Fifth-Set Comeback Comes Up Short In Season Opener

PORTLAND – Oregon State battled back from a seven-point deficit in the fifth set, but the Beavers couldn't complete the comeback in a 3-2 (18-25, 22-25, 25-18, 28-26, 15-11) loss to Long Beach State.
 
Vivian Light led Oregon State with 23 kills, 11 digs and three blocks while hitting .320 on the outside. Kinley Swan added 10 kills and two blocks in her OSU debut.
 
The Beavs opened the match on fire, hitting .400 to take the first set 25-18. Despite the hot hitting, Long Beach hung around early, tying the set at 18. Then, Mychael Vernon took over. The sophomore keyed a 7-0 run that pushed OSU over the top with a solo block and two kills, including the set winner.
 
The second set proved to be a more back and forth affair. Oregon State continued its hot hitting early in the frame to jump out to a 17-13 lead. The Beach rebounded, however, with a seven-point run that gave them a 20-17 advantage. Light stabilized the Beavers with a pair of kills and Keira Herron knotted the match at 20 with an ace.
 
After trading the following four points for a 22-22 tie, the Beavs closed out the second set with a 3-0  run. Swan put OSU up 23-22 before an LBSU error and Light provided her fifth kill of the set to win it.
 
LBSU rebounded to start the third set. The Beach opened the frame on a 7-1 run and never relinquished the lead. Oregon State pulled within three at 17-14, but LBSU pulled away to win the set 25-17.
 
OSU appeared to be ready to close the match out in the fourth, leading 21-15 late in the frame thanks to five kills from Light. The Beavers couldn't finish it off though, making seven attack errors the rest of the way and dropping the set 28-26.
 
The Beach used the momentum from their fourth set comeback to take a 7-1 lead in the fifth set. Though the Beavers battled back and pulled within two at 11-9, they couldn't compete a comeback of their own, falling 15-11.
 
Oregon State returns to Viking Pavilion on Sunday when it battles Portland State at 6 p.m.
 
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