Friday, April 18
La Jolla, Calif.
7:00 p.m.
Long Beach State University
at
UC San Diego
Photo by: John Fajardo
Top-Ranked Long Beach State Goes Up Against No. 10 UC San Diego In Final Regular Season Series
4/16/2025 11:12:00 AM | Men's Volleyball
The Beach will recognize its five seniors in Nato Dickinson, DiAeris McRaven, Noah Robin, Sebastian Rodriguez, and Sotiris Siapanis on Saturday night at the Walter Pyramid.
#1 LONG BEACH STATE (24-2, 6-2 Big West) @ #10 UC SAN DIEGO (17-9, 3-5 Big West)
Friday, April 18 • 7 p.m. • La Jolla, Calif. • LionTree Arena
TV: ESPN+
Live Stats: UCSDTritons.com
X: @LBSUMVB
#1 LONG BEACH STATE (24-2, 6-2 Big West) vs. #10 UC SAN DIEGO (17-9, 3-5 Big West)
Saturday, April 19 • 7 p.m. • Long Beach, Calif. • Walter Pyramid
TV: ESPN+
TV Talent: Matt Brown & Matt Prosser
Live Stats: BeachLiveStats.com
X:Â @LBSUMVB
Top-Ranked Long Beach State Goes Up Against No. 10 UC San Diego In Final Regular Season Series
The No. 1 Long Beach State Men's Volleyball team will close out the regular season with a pair of matches against No. 10 UC San Diego. The Beach and the Tritons face off in La Jolla, Calif., on Friday, April 18 at 7 p.m. at LionTree Arena, before LBSU hosts UCSD at the Walter Pyramid on Saturday, April 19 at 7 p.m. Following Saturday's match, Long Beach State will recognize its five seniors in Nato Dickinson, DiAeris McRaven, Noah Robin, Sebastian Rodriguez, and Sotiris Siapanis.Â
Catch All The Action
LB Nation can live stream both of Long Beach State's matches this weekend on ESPN+. Live stats will also be available via UCSDTritons.com for Friday's match and BeachLiveStats.com for Saturday's contest.Â
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 X. Be sure to "like" us on Facebook and follow us on Instagram at @LBSU. And don't forget our hashtag #GoBeach.
About The Beach
• No. 1 Long Beach State has put together one of its most successful seasons to date as the Beach own a 24-2 overall record and are tied for first place in The Big West with a 6-2 mark.
• Earlier this season, the Beach strung together 20-straight victories marking the team's fourth-longest winning streak in program history.
• With 18 straight set wins this season, the 2025 Long Beach State team is tied for fifth place in the record books for more 3-0 sweeps. This year's squad joins the 1992, 2000, and 2004 teams with 18 sweeps on the year. Meanwhile the 2025 team is just one sweep away from moving into second place all time to tie with the three NCAA National Championship squads (1991, 2018, and 2019). The record for most sweeps in a single-season by LBSU is held by the 2017 team with 20.
• Sophomore opposite Daniil Hershtynovich leads the Beach on the offensive end with 3.18 kills per set, while hitting .354. He also contributes 1.13 digs and 0.74 blocks per set this season.
• Leading the Beach to a nation-leading .395 attack percentage is freshman setter Moni Nikolov. The product out of Sofia, Bulgaria has been on-point this season distributing 9.70 assists per set, while also helping out on the offensive attack with 1.54 kills per set. If that weren't enough, Nikolov also leads the nation with 0.94 aces per set. He is currently at 82 aces on the year which is a new LBSU single-season record. His 82 service aces are just five shy of The Big West single-season record, and 18 away from tying the NCAA All-Eras single-season mark.
• At the net, middles Ben Braun and DiAeris McRaven have patrolled the net leading the Beach to a 2.70 blocks per set average. That mark leads The Big West and is good for second in the country.Â
• Braun, a 6-11 junior from Rancho Mirage, Calif., is averaging 1.37 blocks per set after totaling 63 over 46 sets. His 1.37 blocks per set are tops in The Big West.
• McRaven, meanwhile has put up a team-leading 75 blocks to average 1.01 blocks per set. He is ranked fifth in the conference and in the Top 25 in the nation in blocks per set.
• In his 22nd season at the helm, Long Beach State Head Coach Alan Knipe is the winningest coach in LBSU Men's Volleyball program history, Knipe owns a career record of 443-170 for a winning percentage of 723.
• Knipe's staff of Associate Head Coach Nick MacRae, Assistant Coach McKay Smith, Volunteer Assistant Coach Andy Read, and Technical Coordinator Jon Parry are also back for the Beach. The seasoned quartet have worked together for the last eight seasons helping Long Beach State capture two NCAA National Titles, two Big West Championships, and have led the Beach to six NCAA Tournament appearances.
