Friday, April 1
Long Beach, Calif.
7:00 PM
Long Beach State University
vs
Hawaii
Photo by: John Fajardo
No. 2 Long Beach State Hosts No. 4 Hawai’i on Friday and Saturday at the Walter Pyramid
3/31/2022 12:33:00 PM | Men's Volleyball
The Beach and the Rainbow Warriors battle for the top spot in the Big West Conference this weekend
MATCH #18: No. 2 LONG BEACH STATE vs. No. 4 HAWAI'I
Date: Friday, April 1
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Location: Long Beach, Calif.
Venue: Walter Pyramid
Live Stats: BeachLiveStats.com
TV: ESPN+
TV Talent: Matt Brown & Matt Prosser
MATCH #19: No. 2 LONG BEACH STATE vs. No. 4 HAWAI'I
Date: Saturday, April 2
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Location: Long Beach, Calif.
Venue: Walter Pyramid
Live Stats: BeachLiveStats.com
TV: ESPNU
TV Talent: Bryan Fenley & Mike Sealy
COMPLETE LBSU MATCH NOTES (PDF)
No. 2 Long Beach State Hosts No. 4 Hawai'i on Friday and Saturday at the Walter Pyramid
In a battle of the top two Big West Conference teams, No. 2 Long Beach State will host No. 4 Hawaii at the Walter Pyramid on Friday, April 1 and Saturday, April 2. The Beach and the Rainbow Warriors will face off on Friday at 7 p.m. on ESPN+. The next day, the conference foes will meet once again at 7:30 p.m. on ESPNU.
Catch All The Action
Friday's Long Beach State match against Hawaii will be broadcast live on ESPN+ with Matt Brown and Matt Prosser on the call, while Saturday's contest will be televised on ESPNU with Bryan Fenley and Mike Sealy on the call.. Fans can sign up for ESPN+ for $5.99 per month ($59.99 per year) at ESPN.com, ESPNplus.com, or on the ESPN App. It is also available as part of the Disney Bundle that gives subscribers access to Disney +,ESPN+, and Hulu for $13.99 per month (Hulu with ads) or $19.99 per month (Hulu without ads). 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.
COVID-19 Notes
• If you are coming to the Walter Pyramid this season, please allow for extra time to enter the venue due to COVID-19 protocols as well as parking. Parking payment can be done in two ways, either at the parking machines on site or via the Parkmobile App.
• Beginning March 14, 2022, masks are strongly recommended but not required at indoor events for individuals who are fully vaccinated. Attendees who are not fully vaccinated must wear a mask while indoors. All attendees ages 2 and older will continue to be required to provide proof of full vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test prior to entry at indoor events.
In the Rankings
• After picking up a pair of Big West Conference matches against No. 6 UC Santa Barbara last week, Long Beach State moved up one spot to No. 2 in the NVA/AVCA Division I-II Coaches Poll.
• The Beach are currently receiving five first-place votes as they sit in second with 261 total points.
• Hawaii is ranked No. 4 in the NVA/AVCA Division I-II Coaches Poll. The Rainbow Warriors have held steady at No. 4 for the last few weeks.
• Ten of the Beach's opponents this season are among the Top 15 teams nationally ranked.
• When playing nationally ranked teams this season, Long Beach State is 8-2 overall.
About The Beach
• No. 2 Long Beach State owns a 14-3 overall record and the Beach are 3-1 in Big West Conference action as they are tied for first with No. 4 Hawaii in the league standings.
• Long Beach State is on a four-match winning streak, as the Beach have not lost a match since Thursday, March 10 to UC Irvine (3-2).
• LBSU owns an 11-1 record when playing at the Walter Pyramid this season.
• In the Big West preseason poll, Long Beach State was picked to win the conference along with Hawaii. Both teams earned three first-place votes for a total of 21 points.
• In the NVA/AVCA Division I-II Preseason Coaches Poll, the Beach were chosen fourth, garnering three first-place votes.
• This season, the Beach have been dominant offensively hitting .351 on the season. That clip is good for second in the Big West Conference and fifth in the nation.
• As a team, the Beach are ranked in the Top 10 nationally in five statistical categories. Long Beach State is second in blocks per set (2.76), fifth in hitting percentage (.351), fifth in win-loss percentage (.824), and seventh in both kills per set (12.81) and assists per set (12.00).
