LBSU Men’s Volleyball Announces 2019 Signing Class
11/18/2018 11:32:00 AM | Men's Volleyball
The Beach will welcome six incoming freshmen, and one sophomore transfer for the 2020 season
LONG BEACH – Long Beach State men's volleyball head coach Alan Knipe has announced the signing of six incoming freshman and one sophomore transfer for the 2020 season. The highly-touted recruiting class consists of libero Mason Briggs, middle blockers Aidan Grosz and Grant Marocchi, outside hitters Nate Harlan, Zach Schneider, and Karl Stenlund, as well as setter, Aidan Knipe.
"This is a highly talented group with an exceptional volleyball IQ and the ability to compete," Knipe said of the recruiting class. "This group comes to the Beach with experience and success at the highest level. We welcome these special young men and their families to our amazing culture here at Long Beach State."
Mason Briggs
Fr. | L | 5-11 | Valencia, Calif. | Bishop Alemany HS | Legacy Volleyball Club
Briggs comes to Long Beach State after a successful prep career in which he spent the last five years playing with USA Volleyball and most recently helped the 2018 USA Boys Youth National Team to the NORCECA Championship where they won a silver medal. He is a three-time Boys Junior National Champion All-Tournament selection and most recently piloted the 2018 Legacy Volleyball Club to the Bronze Medal. A four-year letterwinner at Bishop Alemany High School, Briggs was named AHS Player of the Year as a sophomore and junior. The three-time All-Mission League selection also has experience playing beach volleyball as he spent the last several years competing in the CBVA Cal Cup Championships, AVP First Junior Championships, and AAU National Championships.
Knipe on Mason Briggs:
"Mason is a member of the Youth National Team and follows his brother, Trevor, into the program. He's an incredibly athletic libero with an uncanny ability to read the game."
Aidan Grosz
Fr. | MB | 6-6 | Long Beach, Calif. | St. Anthony HS | Balboa Bay Volleyball Club
Grosz is a local product who prepped at St. Anthony High School and played with the Balboa Bay Volleyball Club. He brings a wealth of experience to LBSU after having played with USA Volleyball's A1 program for the last four years. With Balboa Bay Volleyball, Grosz helped his 16s team capture Gold at Junior Nationals, then came back the following year and led the 17s to a fifth-place showing. Grosz's high school team won the League Championship on two occasions and he was named Most Valuable Player.
Knipe on Aidan Grosz:
"Aidan brings a heavy arm and the ability to control the net with his blocking. He has great potential to help us on both sides of the ball."
Nate Harlan
Fr. | OH/OPP | 6-4 | Ladera Ranch, Calif. | Tesoro HS | 949 Athletics Volleyball Club
Harlan is a 6-foot-4 outside hitter and opposite who has lead Tesoro High School to three League Championships. In addition to his solid prep career, Harlan has also excelled on the court for Balboa Bay Volleyball where he helped the team capture a pair of Gold Medals at Junior Nationals in 2017 and 2018. He will be playing the 2019 season with 949 Athletics.
Knipe of Nate Harlan:
"Nate is a 6-foor-7 all-around athlete who can play at either pin and has the ability to score from the endline."
Aidan Knipe
Fr. | S | 6-3 | Huntington Beach, Calif. | Huntington Beach HS | Team Rockstar Volleyball Club
A 6-foot-3 setter, Knipe comes to Long Beach State after spending five years playing with USA Volleyball and most recently led the 2018 USA Boys Youth National Team at the NORCECA Championship to a Silver Medal. Additionally, he helped the SCVA High Performance squad win the Gold Medal and was named to the All-Tournament Team. He went on to lead Team Rockstar Volleyball Club to the Silver Medal at the Florida Region Qualifier. Knipe is a two-time All-Sunset League selection at Huntington Beach High School where he piloted the Oilers to the CIF quarterfinals each year.
Knipe on Aidan Knipe:
"Aidan is an ultra-competitive member of the Youth National Team. He is technically sound with a high volleyball IQ. Aidan has grown up in the Pyramid, now it's his time to take the floor."
