Saturday, February 19
Los Angeles, Calif.
5:00 PM
Long Beach State University
at
UCLA
Photo by: John Fajardo
No. 1 Long Beach State and No. 2 UCLA Set for Road Rematch
2/18/2022 1:43:00 PM | Men's Volleyball
The Beach take on the Bruins on Saturday at 5 p.m. at the Wooden Center
MATCH #9: No. 1 LONG BEACHÂ STATE at No. 2 UCLA
Date: Saturday, February 19
Time: 5:00 p.m.
Location: Los Angeles, Calif.
Venue: John Wooden Center
Live Stats: StatBroadcast.com
Live Stream: Pac-12.com/live/ucla-2
Twitter: @LBSUMVB
COMPLETE LBSU MATCH NOTES (PDF)
No. 1 Long Beach State and No. 2 UCLA Set for Road Rematch
The top-ranked Long Beach State Men's Volleyball team will take on No. 2 UCLA on Saturday, February 19 at 5 p.m. at the John Wooden Center in Los Angeles, Calif.
Catch All The Action
The match will be streamed live on Pac-12.com. Fans can also follow stats updates on BeachLiveStats.com.
Staying Social
Follow Long Beach State Men's Volleyball on Twitter and Instagram at @LBSUMVB. You can also stay up-to-date on all things Long Beach State by following @LBSUAthletics on Twitter. Be sure to "like" us on Facebook and follow us on Instagram at @LBSU. And don't forget our hashtag #GoBeach.
In the Rankings
• After defeating No. 7 USC on February 4, Long Beach State moved into the top spot in the rankings and held that spot with a 3-0 sweep last week over No. 2 UCLA.
• The Beach earned all 19 first-place votes this week to accumulate 285 points in the NVA/AVCA Division I-II Coaches Poll. Overall, LBSU is 7-1 on the year.
• Nine of the Beach's opponents this season are among the Top 15 teams nationally ranked. LBSU will also face a pair of teams who are currently receiving votes.
• Despite suffering a 3-0 sweep at No. 1 Long Beach State last week, UCLA remains ranked No. 2 in the nation as the Bruins are 7-2 on the year.
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About The Beach
• Top-ranked Long Beach State owns a 7-1 overall record this season with their only loss coming against No. 4 Penn State on January 29.
• The Beach have been dominant offensively hitting .381 on the season to lead the Big West and rank second in the nation.Â
• As a team, the Beach are ranked in the top 25 nationally in almost every statistical category this season. Long Beach State is second in hitting percentage (.381), third in kills per set (12.90), fifth in assists per set (12.00), eighth in blocks per set (2.45), and 19th in aces per set (1.55).
• Leading the Beach's offense is sophomore setter Aidan Knipe who leads the conference and is second in the nation in assists per set with 11.07. Knipe has piloted th Beach to a .300 attack percentage in 7-of-8 matches this season.
• Knipe does a good job distributing the ball, as both outsides - Alex Nikolov and Spencer Olivier - as well as opposite, Clarke Godbold all rank in the top 10 in the Big West in kills per set.Â
• Nikolov leads the way with 4.45 kills per set which leads the conference and ranks him third in the nation. Meanwhile Godbold's 3.28 kills per set are good for eighth in the league, while Olivier's 3.04 kills per set tie him for ninth in the Big West.
• Nikolov has had an outstanding rookie season thus far. In just four weeks of action, he has been named Big West Conference Freshman of the Week three consecutive times, as well as Big West Offensive Player of the Week, Off the Block National Player of the Week, and AVCA National Player of the Week.
• Sophomore libero Mason Briggs had a career day against No. 7 Lewis as he logged a career-best 19 digs to help lead the defensive charge. Briggs has logged four double-digit dig performances this season and 14 in his collegiate career. He is averaging 2.21 digs per set as he ranks second in the Big West and in the top 15 nationally.
• At the net, middle blocker Shane Holdaway has been on point as he has put up 27 blocks on the year to average 0.96 blocks per set, which ranks 26th in the nation.
• Also producing at the net this season is Godbold who has been on point on both sides of the ball. This season, Godbold is averaging 3.28 kills per set on a .381 attack percentage to go along with 0.90 blocks per set, 0.97 digs per set and 0.28 aces per set.
• Junior outside hitter Spencer Olivier has also been a big contributor for the Beach this season. He is the team's third leading scorer with 3.04 kills per set. Olivier is hitting .345 on the year and is also averaging 1.61 digs per set to go along with 0.57 blocks per set.
• Long Beach State has officially changed the nickname for all sports other than baseball to Beach with the NCAA. Please do not refer to LBSU men's volleyball as the 49ers.