• Leading the Beach's offense is sophomore setter Aidan Knipe who is third in the nation in assists per set with 11.09, which leads the Big West. Knipe has piloted the Beach to a .300 attack percentage in 12-of-16 matches he's played in this season.
• Knipe does a good job distributing the ball to both outsides - Alex Nikolov and Spencer Olivier - as well as opposite, Clarke Godbold. Each of them rank in the top 10 in the Big West in kills per set, attack percentage, and points per set.
• Nikolov leads the way with 4.37 kills per set which leads the conference and ranks him fourth in the nation. Meanwhile Olivier's 3.24 kills per set are good for seventh in the league, while Godbold's 3.00 kills per set place him ninth in the Big West.
• Earlier this week, Long Beach State claimed both Big West Defensive Player of the Week and Freshman of the Week honors as Mason Briggs and Alex Nikolov took home the awards, respectively.
• Nikolov has had an outstanding rookie season thus far. He has been named Big West Conference Freshman of the Week six 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 eight double-digit dig performances this season and 18 in his collegiate career. He is averaging 2.50 digs per set to lead the Big West and rank sixth nationally.
• At the net, Clarke Godbold is averaging 1.02 blocks per set which ranks him 14th in the nation and in the Top 10 in the Big West. Junior middle blocker Shane Holdaway's 1.00 blocks per set is also good for seventh in the conference and 17th in the nation.
• Godbold has been a solid contributor all season as he is the team's third leading scorer with 3.00 kills per set while hitting .151. Both marks rank him in the Top 10 in the Big West.
• Junior outside hitter Spencer Olivier has also been a key component for the Beach this season. He is the team's second leading scorer with 3.24 kills per set. Olivier is hitting .338 on the year and is also averaging 1.56 digs per set as he ranks among the Top 10 in each of those conference statistical categories.
• 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 Hawai'i
• No. 4 Hawaii brings an 18-3 overall record, along with a 3-1 Big West Conference mark, into the matches against Long Beach State.
• The Bows are currently on a five-match winning streak as they have not lost a match since a 3-2 setback at UC San Diego on March 2.
• Hawaii is tied for first in Big West Conference standings with Long Beach State, as both team own identical 3-1 Big West Conference records.
• As a team, Hawaii leads the Big West in four statistical categories as the Bows set the standard in hitting percentage (.353), opponent hitting percentage (.191), blocks (2.97 per set), and aces (2.25 per set).
• Spyros Chakas is the Bows' leader in kills with 213 as he averages 3.23 kills per set, while hitting .340. He also contributes 1.20 digs per set, 0.68 blocks per set, and is second on the team with 27 service aces.
• The second leading scorer on the squad is Dimitrios Mouchilas who has accumulated 194 kills to average 3.29 kills per set in 59 sets played. He also adds a .348 attack percentage to go along with 1.24 digs per set and a team-best 0.88 blocks per set.
• At setter, Hawaii is paced by Jakob Theile's 9.60 assists per set. He also leads the team in aces per set with 0.67, which also leads the Big West.
• On the defensive end, Brett Sheward leads the backcourt with 1.72 digs per set in 68 sets thus far.
The Series: The Beach vs. The Rainbow Warriors
Long Beach State and Hawaii will meet for the 94th and 95th time in program history. The overall series is a close one with the Beach holding the edge 48-45. However, the Bows won the last two meetings as they defeated LBSU twice in 2021.
Weekly Honors
On Monday, Alex Nikolov claimed his seventh overall Big West Conference weekly honor after being named Big West Freshman of the Week for the sixth time this season. Joining Nikolov this week in the conference weekly awards was Mason Briggs who was named Defensive Player of the Week. It was the first honor this season for Briggs. This season, the Beach have claimed 11 Big West Weekly awards as Clarke Godbold was named Defensive Player of the Week the week of Jan. 24, Aidan Knipe earned Defensive Players of the Week honors last week along with Spencer Olivier, who claimed Offensive Player of the Week.
The Best in the (Big) West
Alex Nikolov, Aidan Knipe, and Mason Briggs all lead the Big West in at least one statistical category. Nikolov sets the standard in kills per set (4.37) and points per set (5.28), while Knipe leads the way in assists per set (11.09), and Briggs is the league's leading libero with 2.50 digs per set. The trio ranks in the Top 10 in the nation in each of those categories as well.
