Long Beach State University Athletics
Alan Knipe Tabbed 2017 MPSF Coach of the Year
4/25/2017 12:00:00 AM | Men's Volleyball
MPSF Release
LONG BEACH, Calif. - Long Beach State men's volleyball head coach Alan Knipe has been named the 2017 MPSF Coach of the Year, it was announced by the conference office Tuesday afternoon.
Knipe earned the honors for the second time in his 14-year career at the helm of the LBSU men's volleyball program. This season, he guided the Beach to the school's first-ever MPSF Championship in any sport, as well as the program's second-straight NCAA Tournament berth marking the first time Long Beach State made back-to-back appearances since Knipe was a player himself on the 1990 and 1991 squads.
Under Knipe's tutelage, the Beach have accumulated conference-highs in wins (27), sweeps (20), and a .900 winning percentage. Only one team in MPSF rally scoring history (since 2001) has completed a season with a .900 or better winning percentage.
This season, Long Beach State was unbeatable at home as the Beach put together an impressive 16-0 record at the Walter Pyramid. Additionally, Knipe's squad boasted a 14-match winning streak which is good for second in program history. The Beach also strung together 14 consecutive conference victories this season, a feat achieved just two other times by an MPSF team in the last decade.
Knipe's team will enter the NCAA Tournament as the 2017 national leader in hitting percentage (.371), while allowing opponents to hit just .183, an MPSF-best. The Beach are currently in a position to set MPSF rally scoring records in each category.
Long Beach State placed a high of six players on the all-conference team with TJ DeFalco earning MPSF Player of the Year and Tournament MVP. Additionally, Josh Tuaniga, who leads the nation in assists per set (11.13) was named to the MPSF All-First Team, while Amir Lugo-Rodriguez who is tops in the country in blocks per set (1.30) garnered MPSF All-Second Team accolades. Also earning all-conference honors were Kyle Ensing (First Team), Andrew Sato (Second Team), and Bryce Yould (Second Team).
Knipe was previously named MPSF Coach of the Year in 2008 and AVCA National Coach of the Year in 2004.
He has been the head coach at Long Beach State since 2001, with a brief hiatus from 2010-12 when he coached the United States Men's National Team. During his tenure at LBSU, Knipe owns a career record of 278-145 (.657).
