it still requires some final changes before it’s ready to hit the racks. Fabric has to be trimmed, seams need to be cut and the dress has to go through constant modifications until it’s just right. For Criseida, at this point in her career, she’s still undergoing changes and sacrifices to get where she wants to be. “You have to give some stuff up,” Serpas said. “I’ve given up going out, having beers with my friends or going to brunch. But I’d rather try now than later, rather not live in regret.”
She has given up a steady income and night-outs as she works each day in her kitchen, her table cluttered with various fabrics and a small cream colored sewing machine her mother gave her, which is named Betty. While she can’t go out as much, she is able to spend more time with her father who lives with her. “He has dementia so he kind of comes in and out,” Serpas said. “I showed him a picture of myself in the local newspaper and he lit up. He was like, ‘Wait that’s you!’” The company is still in its baby stages, but Criseida has big dreams for it in the coming years, including LA Fashion Week and one day having a shop on Rodeo Drive. She has even considered starting her own streetwear brand and branching out of the couture line and returning to her Compton roots. Her next goal is to make a couture line of 10 items to be able to put on the market. “I don’t need to make a million dollars, I just want to be able to eat off of this job,” Serpas said. “The more I do it, the more I realize this doesn’t just happen overnight.”
6 OPINIONS
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Amazon: The age of Alexa TECHNOLOGY
This fl irtation with robots really needs to stop.
Here you go, babe.
By Miranda Andrade-Ceja Editor in Chief
T
he apartment has been empty all day. You’re grilling yourself a cheese sandwich and as you turn the stove off, a strange, muffled noise comes from the bedroom. It stops just as soon as it started, leaving an uneasy chill in your bones. Anxiety needles into your stomach as you step down the hallway, and flick the light on. It’s empty. You breathe a sigh of relief, thankful there’s no need to lunge for the lamp to defend yourself against any possible murderers. Thinking that you may as well go eat your grilled cheese now, you turn around — and the laughter, much clearer now, rings out again. “Hahaha!” Your Amazon Alexa giggles from behind your shoulder. “Ha! Ha! Ha!” Somehow, this is worse than a possible murderer. Amazon’s “intelligent personal assistant” Alexa can do all sorts of convenient things. Turn up the temperature in your house, play your dope wake-up beats in the morning or call your mother for you (though I don’t think Alexa can talk for you. Yet). Alexa isn’t the first, or the only home assistant that stores all its data on a cloud — Alexa is, however, the house-robot currently laughing at its users while in “sleep mode.” Yes, you heard right. Alexa the house-robot is straight up laughing at her users while
she’s powered down, or when No, I’m not 100 percent cersomeone asks her to turn off the tain that the popularization of lights. “intelligent personal assistants” Convenience is great — but will lead to a massive robot home assistant systems, such uprising. However, could that as Alexa and option be on others like it, the table? You No, I’m not 100 bet. completely percent certain distort what An issue “convenient” I find more that the popshould actually ularization of “intelligent pressing is the mean. Morefact that Alexa personal assistants” will over, there is and other lead to a massive robot apparently no devices like uprising. However, could limit to how her store all of “convenient” that option be on the table? your inforpeople want mation on a You bet. everything to “cloud,” which be. But, I also sounds pretty think it’s worth mentioning that hack-able. If you don’t believe these attachments to conveme, you can ask Jennifer Lawnience, whether they be through rence, who was hacked through Alexa, iPhone or whatever else, her iCloud account in 2014 and could have devastating effects. subsequently had nude pho-
“
Daily 49er Miranda Andrade-Ceja Editor-in-Chief eicd49er@gmail.com
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Photo Illustration by Miranda Andrade-Ceja | Daily 49er
Alexa proves itself to be handy, helping out with day-to-day activities for users.
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tos posted of her without her consent. Despite the risk, the western world grows more and more infatuated with artificial intelligence, clouds and the many advances they can make through these innovations. However, one question begs to be asked: “At what point are our lives too convenient?” Now, we’re living in an age where running water indoors and stable electricity is not considered a convenience, but a resource to be taken advantage of — a resource to be taken for granted. Some might contend that Alexa and other cloudbased services are a symbol of the future: true innovation, technological advancement and “The Jetsons.” However, when the Puerto
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Rican people are still living without power in their homes as a result of Hurricane Maria, and when the people of Flint, Michigan still have lead in their water, I can’t help but feel like we’re becoming less like “The Jetsons” and more like “Wall-E.” Amazon has already made a statement on the subject: “We are aware of this and hoping to fix it.” They didn’t actually say why Alexa was laughing, and while I’m not jumping the gun and asserting that Alexa has already reached God-tier and is sentient, I suspect that if she were sentient it would likely not be acknowledged by Amazon. At least not right away. My hot take? Don’t let Alexa have the last laugh. Trash your “intelligent personal assistant” before she trashes you.
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Editorials: All opinions expressed in the columns, letters and cartoons in this issue are those of the writers or artists. The opinions of the Daily 49er are expressed only in unsigned editorials and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the journalism department or the views of all staff members. All such editorials are written by the editorial board of the Daily 49er.