Doing It Right on the Right Side
Clarke Godbold has earned the start at the right side and is currently the Beach's third leading scorer with 3.00 kills per set on a .315 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 1.02 blocks per set, 0.98 digs per set, and 0.23 service aces per set. Godbold has recorded double-digit kills 10 times this season and has led Long Beach State in blocks six times. In the match against No. 2 UCLA on February 11, 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 85 aces in 17 matches thus far to average 1.37 aces per set which ranks the Beach fourth in the Big West Conference and in the Top 25 nationally. Individually, Alex Nikolov leads Long Beach State at the service line as the freshman from Sofia, Bulgaria has totaled 37 aces on the year to average 0.60 per set. That average puts him second in the Big West and third in the nation. Against No. 12 Stanford, Nikolov fired off five-straight service aces to highlight a 7-0 LBSU run as the Beach came from behind to take the second set off of the Cardinal en route to a 3-0 sweep. Against Concordia, Nikolov tied his career-high with five aces as he led the Beach to a sweep over the Eagles.
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 12-of-16 matches when Knipe is setting. As a team, the Beach are hitting .351 which is good for second in the Big West and ranks them fifth in the country. Knipe, meanwhile, has distributed 11.09 assists per set this season to lead the Big West Conference and rank third in the NCAA.
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 4.37 kills per set, while hitting .366, and leading the team with 0.60 aces per set. In the NCAA, Nikolov ranks fourth in kills per set, 17th in hitting percentage, and third in service aces per set. The Sofia, Bulgaria native has recorded a career-high 24 kills twice this season. Against Long Island, he hit a career-best .600 as he when 12-0-20. 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 on six separate occasions, 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 2.76 blocks per set. That average ranks LBSU second in both the Big West Conference and the nation. Leading the Beach at the net this season is Clarke Godbold who is averaging 1.02 blocks per set to come in 14th in the country. Behind him, Shane Holdaway adds 1.00 blocks per set to rank 17th in the country. Both Godbold and Holdway rank sixth and seventh in the Big West, respectively.
Next Up
Following the pair of matches against Big West foe Hawaii, Long Beach State will then face No. 9 UC San Diego. The Beach and the Tritons will meet on Friday, April 8 at 7 p.m. at the Walter Pyramid. Then will go head-to-head on Saturday, April 9 at 7 p.m. at RIMAC Arena.
Date: Friday, April 1
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Location: Long Beach, Calif.
Venue: Walter Pyramid
Live Stats: BeachLiveStats.com
TV: ESPN+
TV Talent: Matt Brown & Matt Prosser
MATCH #19: No. 2 LONG BEACH STATE vs. No. 4 HAWAI'I
Date: Saturday, April 2
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Location: Long Beach, Calif.
Venue: Walter Pyramid
Live Stats: BeachLiveStats.com
TV: ESPNU
TV Talent: Bryan Fenley & Mike Sealy
COMPLETE LBSU MATCH NOTES (PDF)
No. 2 Long Beach State Hosts No. 4 Hawai'i on Friday and Saturday at the Walter Pyramid
In a battle of the top two Big West Conference teams, No. 2 Long Beach State will host No. 4 Hawaii at the Walter Pyramid on Friday, April 1 and Saturday, April 2. The Beach and the Rainbow Warriors will face off on Friday at 7 p.m. on ESPN+. The next day, the conference foes will meet once again at 7:30 p.m. on ESPNU.
Catch All The Action
Friday's Long Beach State match against Hawaii will be broadcast live on ESPN+ with Matt Brown and Matt Prosser on the call, while Saturday's contest will be televised on ESPNU with Bryan Fenley and Mike Sealy on the call.. Fans can sign up for ESPN+ for $5.99 per month ($59.99 per year) at ESPN.com, ESPNplus.com, or on the ESPN App. It is also available as part of the Disney Bundle that gives subscribers access to Disney +,ESPN+, and Hulu for $13.99 per month (Hulu with ads) or $19.99 per month (Hulu without ads). 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.
COVID-19 Notes
• If you are coming to the Walter Pyramid this season, please allow for extra time to enter the venue due to COVID-19 protocols as well as parking. Parking payment can be done in two ways, either at the parking machines on site or via the Parkmobile App.
