Long Beach State University Athletics
Long Beach State Chosen To Win The Big West In 2024 Preseason Coaches’ Poll
12/21/2023 10:00:00 AM | Men's Volleyball
In addition to being the preseason favorite, the Beach also led the way with three players on the Preseason Coaches’ Team
IRVINE, Calif. – The Big West released the 2024 Preseason Coaches' Poll and Team on Thursday morning, and Long Beach State was chosen as the preseason favorite. Additionally, the Beach led the way with the most Preseason Coaches' Team selections as Mason Briggs, Aidan Knipe, and Sotiris Siapanis earned the nod.
The Beach, which are coming off their sixth NCAA Final Four appearance in seven seasons, were picked to finish first in The Big West as they garnered 23 points and three first-place votes. After finishing the 2023 season with a No. 4 national ranking and a 21-5 record, Long Beach State edged out Hawaii for the top spot by two points as the Bows came in second with 21 points and two first-place votes. UC Irvine locked up the third spot with 19 points and one first-place vote. Meanwhile, UC Santa Barbara (11 points), CSUN (8 points) and UC San Diego (8 points) rounded out the poll in fourth and in a tie for fifth.
Briggs, a two-time AVCA First Team All-American, was named to The Big West Preseason Coaches' Team after an excellent junior season. The libero from Valencia, Calif., led the conference and ranked fifth in the nation with 2.38 digs per set on his way to being named to the All-Big West First Team. Briggs led the Beach in digs on 17 occasions and recorded double-figure kills 12 times on his way to winning the 2023 Off the Block Erik Shoji Award for the nation's top libero.
Knipe earned the nod to The Big West Preseason Coaches' Team after winning his second-straight AVCA Honorable Mention selection in 2023 to go along with being named Big West Honorable Mention. The Beach's starting setter was instrumental in piloting Long Beach State to a .337 team attack percentage to rank second in The Big West and fourth in the nation. He finished the season averaging 9.68 assists per set to come in second in the conference and 17th in the country.
Siapanis is a junior outside hitter coming off of a year in which he earned First Team All-Big West accolades and AVCA Second Team All-America honors. The Limassol, Cyprus native started in 25-of-26 matches for LBSU and led the Beach in kills per set (3.21) and points per set (3.92) while ranking seventh in both respective categories in The Big West. He also ranked in the Top 10 in the conference in aces per set (0.41), digs per set (1.64), and hitting percentage (.265).
Long Beach State fans will have an opportunity to get a first look at the squad on Sunday, Dec. 31 when they host Alberta in a pair of exhibition matches at the Walter Pyramid. The first match is set to start at 10 a.m., with the second following at 2 p.m.
The Beach will officially open the 2024 campaign on Friday, Jan. 12 at 7 p.m. against Long Island. The match will be broadcast live on ESPN+.
Single-game, season tickets, and mini plans are available to purchase for the 2024 season by clicking HERE. Season tickets include priority for the 2024 NCAA Tournament hosted by Long Beach State.
For more information or questions, please call or text: 562-985-4949 or email: LBSUTickets@csulb.edu.
2024 Big West Men's Volleyball Preseason Coaches' Poll
1. Long Beach State – 23 points (3)
2. Hawaii – 21 points (2)
3. UC Irvine – 19 points (1)
4. UC Santa Barbara – 11 points
T5. CSUN – 8 points
T5. UC San Diego – 8 points
First-place votes are in parenthesis
2024 Big West Men's Volleyball Preseason Coaches' Team
Mason Briggs, Sr., Libero – Long Beach State
Spyros Chakas, Sr., Outside Hitter/Opposite – Hawaii
Hilir Henno, Jr., Outside Hitter – UC Irvine
Kyle Hobus, RS Sr., Outside Hitter – CSUN
Aidan Knipe, RS Sr., Setter – Long Beach State
Sotiris Siapanis, Jr., Outside Hitter – Long Beach State
Guillherme Voss, Sr., Middle Blocker - Hawaii
The Beach, which are coming off their sixth NCAA Final Four appearance in seven seasons, were picked to finish first in The Big West as they garnered 23 points and three first-place votes. After finishing the 2023 season with a No. 4 national ranking and a 21-5 record, Long Beach State edged out Hawaii for the top spot by two points as the Bows came in second with 21 points and two first-place votes. UC Irvine locked up the third spot with 19 points and one first-place vote. Meanwhile, UC Santa Barbara (11 points), CSUN (8 points) and UC San Diego (8 points) rounded out the poll in fourth and in a tie for fifth.
Briggs, a two-time AVCA First Team All-American, was named to The Big West Preseason Coaches' Team after an excellent junior season. The libero from Valencia, Calif., led the conference and ranked fifth in the nation with 2.38 digs per set on his way to being named to the All-Big West First Team. Briggs led the Beach in digs on 17 occasions and recorded double-figure kills 12 times on his way to winning the 2023 Off the Block Erik Shoji Award for the nation's top libero.
Knipe earned the nod to The Big West Preseason Coaches' Team after winning his second-straight AVCA Honorable Mention selection in 2023 to go along with being named Big West Honorable Mention. The Beach's starting setter was instrumental in piloting Long Beach State to a .337 team attack percentage to rank second in The Big West and fourth in the nation. He finished the season averaging 9.68 assists per set to come in second in the conference and 17th in the country.
Siapanis is a junior outside hitter coming off of a year in which he earned First Team All-Big West accolades and AVCA Second Team All-America honors. The Limassol, Cyprus native started in 25-of-26 matches for LBSU and led the Beach in kills per set (3.21) and points per set (3.92) while ranking seventh in both respective categories in The Big West. He also ranked in the Top 10 in the conference in aces per set (0.41), digs per set (1.64), and hitting percentage (.265).
Long Beach State fans will have an opportunity to get a first look at the squad on Sunday, Dec. 31 when they host Alberta in a pair of exhibition matches at the Walter Pyramid. The first match is set to start at 10 a.m., with the second following at 2 p.m.
The Beach will officially open the 2024 campaign on Friday, Jan. 12 at 7 p.m. against Long Island. The match will be broadcast live on ESPN+.
Single-game, season tickets, and mini plans are available to purchase for the 2024 season by clicking HERE. Season tickets include priority for the 2024 NCAA Tournament hosted by Long Beach State.
For more information or questions, please call or text: 562-985-4949 or email: LBSUTickets@csulb.edu.
2024 Big West Men's Volleyball Preseason Coaches' Poll
1. Long Beach State – 23 points (3)
2. Hawaii – 21 points (2)
3. UC Irvine – 19 points (1)
4. UC Santa Barbara – 11 points
T5. CSUN – 8 points
T5. UC San Diego – 8 points
First-place votes are in parenthesis
2024 Big West Men's Volleyball Preseason Coaches' Team
Mason Briggs, Sr., Libero – Long Beach State
Spyros Chakas, Sr., Outside Hitter/Opposite – Hawaii
Hilir Henno, Jr., Outside Hitter – UC Irvine
Kyle Hobus, RS Sr., Outside Hitter – CSUN
Aidan Knipe, RS Sr., Setter – Long Beach State
Sotiris Siapanis, Jr., Outside Hitter – Long Beach State
Guillherme Voss, Sr., Middle Blocker - Hawaii
Players Mentioned
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