In the Rankings
• Long Beach State has been ranked No. 1 in the AVCA National Collegiate Men's Volleyball Poll for 12 consecutive weeks. The Beach garnered 460 total points and all 23 first-place votes after boasting a 24-2 overall record.
• The Big West is one of the most competitive Division I Men's Volleyball conferences as all six Big West schools are nationally ranked, with three of them sitting in the Top 5. Â
• The season, Long Beach State has faced 10 nationally ranked opponents and will close out the regular season against No. 10 UC San Diego. Overall, the Beach owns a 12-2 record against nationally ranked opponents this season.
• UC San Diego is ranked No. 10 in the AVCA National Collegiate Men's Volleyball Poll. The Tritons dropped three spots after suffering losses in their last three matches to No. 4 UC Irvine, 3-0, and a pair of five-set contests last week to No. 9 CSUN.
Scouting UC San Diego
• No. 10 UC San Diego comes into the week with a 17-9 overall record and a 3-5 Big West mark.
• The Tritons are averaging 12.44 kills per set on a .321 attack percentage. Additionally, UCSD adds 8.17 digs per set and 2.11 blocks per set to go along with 1.57 aces per set. Â
• Anthony Cherfan is the Tritons' leading scorer with 3.78 kills per set on a .339 clip. He also chips in 1.24 digs and 0.66 blocks per set.
• At setter, Bryce Dvorak has dished out 10.52 assists per set to pace the Tritons. His efficient passing has led to UC San Diego hitting .321 on the year. He is also second on the squad with 1.51 digs per set. Dvorak is also the team's leader at the service line as he has served up a team-best 40 aces this season to average 0.41 per set.
• In the backrow, Keegan Cook anchors the defense with 2.17 digs per set.Â
• At the net, Jim Garrison has posted a team-leading 70 blocks to average 1.08 per set. He also adds 1.15 kills per set on a .444 attack percentage.Â
The Series: The Beach vs. The Tritons
Long Beach State and UC San Diego will meet for the 83rd time in program history. Overall, Long Beach leads the series 76-6. The Beach have won the last four meetings between the two programs. When playing each other in La Jolla, LBSU leads 37-3, meanwhile the Beach owns a 36-2 record when hosting UCSD in Long Beach. In their last meeting, the Beach swept the Tritons on March 30, 2024 at LionTree Arena in La Jolla.Â
Acing The Competition
Freshman Moni Nikolov is leading a charge against numerous serving records at Long Beach State, the Big West and the NCAA. With what is believed to be the fastest recorded serve in NCAA history, Nikolov has set a new season record with 82 service aces with two regular season matches remaining. That mark ranks second all-time in the Big West, and currently is sixth in NCAA history across all eras. Long Beach State has half as dozen players with over 10 aces already this season, and has made 197 in total as a team, ranking third in single-season history for the Beach. As a team, Long Beach State has an opportunity to reach three other elite serving teams with different records; the Big West record holders of Hawai'i with 224 aces in 2022, the 25-point rally scoring record set last year by Saint Francis (Pa.) of 237, and the all-time record set in 2007 by Stevens of 289. Â
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Among The Nation's Best
Long Beach State is ranked in the Top 5 in in the country in four different statistical categories this season. The Beach lead the nation in hitting percentage (.395) and aces per set (2.26). The team ranks second in blocks per set (2.70). If that weren't enough, LBSU also ranks fourth in kills per set (13.11).
Individually, the Beach boasts four players who rank in the Top 50 in the nation in their respective disciplines. Leading the way, setter Moni Nikolov leads the nation in aces per set (0.94), and is ranked 20th in assists per set (9.70). DiAeris McRaven comes in 21st in the nation with a 1.01 block per set average, while Skyler Varga leads the way with a .379 hitting percentage which is good for 16th in the country.  Daniil Hershtynovich rounds out the best of the Beach as he is ranked in teh NCAA Top 50 in three different statistical categories. His .354 clip is good for 20th in the nation, while his kills per set (3.18) and points per set (3.77) averages rank him 48th and 47th in the country, respectively.
Up Next
The Big West Championship is on the horizon as Long Beach State looks to repeat as champions and earn the league's automatic berth to the National Collegiate Championship. Since The Big West began sponsoring Men's Volleyball in 2018, Long Beach State has captured the title in 2018 and 2024.Â
This season, The Big West Championship will begin on Thursday, April 24, with the Semifinals taking place on Friday, April 25, and the Championship match set for Saturday, April 26. The tournament will be held at SimpliFi Arena at the Stan Sheriff Center as it is hosted by Hawai'i for the fifth time in seven seasons.Â
All matches will be broadcast live on ESPN+ (mainland) and Spectrum Sports (islands).