Grant Marocchi
So. | MB | 6-7 | Laguna Niguel, Calif. | Dana Hills HS (Irvine Valley College) | 949 Athletics Volleyball Club
Marocchi will come to the Beach after having seen action as the starting middle blocker for 949 Athletics Volleyball Club and Irvine Valley College. Additionally, he played at Dana Hills High School where he led the Dolphins to the 2015 Conference Championships. At DHHS, Marocchi was named South Coast All-League and took home the MVP award following the Redondo Union Tournament.
Knipe on Grant Marocchi:
"Grant has great size and athleticism which will help our offense, and block and defense. His highly competitive attitude and leadership will be a great asset."
Zach Schneider
Fr. | OH | 6-6 | Lockport, N.Y. | Lockport HS | Lockport Volleyball Club
Schneider is the only recruit who hails from outside of California as the 6-foot-6 outside hitter will come to Long Beach State from Lockport, N.Y. where he was named the 2018 Western New York Player of the Year. Schneider brings an extensive amount of experience to the Beach after having played on the Youth National Training Team. He also helped Lockport Volleyball Club capture the 17s WEVA Regional Championship and led the 15s to the WEVA Regional Finals. A four-time League Champion, Schneider was an integral part in Lockport High School's two Section VI Championships.
Knipe on Zach Schneider:
"Zach is a solid all-around volleyball player. He is an equally good hitter from both the right and left side. He has a great arm and is a member of the Youth National Team."
Karl Stenlund
Fr. | OH | 6-8 | Tustin, Calif. | Beckman HS | Orange Coast Volleyball Club
Rounding out the recruiting class is Stenlund, a 6-foot-8 outside hitter who helped lead the 2018 Boys Youth A1 Red to a Bronze Medal at the HP International Championships. A two-time Bronze Medalist at Junior Nationals with Orange Coast Volleyball Club, Stenlund was named to the 15s All-Tournament Team. Stenlund prepped at Beckman High School where he garnered the 2018 Team MVP award after being named to the All-League First Team. The 2017 BHS Newcomer of the Year has been selected to three all-tournament teams during his time with the Patriots.
Knipe on Karl Stenlund:
"At 6-foot-8, Karl has great size and has the ability to play anywhere on the court. He has a point-scoring serve and big upside."
"This is a highly talented group with an exceptional volleyball IQ and the ability to compete," Knipe said of the recruiting class. "This group comes to the Beach with experience and success at the highest level. We welcome these special young men and their families to our amazing culture here at Long Beach State."
Mason Briggs
Fr. | L | 5-11 | Valencia, Calif. | Bishop Alemany HS | Legacy Volleyball Club
Briggs comes to Long Beach State after a successful prep career in which he spent the last five years playing with USA Volleyball and most recently helped the 2018 USA Boys Youth National Team to the NORCECA Championship where they won a silver medal. He is a three-time Boys Junior National Champion All-Tournament selection and most recently piloted the 2018 Legacy Volleyball Club to the Bronze Medal. A four-year letterwinner at Bishop Alemany High School, Briggs was named AHS Player of the Year as a sophomore and junior. The three-time All-Mission League selection also has experience playing beach volleyball as he spent the last several years competing in the CBVA Cal Cup Championships, AVP First Junior Championships, and AAU National Championships.
Knipe on Mason Briggs:
"Mason is a member of the Youth National Team and follows his brother, Trevor, into the program. He's an incredibly athletic libero with an uncanny ability to read the game."
Aidan GroszFr. | MB | 6-6 | Long Beach, Calif. | St. Anthony HS | Balboa Bay Volleyball Club
Grosz is a local product who prepped at St. Anthony High School and played with the Balboa Bay Volleyball Club. He brings a wealth of experience to LBSU after having played with USA Volleyball's A1 program for the last four years. With Balboa Bay Volleyball, Grosz helped his 16s team capture Gold at Junior Nationals, then came back the following year and led the 17s to a fifth-place showing. Grosz's high school team won the League Championship on two occasions and he was named Most Valuable Player.
