The562’s coverage of Vikings athletics is sponsored in part by Long Beach City College.
The Long Beach City College men’s volleyball team is ranked No. 1 headed into the California Community College Athletic Association championship tournament this week. The Vikings (17-1) open by hosting Santa Monica in the quarterfinals on Friday at 6 p.m.
Semifinals are scheduled for Thursday, April 27 and the championship is Saturday, April 29.
LBCC has been dominant while winning its last 13 consecutive matches via sweep. The Vikings have only dropped five sets this year.
Outside hitter Matthew Pennala leads LBCC with 168 kills while fellow freshman Cole Oliver (145 kills) and Georgi Biney (139 kills) have been very efficient on both sides with hitting percentages over .350 this season. Those three have combined for 122 service aces
Sophomore setter Sean Nguyen has done a great job spreading the ball around while averaging over 10 assists per set.
Defensively, freshman middle blocker Cian Slade has a team-high 42 blocks and sophomore Julian Zavala has 131 digs.
LBCC has won CCCAA State championships in 2019, 2016, 2012, 2009, 2006 and 2004.
HONORS FOR ALLICE
Legendary LBCC and USC track and field coach Ron Allice was honored by USC last week when the Trojans changed the name of their annual meet to the Ron & Sharlene Allice Trojan Invitational.
Allice was at LBCC from 1979-94 when he led the Vikings to 16 conferences, 14 Southern California, and 11 State championship titles while producing 313 All-Americans, 27 Olympians, 4 world record holders, and 7 American record holders.
LBCC only lost one dual meet with Allice at the helm, and he went on to become the Director of Track & Field at USC for 19 years where he won a National Championship.
SOFTBALL
The Vikings (23-9) opened this month on a six-game winning streak. Sophomore Alia Marquez is hitting .490 this season. There’s only five games left until the postseason.
BASEBALL
Freshman Ryan Neck, who played a season at Millikan High, is slugging and impressive .681 this season.