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Friday, April 18 • 7 p.m. • La Jolla, Calif. • LionTree Arena
TV: ESPN+
Live Stats: UCSDTritons.com
X: @LBSUMVB
#1 LONG BEACH STATE (24-2, 6-2 Big West) vs. #10 UC SAN DIEGO (17-9, 3-5 Big West)
Saturday, April 19 • 7 p.m. • Long Beach, Calif. • Walter Pyramid
TV: ESPN+
TV Talent: Matt Brown & Matt Prosser
Live Stats: BeachLiveStats.com
X:Â @LBSUMVB
Top-Ranked Long Beach State Goes Up Against No. 10 UC San Diego In Final Regular Season Series
The No. 1 Long Beach State Men's Volleyball team will close out the regular season with a pair of matches against No. 10 UC San Diego. The Beach and the Tritons face off in La Jolla, Calif., on Friday, April 18 at 7 p.m. at LionTree Arena, before LBSU hosts UCSD at the Walter Pyramid on Saturday, April 19 at 7 p.m. Following Saturday's match, Long Beach State will recognize its five seniors in Nato Dickinson, DiAeris McRaven, Noah Robin, Sebastian Rodriguez, and Sotiris Siapanis.Â
Catch All The Action
LB Nation can live stream both of Long Beach State's matches this weekend on ESPN+. Live stats will also be available via UCSDTritons.com for Friday's match and BeachLiveStats.com for Saturday's contest.Â
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 X. Be sure to "like" us on Facebook and follow us on Instagram at @LBSU. And don't forget our hashtag #GoBeach.
About The Beach
• No. 1 Long Beach State has put together one of its most successful seasons to date as the Beach own a 24-2 overall record and are tied for first place in The Big West with a 6-2 mark.
• Earlier this season, the Beach strung together 20-straight victories marking the team's fourth-longest winning streak in program history.
• With 18 straight set wins this season, the 2025 Long Beach State team is tied for fifth place in the record books for more 3-0 sweeps. This year's squad joins the 1992, 2000, and 2004 teams with 18 sweeps on the year. Meanwhile the 2025 team is just one sweep away from moving into second place all time to tie with the three NCAA National Championship squads (1991, 2018, and 2019). The record for most sweeps in a single-season by LBSU is held by the 2017 team with 20.
• Sophomore opposite Daniil Hershtynovich leads the Beach on the offensive end with 3.18 kills per set, while hitting .354. He also contributes 1.13 digs and 0.74 blocks per set this season.
• Leading the Beach to a nation-leading .395 attack percentage is freshman setter Moni Nikolov. The product out of Sofia, Bulgaria has been on-point this season distributing 9.70 assists per set, while also helping out on the offensive attack with 1.54 kills per set. If that weren't enough, Nikolov also leads the nation with 0.94 aces per set. He is currently at 82 aces on the year which is a new LBSU single-season record. His 82 service aces are just five shy of The Big West single-season record, and 18 away from tying the NCAA All-Eras single-season mark.
• At the net, middles Ben Braun and DiAeris McRaven have patrolled the net leading the Beach to a 2.70 blocks per set average. That mark leads The Big West and is good for second in the country.Â
• Braun, a 6-11 junior from Rancho Mirage, Calif., is averaging 1.37 blocks per set after totaling 63 over 46 sets. His 1.37 blocks per set are tops in The Big West.
• McRaven, meanwhile has put up a team-leading 75 blocks to average 1.01 blocks per set. He is ranked fifth in the conference and in the Top 25 in the nation in blocks per set.
• In his 22nd season at the helm, Long Beach State Head Coach Alan Knipe is the winningest coach in LBSU Men's Volleyball program history, Knipe owns a career record of 443-170 for a winning percentage of 723.
• Knipe's staff of Associate Head Coach Nick MacRae, Assistant Coach McKay Smith, Volunteer Assistant Coach Andy Read, and Technical Coordinator Jon Parry are also back for the Beach. The seasoned quartet have worked together for the last eight seasons helping Long Beach State capture two NCAA National Titles, two Big West Championships, and have led the Beach to six NCAA Tournament appearances.
In the Rankings
• Long Beach State has been ranked No. 1 in the AVCA National Collegiate Men's Volleyball Poll for 12 consecutive weeks. The Beach garnered 460 total points and all 23 first-place votes after boasting a 24-2 overall record.