• Beginning March 14, 2022, masks are strongly recommended but not required at indoor events for individuals who are fully vaccinated. Attendees who are not fully vaccinated must wear a mask while indoors. All attendees ages 2 and older will continue to be required to provide proof of full vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test prior to entry at indoor events.
In the Rankings
• After picking up a pair of Big West Conference matches against No. 6 UC Santa Barbara last week, Long Beach State moved up one spot to No. 2 in the NVA/AVCA Division I-II Coaches Poll.
• The Beach are currently receiving five first-place votes as they sit in second with 261 total points.
• Hawaii is ranked No. 4 in the NVA/AVCA Division I-II Coaches Poll. The Rainbow Warriors have held steady at No. 4 for the last few weeks.
• Ten of the Beach's opponents this season are among the Top 15 teams nationally ranked.
• When playing nationally ranked teams this season, Long Beach State is 8-2 overall.
About The Beach
• No. 2 Long Beach State owns a 14-3 overall record and the Beach are 3-1 in Big West Conference action as they are tied for first with No. 4 Hawaii in the league standings.
• Long Beach State is on a four-match winning streak, as the Beach have not lost a match since Thursday, March 10 to UC Irvine (3-2).
• LBSU owns an 11-1 record when playing at the Walter Pyramid this season.
• In the Big West preseason poll, Long Beach State was picked to win the conference along with Hawaii. Both teams earned three first-place votes for a total of 21 points.
• In the NVA/AVCA Division I-II Preseason Coaches Poll, the Beach were chosen fourth, garnering three first-place votes.
• This season, the Beach have been dominant offensively hitting .351 on the season. That clip is good for second in the Big West Conference and fifth in the nation.
• As a team, the Beach are ranked in the Top 10 nationally in five statistical categories. Long Beach State is second in blocks per set (2.76), fifth in hitting percentage (.351), fifth in win-loss percentage (.824), and seventh in both kills per set (12.81) and assists per set (12.00).
• Leading the Beach's offense is sophomore setter Aidan Knipe who is third in the nation in assists per set with 11.09, which leads the Big West. Knipe has piloted the Beach to a .300 attack percentage in 12-of-16 matches he's played in this season.
• Knipe does a good job distributing the ball to both outsides - Alex Nikolov and Spencer Olivier - as well as opposite, Clarke Godbold. Each of them rank in the top 10 in the Big West in kills per set, attack percentage, and points per set.
• Nikolov leads the way with 4.37 kills per set which leads the conference and ranks him fourth in the nation. Meanwhile Olivier's 3.24 kills per set are good for seventh in the league, while Godbold's 3.00 kills per set place him ninth in the Big West.
• Earlier this week, Long Beach State claimed both Big West Defensive Player of the Week and Freshman of the Week honors as Mason Briggs and Alex Nikolov took home the awards, respectively.
• Nikolov has had an outstanding rookie season thus far. He has been named Big West Conference Freshman of the Week six 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 eight double-digit dig performances this season and 18 in his collegiate career. He is averaging 2.50 digs per set to lead the Big West and rank sixth nationally.
• At the net, Clarke Godbold is averaging 1.02 blocks per set which ranks him 14th in the nation and in the Top 10 in the Big West. Junior middle blocker Shane Holdaway's 1.00 blocks per set is also good for seventh in the conference and 17th in the nation.
• Godbold has been a solid contributor all season as he is the team's third leading scorer with 3.00 kills per set while hitting .151. Both marks rank him in the Top 10 in the Big West.
• Junior outside hitter Spencer Olivier has also been a key component for the Beach this season. He is the team's second leading scorer with 3.24 kills per set. Olivier is hitting .338 on the year and is also averaging 1.56 digs per set as he ranks among the Top 10 in each of those conference statistical categories.
• 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 Hawai'i
• No. 4 Hawaii brings an 18-3 overall record, along with a 3-1 Big West Conference mark, into the matches against Long Beach State.
• The Bows are currently on a five-match winning streak as they have not lost a match since a 3-2 setback at UC San Diego on March 2.
• Hawaii is tied for first in Big West Conference standings with Long Beach State, as both team own identical 3-1 Big West Conference records.
• As a team, Hawaii leads the Big West in four statistical categories as the Bows set the standard in hitting percentage (.353), opponent hitting percentage (.191), blocks (2.97 per set), and aces (2.25 per set).