Knipe on Aidan Grosz:
"Aidan brings a heavy arm and the ability to control the net with his blocking. He has great potential to help us on both sides of the ball."
Nate HarlanFr. | OH/OPP | 6-4 | Ladera Ranch, Calif. | Tesoro HS | 949 Athletics Volleyball Club
Harlan is a 6-foot-4 outside hitter and opposite who has lead Tesoro High School to three League Championships. In addition to his solid prep career, Harlan has also excelled on the court for Balboa Bay Volleyball where he helped the team capture a pair of Gold Medals at Junior Nationals in 2017 and 2018. He will be playing the 2019 season with 949 Athletics.
Knipe of Nate Harlan:
"Nate is a 6-foor-7 all-around athlete who can play at either pin and has the ability to score from the endline."
Aidan KnipeFr. | S | 6-3 | Huntington Beach, Calif. | Huntington Beach HS | Team Rockstar Volleyball Club
A 6-foot-3 setter, Knipe comes to Long Beach State after spending five years playing with USA Volleyball and most recently led the 2018 USA Boys Youth National Team at the NORCECA Championship to a Silver Medal. Additionally, he helped the SCVA High Performance squad win the Gold Medal and was named to the All-Tournament Team. He went on to lead Team Rockstar Volleyball Club to the Silver Medal at the Florida Region Qualifier. Knipe is a two-time All-Sunset League selection at Huntington Beach High School where he piloted the Oilers to the CIF quarterfinals each year.
Knipe on Aidan Knipe:
"Aidan is an ultra-competitive member of the Youth National Team. He is technically sound with a high volleyball IQ. Aidan has grown up in the Pyramid, now it's his time to take the floor."
Grant MarocchiSo. | MB | 6-7 | Laguna Niguel, Calif. | Dana Hills HS (Irvine Valley College) | 949 Athletics Volleyball Club
Marocchi will come to the Beach after having seen action as the starting middle blocker for 949 Athletics Volleyball Club and Irvine Valley College. Additionally, he played at Dana Hills High School where he led the Dolphins to the 2015 Conference Championships. At DHHS, Marocchi was named South Coast All-League and took home the MVP award following the Redondo Union Tournament.
Knipe on Grant Marocchi:
"Grant has great size and athleticism which will help our offense, and block and defense. His highly competitive attitude and leadership will be a great asset."
Zach SchneiderFr. | OH | 6-6 | Lockport, N.Y. | Lockport HS | Lockport Volleyball Club
Schneider is the only recruit who hails from outside of California as the 6-foot-6 outside hitter will come to Long Beach State from Lockport, N.Y. where he was named the 2018 Western New York Player of the Year. Schneider brings an extensive amount of experience to the Beach after having played on the Youth National Training Team. He also helped Lockport Volleyball Club capture the 17s WEVA Regional Championship and led the 15s to the WEVA Regional Finals. A four-time League Champion, Schneider was an integral part in Lockport High School's two Section VI Championships.
Knipe on Zach Schneider:
"Zach is a solid all-around volleyball player. He is an equally good hitter from both the right and left side. He has a great arm and is a member of the Youth National Team."
Karl StenlundFr. | OH | 6-8 | Tustin, Calif. | Beckman HS | Orange Coast Volleyball Club
Rounding out the recruiting class is Stenlund, a 6-foot-8 outside hitter who helped lead the 2018 Boys Youth A1 Red to a Bronze Medal at the HP International Championships. A two-time Bronze Medalist at Junior Nationals with Orange Coast Volleyball Club, Stenlund was named to the 15s All-Tournament Team. Stenlund prepped at Beckman High School where he garnered the 2018 Team MVP award after being named to the All-League First Team. The 2017 BHS Newcomer of the Year has been selected to three all-tournament teams during his time with the Patriots.
Knipe on Karl Stenlund:
"At 6-foot-8, Karl has great size and has the ability to play anywhere on the court. He has a point-scoring serve and big upside."
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