Scouting UCLA
• No. 2 UCLA is 7-2 on the year as the Bruins are coming off of a 3-0 sweep at top-ranked Long Beach State last week.
• This season against Big West teams, UCLA is 4-1 with their only loss coming against LBSU.
• As a team, UCLA is hitting .338 and averaging 13.2 kills per set to go along with 12.2 assists per set.
• On the defensive end, the Bruins are averaging 7.7 digs per set, 2.1 blocks per set, and 1.5 service aces per set.
• Leading the UCLA offense is Ido David with 3.14 kills per set on a .333 attack percentage. David also adds 0.71 digs per set, 0.57 aces per set, and 0.39 blocks per set.
• At setter, Miles Partain has distributed 336 assists this season to average 9.88 assists per set. He also contributes 1.68 digs per set, 0.68 kills per set, and 0.59 blocks per set.
• In the backcourt, Cole Pender leads the way with 1.59 digs per set, while adding 0.74 assists per set.
• At the net, Merrick McHenry has posted 25 total blocks for an average of 0.86 blocks per set.
The Series: The Beach vs. The Bruins
Long Beach State and UCLA will meet for the 97th time in a series that dates back to 1970. Overall, the Bruins hold the advantage, 52-44. However, the Beach have won the last two match ups as the Bruins are looking for their first win over LBSU since Feb. 1, 2020, when UCLA picked up a 3-1 win over Long Beach State at the Walter Pyramid. When playing UCLA on the road, the Beach trail in the all-time series 22-19.
Double-Double Toil and Trouble
Junior outside hitter Spencer Olivier has been doing an excellent job all season as his 3.04 kills per set rank him third on the squad, eighth in the Big West. Against No. 7 USC, Olivier logged the Beach's first double-double of the season as he tallied 12 kills and 10 digs in a 3-1 win. The double-double marked the fourth of Olivier's career.
Doing It Right on the Right Side
Clarke Godbold has earned the start at the right side and is currently the Beach's second leading scorer with 3.28 kills per set on a .381 attack percentage. He ranks in the top 10 in the Big West in both statistical categories. The sophomore from San Pedro, Calif., has also contributed defensively with 0.90 blocks per set, 0.97 digs per set, and 0.28 service aces per set. Godbold has recorded double-digit kills five times this season and has led Long Beach State in blocks four times. Last week against No. 2 UCLA, Godbold registered a career-high 17 kills on a .571 attack percentage in the Beach's sweep of the Bruins.
Aces Wild
Long Beach State has racked up a total of 45 aces in eight matches thus far to average 1.55 aces per set which ranks the Beach third in the Big West and 19th in the nation. Individually, Alex Nikolov leads Long Beach State at the service line as the freshman from Sofia, Bulgaria has totaled 16 aces on the year to average 0.55 per set. That average puts him 14th in the NCAA.
Setting the Tone
Sophomore setter Aidan Knipe has set the offensive tone for the Beach thus far as Long Beach State has hit over .300 in 7-of-8 matches this season. As a team, the Beach are hitting .381 which leads the Big West and ranks them second in the country. Knipe, meanwhile, has distributed 11.07 assists per set this season to lead the Big West Conference and rank second in the nation. Â
Alex The Great
Freshman outside hitter Alex Nikolov had a monster collegiate debut and has not let up since. He is currently leading the squad with 4.45 kills per set, while hitting .402, and leading the team with 0.55 aces per set. In the NCAA, Nikolov ranks third in kills per set, 14th in hitting percentage and aces per set. For his efforts, Nikolov has been named Off the Block Freshman of the Week, Big West Conference Offensive Player of the Week, Big West Conference Freshman of the Week for three-straight weeks, and AVCA National Player of the Week.
Block Party
Long Beach State has been a solid force at the net this season as the Beach average 2.45 blocks per set. That average ranks LBSU third in the Big West Conference and eighth in the nation. Leading the Beach to 71 total blocks this season are middles Shane Holdaway, Grant Marocchi, and Simon Torwie. Holdaway has earned the start at middle blocker all season and leads the way with 0.96 blocks per set which is good for seventh in the league and 26th in the NCAA. Marocchi started the season at middle and has been stout at the net averaging 0.62 blocks per set over 13 sets. Torwie has earned the start at middle in four matches this season and owns a 0.81 blocks per set average.
Off the Bench
The Long Beach State men's volleyball team has a very deep and talented bench full of reserves. So far this season, redshirt senior Marc Moody, junior Calvin Sanborn, sophomore Nathan Harlan, redshirt freshman Nato Dickinson, and true freshman Dane Hillis have all come into the matches and made a difference.Â
Next Up
Long Beach State will be back in action on Friday, February 25 when they host Stanford at the Walter Pyramid. First serve is set for 7 p.m.
