LBSU Men’s Volleyball Inks Six for 2022 Season
11/13/2020 5:42:00 PM | Men's Volleyball
The signing class consists of five incoming freshmen and one junior college transfer
LONG BEACH, Calif. – Long Beach State head men's volleyball coach Alan Knipe announced the signing of six student-athletes, five freshmen and one junior college transfer, who will compete for the Beach beginning in 2022. The talented recruiting class is comprised of freshman outside hitter Connor Bloom, freshman outside hitter Dane Hillis, freshman opposite Klistan Lawrence, freshman outside hitter Alex Nikolov, freshman setter/opposite Josh Rosenblum, and junior outside hitter/opposite Calvin Sanborn.
"Our Long Beach community, campus, and athletic department are excited and ready to welcome these future leaders with open arms," Knipe said. "This group will bring a wealth of knowledge, both in the classroom and on the court. They have all had great success at the junior volleyball level, and some with their national teams at the international level.
"They will come to us prepared to fully embrace and have a positive impact without team work ethic. This group will continue to strive for greatness in all areas of their lives. We welcome these young men and their families to our amazing culture here at Long Beach State."
Connor Bloom
Fr. | 6-5 | 190 lbs. | OH | Huntington Beach, Calif. | Orange Lutheran HS | Pinnacle Athletic Club
Bloom comes to Long Beach State after having played all four years at Orange Lutheran High School where he earned First Team All-League honors as a sophomore. In his freshman season, Bloom helped his team win the CIF DII Championship and State Championship. Bloom also played for Pinnacle Athletic Club where the team captain led the squad in attacking for two straight seasons. A versatile player, Bloom has experience playing opposite, middle blocker, as well as outside hitter. The athletic Bloom was also a standout quarterback in high school.
Dane Hillis
Fr. | 6-3 | 155 lbs. | OH | San Clemente, Calif. | San Clemente HS | Balboa Bay Volleyball Club
Hillis is a 6-foot-3 outside hitter out of San Clemente, Calif., where he played at both San Clemente High School and for Balboa Bay Volleyball Club. While playing for the Tritons, Hillis earned a number of awards as he was named to the Tesoro All-Tournament Team in 2020, 2019 All-South Coast League Honorable Mention while helping the Tritons win the South Coast League Championship, and 2018 Best Pin Hitter.
In addition to his prep accolades, Hillis also gained experience playing under Andy Read for the Balboa Bay 18s before earning a spot on the Boys Youth National Training Team in 2020. A 2019 Boys Junior Nationals National Champion and All-Tournament selection, Hillis' squad was named National Club Team of the Year. Most recently, he was named to the 2020 VolleyballMag.com Boys 25 Underclassmen to Watch list.
Klistan Lawrence
Fr. | 6-8 | 195 lbs. | OPP | Ocala, Fla. | Forest HS | 352 Elite Volleyball Club
Lawrence will come to the Beach from Ocala, Fla., where the 6-foot-8 opposite excelled for the 352 Elite Volleyball Club. An outstanding athlete, Lawrence was a 12-time MVP during his club years as he went on to become a three-time USA Youth National Team member. Lawrence was the leading points scorer for both his club and high school teams for three straight years.
Alex Nikolov
Fr. | 6-7 | 200 lbs. | OH | Sofia, Bulgaria | Vasil Levski Sport School | Levski Sofia
Coming all the way from Sofia, Bulgaria, Alex Nikolov is LBSU's lone international player in this year's signing class. Nikolov is a 6-foot-7 outside hitter who gained experience while playing for the Levski Sophia Club Team where he was a three-time National Champion. A three-time Balkan League Champion with the U19 Bulgarian National Team, Nikolov has excelled in championship play as he has led his U17 squad to a runner up finish at the European Championship before guiding his U18 team to a fourth-place finish.
Josh Rosenblum
Fr. | 6-6 | 175 lbs. | S/OPP | Newport Beach, Calif. | Mater Dei HS | Pinnacle Athletic Club
A 6-foot-6 setter and opposite out of Newport Beach, Calif., Rosenblum brings a wealth of experience to Long Beach State. He was a three-year letterwinner at Mater Dei High School where he was a three-year floor captain and varsity starter. The team captain helped lead an unranked Monarch squad to a No. 4 ranking by MaxPreps before having the season cut short due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Rosenblum also has solid club team experience having played for Pinnacle Athletic Club, 949 Volleyball, and the HBC. Most recently, he helped his squad to a Bronze Medal at the 2020 SCVA Qualifier 18U Open Division, before earning another Bronze Medal at the 2020 Holiday Classic 18U Open Division.