• The Big West is one of the most competitive Division I Men's Volleyball conferences as all six Big West schools are nationally ranked, with three of them sitting in the Top 5. Â
• The season, Long Beach State has faced 10 nationally ranked opponents and will close out the regular season against No. 10 UC San Diego. Overall, the Beach owns a 12-2 record against nationally ranked opponents this season.
• UC San Diego is ranked No. 10 in the AVCA National Collegiate Men's Volleyball Poll. The Tritons dropped three spots after suffering losses in their last three matches to No. 4 UC Irvine, 3-0, and a pair of five-set contests last week to No. 9 CSUN.
Scouting UC San Diego
• No. 10 UC San Diego comes into the week with a 17-9 overall record and a 3-5 Big West mark.
• The Tritons are averaging 12.44 kills per set on a .321 attack percentage. Additionally, UCSD adds 8.17 digs per set and 2.11 blocks per set to go along with 1.57 aces per set. Â
• Anthony Cherfan is the Tritons' leading scorer with 3.78 kills per set on a .339 clip. He also chips in 1.24 digs and 0.66 blocks per set.
• At setter, Bryce Dvorak has dished out 10.52 assists per set to pace the Tritons. His efficient passing has led to UC San Diego hitting .321 on the year. He is also second on the squad with 1.51 digs per set. Dvorak is also the team's leader at the service line as he has served up a team-best 40 aces this season to average 0.41 per set.
• In the backrow, Keegan Cook anchors the defense with 2.17 digs per set.Â
• At the net, Jim Garrison has posted a team-leading 70 blocks to average 1.08 per set. He also adds 1.15 kills per set on a .444 attack percentage.Â
The Series: The Beach vs. The Tritons
Long Beach State and UC San Diego will meet for the 83rd time in program history. Overall, Long Beach leads the series 76-6. The Beach have won the last four meetings between the two programs. When playing each other in La Jolla, LBSU leads 37-3, meanwhile the Beach owns a 36-2 record when hosting UCSD in Long Beach. In their last meeting, the Beach swept the Tritons on March 30, 2024 at LionTree Arena in La Jolla.Â
Acing The Competition
Freshman Moni Nikolov is leading a charge against numerous serving records at Long Beach State, the Big West and the NCAA. With what is believed to be the fastest recorded serve in NCAA history, Nikolov has set a new season record with 82 service aces with two regular season matches remaining. That mark ranks second all-time in the Big West, and currently is sixth in NCAA history across all eras. Long Beach State has half as dozen players with over 10 aces already this season, and has made 197 in total as a team, ranking third in single-season history for the Beach. As a team, Long Beach State has an opportunity to reach three other elite serving teams with different records; the Big West record holders of Hawai'i with 224 aces in 2022, the 25-point rally scoring record set last year by Saint Francis (Pa.) of 237, and the all-time record set in 2007 by Stevens of 289. Â
Â
Among The Nation's Best
Long Beach State is ranked in the Top 5 in in the country in four different statistical categories this season. The Beach lead the nation in hitting percentage (.395) and aces per set (2.26). The team ranks second in blocks per set (2.70). If that weren't enough, LBSU also ranks fourth in kills per set (13.11).
Individually, the Beach boasts four players who rank in the Top 50 in the nation in their respective disciplines. Leading the way, setter Moni Nikolov leads the nation in aces per set (0.94), and is ranked 20th in assists per set (9.70). DiAeris McRaven comes in 21st in the nation with a 1.01 block per set average, while Skyler Varga leads the way with a .379 hitting percentage which is good for 16th in the country.  Daniil Hershtynovich rounds out the best of the Beach as he is ranked in teh NCAA Top 50 in three different statistical categories. His .354 clip is good for 20th in the nation, while his kills per set (3.18) and points per set (3.77) averages rank him 48th and 47th in the country, respectively.
Up Next
The Big West Championship is on the horizon as Long Beach State looks to repeat as champions and earn the league's automatic berth to the National Collegiate Championship. Since The Big West began sponsoring Men's Volleyball in 2018, Long Beach State has captured the title in 2018 and 2024.Â
This season, The Big West Championship will begin on Thursday, April 24, with the Semifinals taking place on Friday, April 25, and the Championship match set for Saturday, April 26. The tournament will be held at SimpliFi Arena at the Stan Sheriff Center as it is hosted by Hawai'i for the fifth time in seven seasons.Â
All matches will be broadcast live on ESPN+ (mainland) and Spectrum Sports (islands).
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Players Mentioned
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/ Men's Volleyball
OPP
/ Men's Volleyball
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/ Men's Volleyball
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/ Men's Volleyball
OPP
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