SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – In day two of the UCSB Asics Invitational, No. 12 Concordia looked to take down the defending national champion, No. 1 Long Beach State. The Eagles had quick leads in each set, but the 49ers were able to overcome the deficit behind strong overall play.
 
Concordia gunned out to a 3-0 lead to start off the match. In his first career start, Owen Chun delivered three of his five kills to help put his team up 14-10. Long Beach State fought back to tie the set at 15-15 to then go ahead at 21-17. Jordan Hoppe put down a kill to make the score 23-19 but the 49ers scored the final two to take the set.
 
Strong back-row play for the Eagles helped them as they doubled up on the 49ers at 10-5 in set two. Raymond Barsemian sided out for Concordia three times in a row to continue the lead at 15-12. Long Beach State used an 8-2 run to put them up 21-18. An error from Long Beach State brought Concordia within one, but back-to-back errors put the Eagles down 0-2 in the match.
 
Darcy Taig got the start at opposite in set three and made an impact, picking four kills and an ace. Barsemian tied the set at 12-12, then Hunter Howell sent back two attacks to force a Long Beach State timeout. Leading for the rest of the set, Concordia's Noah Lassandro collected a kill to give the Eagles set point. Consecutive kills for Long Beach State gave them match point which the Eagles would deny. The 49ers delivered a kill and served an ace to secure the win.
 
Barsemian led the way with 12 kills to go along with six digs and two aces while Chandler Gibb distributed 26 assists and was one dig shy of a double-double with nine. Addison Enriques had eight digs and a career-high six assists and Jordan Hoppe hit .300 with eight kills.
 
Concordia rounds out the tournament with a match against No. 10 UC Santa Barbara on Saturday at 8:00 PM PST.
 
For the full 2019 Concordia men's volleyball schedule click here.