Calvin Sanborn
Jr. | 6-4 | 185 lbs. | OH/OPP | Santa Cruz, Calif. | Harbor HS | Santa Barbara CC | Main Beach Volleyball Club
The lone junior transfer of the signing class in Calvin Sanborn a 6-foot-4 outside hitter/opposite who will transfer to Long Beach State from Santa Barbara City College after having prepped at Harbor High School, while playing for Main Beach Volleyball Club. At SBCC, Sanborn was a First Team All-Conference selection as a freshman in 2018-19 after finishing his rookie season with the most kills in the state. While at Harbor High School, Sanborn was a two-time First Team All-League selection in his junior and senior seasons.
"Our Long Beach community, campus, and athletic department are excited and ready to welcome these future leaders with open arms," Knipe said. "This group will bring a wealth of knowledge, both in the classroom and on the court. They have all had great success at the junior volleyball level, and some with their national teams at the international level.
"They will come to us prepared to fully embrace and have a positive impact without team work ethic. This group will continue to strive for greatness in all areas of their lives. We welcome these young men and their families to our amazing culture here at Long Beach State."
Connor Bloom
Fr. | 6-5 | 190 lbs. | OH | Huntington Beach, Calif. | Orange Lutheran HS | Pinnacle Athletic Club
Bloom comes to Long Beach State after having played all four years at Orange Lutheran High School where he earned First Team All-League honors as a sophomore. In his freshman season, Bloom helped his team win the CIF DII Championship and State Championship. Bloom also played for Pinnacle Athletic Club where the team captain led the squad in attacking for two straight seasons. A versatile player, Bloom has experience playing opposite, middle blocker, as well as outside hitter. The athletic Bloom was also a standout quarterback in high school.
Dane Hillis
Fr. | 6-3 | 155 lbs. | OH | San Clemente, Calif. | San Clemente HS | Balboa Bay Volleyball Club
Hillis is a 6-foot-3 outside hitter out of San Clemente, Calif., where he played at both San Clemente High School and for Balboa Bay Volleyball Club. While playing for the Tritons, Hillis earned a number of awards as he was named to the Tesoro All-Tournament Team in 2020, 2019 All-South Coast League Honorable Mention while helping the Tritons win the South Coast League Championship, and 2018 Best Pin Hitter.
In addition to his prep accolades, Hillis also gained experience playing under Andy Read for the Balboa Bay 18s before earning a spot on the Boys Youth National Training Team in 2020. A 2019 Boys Junior Nationals National Champion and All-Tournament selection, Hillis' squad was named National Club Team of the Year. Most recently, he was named to the 2020 VolleyballMag.com Boys 25 Underclassmen to Watch list.
Klistan Lawrence
Fr. | 6-8 | 195 lbs. | OPP | Ocala, Fla. | Forest HS | 352 Elite Volleyball Club
Lawrence will come to the Beach from Ocala, Fla., where the 6-foot-8 opposite excelled for the 352 Elite Volleyball Club. An outstanding athlete, Lawrence was a 12-time MVP during his club years as he went on to become a three-time USA Youth National Team member. Lawrence was the leading points scorer for both his club and high school teams for three straight years.
Alex Nikolov
Fr. | 6-7 | 200 lbs. | OH | Sofia, Bulgaria | Vasil Levski Sport School | Levski Sofia
Coming all the way from Sofia, Bulgaria, Alex Nikolov is LBSU's lone international player in this year's signing class. Nikolov is a 6-foot-7 outside hitter who gained experience while playing for the Levski Sophia Club Team where he was a three-time National Champion. A three-time Balkan League Champion with the U19 Bulgarian National Team, Nikolov has excelled in championship play as he has led his U17 squad to a runner up finish at the European Championship before guiding his U18 team to a fourth-place finish.
Josh Rosenblum
Fr. | 6-6 | 175 lbs. | S/OPP | Newport Beach, Calif. | Mater Dei HS | Pinnacle Athletic Club
A 6-foot-6 setter and opposite out of Newport Beach, Calif., Rosenblum brings a wealth of experience to Long Beach State. He was a three-year letterwinner at Mater Dei High School where he was a three-year floor captain and varsity starter. The team captain helped lead an unranked Monarch squad to a No. 4 ranking by MaxPreps before having the season cut short due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Rosenblum also has solid club team experience having played for Pinnacle Athletic Club, 949 Volleyball, and the HBC. Most recently, he helped his squad to a Bronze Medal at the 2020 SCVA Qualifier 18U Open Division, before earning another Bronze Medal at the 2020 Holiday Classic 18U Open Division.
Calvin Sanborn
Jr. | 6-4 | 185 lbs. | OH/OPP | Santa Cruz, Calif. | Harbor HS | Santa Barbara CC | Main Beach Volleyball Club
The lone junior transfer of the signing class in Calvin Sanborn a 6-foot-4 outside hitter/opposite who will transfer to Long Beach State from Santa Barbara City College after having prepped at Harbor High School, while playing for Main Beach Volleyball Club. At SBCC, Sanborn was a First Team All-Conference selection as a freshman in 2018-19 after finishing his rookie season with the most kills in the state. While at Harbor High School, Sanborn was a two-time First Team All-League selection in his junior and senior seasons.
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