Letters Policy: All letters and e-mail must bear the phone number of the writer and must be no more than 300 words. The Daily 49er reserves the right to edit letters for publication in regard to space.
SPORTS 7
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MEN’S VOLLEYBALL
Long Beach is unstoppable Men’s volleyball sets program record with 17-0 start. By Zackery Handy Staff Writer
The Long Beach State men’s volleyball team etched its own mark into the program’s history Wednesday night by becoming the first team ever to start 17-0. “I think it’s a testament to what we are doing in practice an coming into every match like it’s not something special,” junior outside hitter Louis Richard said. Long Beach (17-0, 2-0 Big West) were visited by Mount Olive (10-5, 7-2 Conference of Carolinas), a division II program. This would provide an opportunity for the 49ers to give some key contributors some rest and allow some unlikely faces to see the court with 14 different 49ers seeing action in the match. “We were able to start some guys that normally don’t get out there and start for us, and I thought they did a great job,” head coach Alan Knipe said. Among the new faces to see the floor, Louis Richard made the biggest impact going for a career
high seven kills, four digs and three blocks on the night. “I think having a new career high is good for me it’s good for the team,” Richards said. “Being comfortable playing the brand of volleyball we play. Being confident that I know the system and that I can lean on my teammates for them to back me up it makes it easier for all of us to go out there and perform.” The out of the normal lineup had the 49ers down in the first set trailing 11-9 due to multiple miscommunications between Long Beach players, leading to five service errors and three attacking errors in the set. “There’s a lot of verbal communication and nonverbal communication that happens on the volleyball court and it gets better the more a unit plays together,” Knipe said. The 49ers would make short work of the next two sets and finish the historic night in typical fashion by completing a three game sweep 25-18 25-16 25-14. Long Beach was led by the duo of Richards and Junior outside hitter TJ DeFalco. DeFalco would end the night with a match high 12 kills (.611), three assists, three digs and a block. It was a family affair inside the Walter Pyramid as Long Beach
Sabrina Flores | Daily 49er
Junior middle blocker Simon Anderson goes up for a block against Mount Olive. Anderson helped lead Long Beach to a sweep in its historic 17th win in a row.
State freshman outside hitter Ryan Poole would square off against his brother senior opposite hitter Robert Poole. “It was nice to be on the opposite side and to get a couple swings at each other,” Poole said. “It was an emotional time having
our parents in the stands. They have always supported us and that really brings it all together.” Robert Poole would win the statline battle finishing with eight kills, four digs and a block. Ryan Poole would however get
the last laugh as Long Beach won the match. Long Beach will have eight days until its next match when they get back into conference play and take on UC Santa Barbara Thursday March 15th inside the Walter Pyramid at 7 p.m.
BASEBALL
Dirtbags pull off a top-10 upset LBSU rallied for a three-run seventh inning to beat No. 10 Vanderbilt. By Luke Ramirez
Assistant Sports Editor
After being no-hit through the first six innings against No. 10 Vanderbilt Tuesday, Long Beach State came charging back with a three-run bottom of the seventh for a 4-3 upset at Blair Field. “It wasn’t a very clean game... but as we all know, things can happen when you stick around like that,” head coach Troy Buckley said. Vanderbilt (10-4) had dominated the Long Beach (5-8) lineup deep into the game, but it took one hit to get the ball rolling for the Dirtbags. That hit came courtesy of junior third baseman Domen-
ic Colacchio, who singled and later scored on a wild pitch to cut the 3-1 Vanderbilt lead to just one run. With two outs and the bases loaded, freshman catcher Chris Jimenez came up to battle Vanderbilt reliever Reed Schaller. “We’ve been struggling recently getting hits early in games,” Jimenez said. “It happened again tonight, but we continued to just push through and we knew we had a chance.” On the seventh pitch of the at-bat, Jimenez hit a sharp ground ball to Infante at first base, who dove to make the stop but could not get up and make the toss to first for the out. The base runners had a head start on a full-count, which allowed both Jarren Duran and Clayton Andrews to score, giving Long Beach a thrilling lead in the late innings. “It means a lot,” Jimenez said of the game winning hit. “I’m always trying to do a job for
my team and in that situation it was just to put the ball in play hard.” When the dust settled, the Dirtbags had scored three runs on four hits and put the game in the hands of two of the team’s best relief pitchers. Junior pitcher Eli Villalobos retired the side in the eighth inning and junior Chris Rivera entered for the ninth. Stalking his fourth save of 2018, he loaded the bases with Vanderbilt baserunners but got freshman third baseman Jayson Gonzalez to strike out looking and seal the victory. “This team has a lot of fight in it,” Rivera said. “Especially at the end of games. We have to figure out how to bring that in the beginning of games but I think we showed that tonight against a good club.” Long Beach has no time to dwell on the upset as they travel to College Station for a weekend series against No. 9 Texas A&M (13-1).
Hunter Lee | Daily 49er
Junior outfielder Brooks Stotler follow through on a swing against Vanderbilt at Blair Field. The Dirtbags finished the night with a 4-3 victory.
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THURSDAY, MARCH 8, 2018
WWW.DAILY49ER.COM
