Five Long Beach State Players Named All-Big West
4/23/2025 3:10:00 PM | Men's Volleyball
Alex Kandev, DiAeris McRaven, Moni Nikolov, and Skyler Varga were named to the All-Big West First Team, while Daniil Hershtynovich earned Honorable Mention status.
IRVINE, Calif. – The Big West announced the 2025 Men's Volleyball All-Conference teams on Wednesday afternoon and Long Beach State garnered five selections. Alex Kandev, DiAeris McRaven, Moni Nikolov, and Skyler Varga each claimed First Team honors, while Daniil Hershtynovich collected Honorable Mention status. Kandev and Nikolov were also named to the All-Freshman Team.
Kandev, a true freshman from Sofia, Bulgaria, earned All-First Team and All-Freshman Team accolades after putting together a solid rookie season. In 48 sets, the 6-foot-7 outside hitter has averaged 3.06 kills per set to rank second on the team, while hitting .466 (147-29-253) on the year. He has also logged 0.92 digs per set to go along with 0.50 blocks per set and 18 aces. He has led the Beach in kills on seven separate occasions and has recorded double-figure kills nine times thus far. Kandev registered a career-high 16 kills at Hawaii on April 12. He served up a career-best five aces against Sacred Heart on March 7, and just last weekend, tied his career-high with four blocks against UC San Diego (4/19).
McRaven collected his first All-Big West First Team selection after turning in an impressive senior season. The 6-foot-5 middle blocker leads the team, while ranking third in the conference and 20th in the nation, with 1.00 blocks per set. Additionally, McRaven contributes 1.25 kills per set on a .463 clip (100-25-162). This season, he has led LBSU in blocks nine times. Earlier this season, he set a career-high of eight kills against NJIT (3/21), while tallying a season-high six kills twice this year.
Nikolov joined Kandev on both the All-Big West First Team and All-Freshman Team. The 6-foot-10 setter has had a spectacular freshman campaign thus far. He leads the nation with 0.93 aces per set, while ranking 18th in the country with 9.36 assists per set. He set the LBSU single-season record with 86 aces, which is just one shy of The Big West record and third in the NCAA All-Eras single-season record book. The seven-time Big West Freshman of the Week honoree and three-time Big West Setter of the Week selection led the Beach to 2.23 aces per set and a .399 team hitting percentage, both marks that lead the NCAA. This season, Nikolov has recorded three double-doubles, registered a career-high 51 assists at Lewis (1/18), 10 kills at UC Irvine (3/29), eight aces versus Pepperdine (1/26), and seven blocks on two separate occasions. His eight aces rank him second in the LBSU single-match record book.
Varga earned his second All-Big West honor of his career after collecting Honorable Mention status a year ago. This season, the junior outside hitter garnered First Team accolades after leading The Big West and ranking 14th in the nation with a .387 attack percentage (235-51-476). The 6-foot-7 native of Muenster, Saskatchewan ranks in the top 10 in the conference in aces per set (0.35 – 7th), blocks per set (0.77 – 8th), and kills per set (2.87 – 10th). Varga has recorded 13 double-figure kill performances and has led Long Beach State in kills 11 times. Earlier this season, he registered a season-high 18 kills against Pepperdine (1/26) and eight blocks versus NJIT (3/21).
Hershtynovich rounds out the Beach's All-Conference selections with an Honorable Mention nod. The 6-foot-9 opposite out of Toronto, Ontario ranks in The Big West top 10 with a .354 hitting percentage (4th), 3.18 kills per set (5th), 3.77 points per set (6th), and 0.74 blocks per set (10th). Earlier this year, he posted a career-high 20 kills at Lewis (1/18), then put up a career-best six blocks against NJIT (3/21). Hershtynovich has registered 12 double-figure kill showings thus far, and has led Long Beach State in kills on eight separate occasions.
Kandev, a true freshman from Sofia, Bulgaria, earned All-First Team and All-Freshman Team accolades after putting together a solid rookie season. In 48 sets, the 6-foot-7 outside hitter has averaged 3.06 kills per set to rank second on the team, while hitting .466 (147-29-253) on the year. He has also logged 0.92 digs per set to go along with 0.50 blocks per set and 18 aces. He has led the Beach in kills on seven separate occasions and has recorded double-figure kills nine times thus far. Kandev registered a career-high 16 kills at Hawaii on April 12. He served up a career-best five aces against Sacred Heart on March 7, and just last weekend, tied his career-high with four blocks against UC San Diego (4/19).
McRaven collected his first All-Big West First Team selection after turning in an impressive senior season. The 6-foot-5 middle blocker leads the team, while ranking third in the conference and 20th in the nation, with 1.00 blocks per set. Additionally, McRaven contributes 1.25 kills per set on a .463 clip (100-25-162). This season, he has led LBSU in blocks nine times. Earlier this season, he set a career-high of eight kills against NJIT (3/21), while tallying a season-high six kills twice this year.
Nikolov joined Kandev on both the All-Big West First Team and All-Freshman Team. The 6-foot-10 setter has had a spectacular freshman campaign thus far. He leads the nation with 0.93 aces per set, while ranking 18th in the country with 9.36 assists per set. He set the LBSU single-season record with 86 aces, which is just one shy of The Big West record and third in the NCAA All-Eras single-season record book. The seven-time Big West Freshman of the Week honoree and three-time Big West Setter of the Week selection led the Beach to 2.23 aces per set and a .399 team hitting percentage, both marks that lead the NCAA. This season, Nikolov has recorded three double-doubles, registered a career-high 51 assists at Lewis (1/18), 10 kills at UC Irvine (3/29), eight aces versus Pepperdine (1/26), and seven blocks on two separate occasions. His eight aces rank him second in the LBSU single-match record book.
Varga earned his second All-Big West honor of his career after collecting Honorable Mention status a year ago. This season, the junior outside hitter garnered First Team accolades after leading The Big West and ranking 14th in the nation with a .387 attack percentage (235-51-476). The 6-foot-7 native of Muenster, Saskatchewan ranks in the top 10 in the conference in aces per set (0.35 – 7th), blocks per set (0.77 – 8th), and kills per set (2.87 – 10th). Varga has recorded 13 double-figure kill performances and has led Long Beach State in kills 11 times. Earlier this season, he registered a season-high 18 kills against Pepperdine (1/26) and eight blocks versus NJIT (3/21).
Hershtynovich rounds out the Beach's All-Conference selections with an Honorable Mention nod. The 6-foot-9 opposite out of Toronto, Ontario ranks in The Big West top 10 with a .354 hitting percentage (4th), 3.18 kills per set (5th), 3.77 points per set (6th), and 0.74 blocks per set (10th). Earlier this year, he posted a career-high 20 kills at Lewis (1/18), then put up a career-best six blocks against NJIT (3/21). Hershtynovich has registered 12 double-figure kill showings thus far, and has led Long Beach State in kills on eight separate occasions.
Players Mentioned
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