TJ DeFalco (2025) - Hall of Fame - Long Beach State University Athletics

TJ DeFalco

Induction:
2025

One of the finest Men’s Volleyball players in the country both during his time at Long Beach State and following, TJ DeFalco will enter into the Long Beach State Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility. A two-time AVCA National Player of the Year and a four-time First Team All-American, DeFalco led Long Beach State to back-to-back National Championships in 2018 and 2019, and reached the Final Four as a freshman and a sophomore. Busting onto the scene as the AVCA Newcomer of the Year as a true freshman in 2016, and bookended his career by being named the NCAA Tournament’s Most Outstanding Player after leading the Beach to a second straight title, winning the championship at home on the Walter Pyramid floor. DeFalco led Long Beach State in kills in all four of his seasons at Long Beach State, and his 1,661 career kills rank fifth in program history. His 183 career aces are far and away the program record, and his 773 digs rank seventh all-time in program history. He finished his collegiate career with 98 matches of 10 kills or more, bested only by fellow program legends Brent Hilliard and Brett Winslow. DeFalco’s legacy is still being written as the outside hitter has gone on to be a USA Men’s National Team mainstay, playing and starting for the team in each of the last two Olympics. Most recently in Paris, DeFalco helped lead the USA to a Bronze Medal, becoming the fifth former player from LBSU to Medal in Men’s Volleyball.