Date: Saturday, February 19
Time: 5:00 p.m.
Location: Los Angeles, Calif.
Venue: John Wooden Center
Live Stats: StatBroadcast.com
Live Stream: Pac-12.com/live/ucla-2
Twitter: @LBSUMVB
COMPLETE LBSU MATCH NOTES (PDF)
No. 1 Long Beach State and No. 2 UCLA Set for Road Rematch
The top-ranked Long Beach State Men's Volleyball team will take on No. 2 UCLA on Saturday, February 19 at 5 p.m. at the John Wooden Center in Los Angeles, Calif.
Catch All The Action
The match will be streamed live on Pac-12.com. Fans can also follow stats updates on BeachLiveStats.com.
Staying Social
Follow Long Beach State Men's Volleyball on Twitter and Instagram at @LBSUMVB. You can also stay up-to-date on all things Long Beach State by following @LBSUAthletics on Twitter. Be sure to "like" us on Facebook and follow us on Instagram at @LBSU. And don't forget our hashtag #GoBeach.
In the Rankings
• After defeating No. 7 USC on February 4, Long Beach State moved into the top spot in the rankings and held that spot with a 3-0 sweep last week over No. 2 UCLA.
• The Beach earned all 19 first-place votes this week to accumulate 285 points in the NVA/AVCA Division I-II Coaches Poll. Overall, LBSU is 7-1 on the year.
• Nine of the Beach's opponents this season are among the Top 15 teams nationally ranked. LBSU will also face a pair of teams who are currently receiving votes.
• Despite suffering a 3-0 sweep at No. 1 Long Beach State last week, UCLA remains ranked No. 2 in the nation as the Bruins are 7-2 on the year.
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About The Beach
• Top-ranked Long Beach State owns a 7-1 overall record this season with their only loss coming against No. 4 Penn State on January 29.
• The Beach have been dominant offensively hitting .381 on the season to lead the Big West and rank second in the nation.Â
• As a team, the Beach are ranked in the top 25 nationally in almost every statistical category this season. Long Beach State is second in hitting percentage (.381), third in kills per set (12.90), fifth in assists per set (12.00), eighth in blocks per set (2.45), and 19th in aces per set (1.55).
• Leading the Beach's offense is sophomore setter Aidan Knipe who leads the conference and is second in the nation in assists per set with 11.07. Knipe has piloted th Beach to a .300 attack percentage in 7-of-8 matches this season.
• Knipe does a good job distributing the ball, as both outsides - Alex Nikolov and Spencer Olivier - as well as opposite, Clarke Godbold all rank in the top 10 in the Big West in kills per set.Â
• Nikolov leads the way with 4.45 kills per set which leads the conference and ranks him third in the nation. Meanwhile Godbold's 3.28 kills per set are good for eighth in the league, while Olivier's 3.04 kills per set tie him for ninth in the Big West.
• Nikolov has had an outstanding rookie season thus far. In just four weeks of action, he has been named Big West Conference Freshman of the Week three consecutive times, as well as Big West Offensive Player of the Week, Off the Block National Player of the Week, and AVCA National Player of the Week.
• Sophomore libero Mason Briggs had a career day against No. 7 Lewis as he logged a career-best 19 digs to help lead the defensive charge. Briggs has logged four double-digit dig performances this season and 14 in his collegiate career. He is averaging 2.21 digs per set as he ranks second in the Big West and in the top 15 nationally.
• At the net, middle blocker Shane Holdaway has been on point as he has put up 27 blocks on the year to average 0.96 blocks per set, which ranks 26th in the nation.
• Also producing at the net this season is Godbold who has been on point on both sides of the ball. This season, Godbold is averaging 3.28 kills per set on a .381 attack percentage to go along with 0.90 blocks per set, 0.97 digs per set and 0.28 aces per set.
• Junior outside hitter Spencer Olivier has also been a big contributor for the Beach this season. He is the team's third leading scorer with 3.04 kills per set. Olivier is hitting .345 on the year and is also averaging 1.61 digs per set to go along with 0.57 blocks per set.
• Long Beach State has officially changed the nickname for all sports other than baseball to Beach with the NCAA. Please do not refer to LBSU men's volleyball as the 49ers.
Scouting UCLA
• No. 2 UCLA is 7-2 on the year as the Bruins are coming off of a 3-0 sweep at top-ranked Long Beach State last week.