• Spyros Chakas is the Bows' leader in kills with 213 as he averages 3.23 kills per set, while hitting .340. He also contributes 1.20 digs per set, 0.68 blocks per set, and is second on the team with 27 service aces.
• The second leading scorer on the squad is Dimitrios Mouchilas who has accumulated 194 kills to average 3.29 kills per set in 59 sets played. He also adds a .348 attack percentage to go along with 1.24 digs per set and a team-best 0.88 blocks per set.
• At setter, Hawaii is paced by Jakob Theile's 9.60 assists per set. He also leads the team in aces per set with 0.67, which also leads the Big West.
• On the defensive end, Brett Sheward leads the backcourt with 1.72 digs per set in 68 sets thus far.
The Series: The Beach vs. The Rainbow Warriors
Long Beach State and Hawaii will meet for the 94th and 95th time in program history. The overall series is a close one with the Beach holding the edge 48-45. However, the Bows won the last two meetings as they defeated LBSU twice in 2021.
Weekly Honors
On Monday, Alex Nikolov claimed his seventh overall Big West Conference weekly honor after being named Big West Freshman of the Week for the sixth time this season. Joining Nikolov this week in the conference weekly awards was Mason Briggs who was named Defensive Player of the Week. It was the first honor this season for Briggs. This season, the Beach have claimed 11 Big West Weekly awards as Clarke Godbold was named Defensive Player of the Week the week of Jan. 24, Aidan Knipe earned Defensive Players of the Week honors last week along with Spencer Olivier, who claimed Offensive Player of the Week.
The Best in the (Big) West
Alex Nikolov, Aidan Knipe, and Mason Briggs all lead the Big West in at least one statistical category. Nikolov sets the standard in kills per set (4.37) and points per set (5.28), while Knipe leads the way in assists per set (11.09), and Briggs is the league's leading libero with 2.50 digs per set. The trio ranks in the Top 10 in the nation in each of those categories as well.
Doing It Right on the Right Side
Clarke Godbold has earned the start at the right side and is currently the Beach's third leading scorer with 3.00 kills per set on a .315 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 1.02 blocks per set, 0.98 digs per set, and 0.23 service aces per set. Godbold has recorded double-digit kills 10 times this season and has led Long Beach State in blocks six times. In the match against No. 2 UCLA on February 11, 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 85 aces in 17 matches thus far to average 1.37 aces per set which ranks the Beach fourth in the Big West Conference and in the Top 25 nationally. Individually, Alex Nikolov leads Long Beach State at the service line as the freshman from Sofia, Bulgaria has totaled 37 aces on the year to average 0.60 per set. That average puts him second in the Big West and third in the nation. Against No. 12 Stanford, Nikolov fired off five-straight service aces to highlight a 7-0 LBSU run as the Beach came from behind to take the second set off of the Cardinal en route to a 3-0 sweep. Against Concordia, Nikolov tied his career-high with five aces as he led the Beach to a sweep over the Eagles.
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 12-of-16 matches when Knipe is setting. As a team, the Beach are hitting .351 which is good for second in the Big West and ranks them fifth in the country. Knipe, meanwhile, has distributed 11.09 assists per set this season to lead the Big West Conference and rank third in the NCAA.
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 4.37 kills per set, while hitting .366, and leading the team with 0.60 aces per set. In the NCAA, Nikolov ranks fourth in kills per set, 17th in hitting percentage, and third in service aces per set. The Sofia, Bulgaria native has recorded a career-high 24 kills twice this season. Against Long Island, he hit a career-best .600 as he when 12-0-20. 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 on six separate occasions, 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 2.76 blocks per set. That average ranks LBSU second in both the Big West Conference and the nation. Leading the Beach at the net this season is Clarke Godbold who is averaging 1.02 blocks per set to come in 14th in the country. Behind him, Shane Holdaway adds 1.00 blocks per set to rank 17th in the country. Both Godbold and Holdway rank sixth and seventh in the Big West, respectively.
Next Up
Following the pair of matches against Big West foe Hawaii, Long Beach State will then face No. 9 UC San Diego. The Beach and the Tritons will meet on Friday, April 8 at 7 p.m. at the Walter Pyramid. Then will go head-to-head on Saturday, April 9 at 7 p.m. at RIMAC Arena.
Players Mentioned
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