not talking about Beach vs Full and Beach dominated, even if still chinks to work out

Talking about Long Beach up to the UCSB game,

then Long Beach after the UCSB game lol

it's pretty interesting cause it's like watching two completely different teams.

the early version grinded out great wins, the backcourt just seemed to have a great cohesion, right-side attack was great between Hamaker and slides, Mad Max was unpredictable but not hitting at a great %, and almost always won the serve-receive battle, leading to a dominating block. And struggled on the lefts and some passing

fast forward to last night and the work in progress new look Long Beach 2026 squad lol. It's taking some getting used to.

back-court rhythm is a work in progress, did not noticed Laurel Barsocchini did not play (injury) and with the dual setter hybrid 6-2, Kinga replacing one service rotation. Murphy also went out 1st set with some injury hard to tell. Murphy does not serve in this new look, we have two middles on the court more, so floor defense takes some hits. Attack is more potent for sure just with not the same grind defense even with Izzy playing fantastic. Think sacrificing a bit of the DS skill for the extra attack options. Which are good Mad Max getting a lot of quality attempts, Hamaker still can attack all over, although haven't seen her inside attack play much lately. Hope has a different attack on the right and she can hit high to spots. MB have to get used to adjusting to two different setters.

Just a completely different team. Hope to see some more consistency today and it's hard when dominating over an oppoenent one should beat, still think serving takes a bit back without Murphy serving, and receiving maybe a wash since having less of Ann, and a trade with some of the prior set up with Murphy/Chloe not receiving.

somehow that Northridge team and debacle that helped lead to all this, is in a bit of turmoil losing 3 straight, they can look so good and good block and then off kilter and way too heavy on one hitter Brockway more than we were on Hamaker. Of course I'm sure they'll be back to being amped next week at the Pyramid.

just an interesting thing to watch, see the type of serving and defensive play they can do with this new line-up.