• This season against Big West teams, UCLA is 4-1 with their only loss coming against LBSU.
• As a team, UCLA is hitting .338 and averaging 13.2 kills per set to go along with 12.2 assists per set.
• On the defensive end, the Bruins are averaging 7.7 digs per set, 2.1 blocks per set, and 1.5 service aces per set.
• Leading the UCLA offense is Ido David with 3.14 kills per set on a .333 attack percentage. David also adds 0.71 digs per set, 0.57 aces per set, and 0.39 blocks per set.
• At setter, Miles Partain has distributed 336 assists this season to average 9.88 assists per set. He also contributes 1.68 digs per set, 0.68 kills per set, and 0.59 blocks per set.
• In the backcourt, Cole Pender leads the way with 1.59 digs per set, while adding 0.74 assists per set.
• At the net, Merrick McHenry has posted 25 total blocks for an average of 0.86 blocks per set.
The Series: The Beach vs. The Bruins
Long Beach State and UCLA will meet for the 97th time in a series that dates back to 1970. Overall, the Bruins hold the advantage, 52-44. However, the Beach have won the last two match ups as the Bruins are looking for their first win over LBSU since Feb. 1, 2020, when UCLA picked up a 3-1 win over Long Beach State at the Walter Pyramid. When playing UCLA on the road, the Beach trail in the all-time series 22-19.
Double-Double Toil and Trouble
Junior outside hitter Spencer Olivier has been doing an excellent job all season as his 3.04 kills per set rank him third on the squad, eighth in the Big West. Against No. 7 USC, Olivier logged the Beach's first double-double of the season as he tallied 12 kills and 10 digs in a 3-1 win. The double-double marked the fourth of Olivier's career.
Doing It Right on the Right Side
Clarke Godbold has earned the start at the right side and is currently the Beach's second leading scorer with 3.28 kills per set on a .381 attack percentage. He ranks in the top 10 in the Big West in both statistical categories. The sophomore from San Pedro, Calif., has also contributed defensively with 0.90 blocks per set, 0.97 digs per set, and 0.28 service aces per set. Godbold has recorded double-digit kills five times this season and has led Long Beach State in blocks four times. Last week against No. 2 UCLA, Godbold registered a career-high 17 kills on a .571 attack percentage in the Beach's sweep of the Bruins.
Aces Wild
Long Beach State has racked up a total of 45 aces in eight matches thus far to average 1.55 aces per set which ranks the Beach third in the Big West and 19th in the nation. Individually, Alex Nikolov leads Long Beach State at the service line as the freshman from Sofia, Bulgaria has totaled 16 aces on the year to average 0.55 per set. That average puts him 14th in the NCAA.
Setting the Tone
Sophomore setter Aidan Knipe has set the offensive tone for the Beach thus far as Long Beach State has hit over .300 in 7-of-8 matches this season. As a team, the Beach are hitting .381 which leads the Big West and ranks them second in the country. Knipe, meanwhile, has distributed 11.07 assists per set this season to lead the Big West Conference and rank second in the nation. Â
Alex The Great
Freshman outside hitter Alex Nikolov had a monster collegiate debut and has not let up since. He is currently leading the squad with 4.45 kills per set, while hitting .402, and leading the team with 0.55 aces per set. In the NCAA, Nikolov ranks third in kills per set, 14th in hitting percentage and aces per set. For his efforts, Nikolov has been named Off the Block Freshman of the Week, Big West Conference Offensive Player of the Week, Big West Conference Freshman of the Week for three-straight weeks, and AVCA National Player of the Week.
Block Party
Long Beach State has been a solid force at the net this season as the Beach average 2.45 blocks per set. That average ranks LBSU third in the Big West Conference and eighth in the nation. Leading the Beach to 71 total blocks this season are middles Shane Holdaway, Grant Marocchi, and Simon Torwie. Holdaway has earned the start at middle blocker all season and leads the way with 0.96 blocks per set which is good for seventh in the league and 26th in the NCAA. Marocchi started the season at middle and has been stout at the net averaging 0.62 blocks per set over 13 sets. Torwie has earned the start at middle in four matches this season and owns a 0.81 blocks per set average.
Off the Bench
The Long Beach State men's volleyball team has a very deep and talented bench full of reserves. So far this season, redshirt senior Marc Moody, junior Calvin Sanborn, sophomore Nathan Harlan, redshirt freshman Nato Dickinson, and true freshman Dane Hillis have all come into the matches and made a difference.Â
Next Up
Long Beach State will be back in action on Friday, February 25 when they host Stanford at the Walter Pyramid. First serve is set for 7 p.m.
Players Mentioned
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