No. 2 Long Beach State Returns Home To Host Fort Valley State And Long Island

Friday, January 23

Long Beach, Calif.

7 p.m.

Long Beach State University

Fort Valley State

Tickets From $13 - $23

No. 2 Long Beach State Returns Home To Host Fort Valley State And Long Island

1/22/2026 3:53:00 PM | Men's Volleyball

FVSU LIU -- GAME NOTES

No. 2 Beach welcome RV Fort Valley State and LIU to the LBS Financial Credit Union Pyramid for a two-match weekend, including the 2025 National Championship Banner Unveiling on Saturday night.

By: Chelsea Pfohl, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

LONG BEACH, Calif. -- No. 2 Long Beach State returns to the LBS Financial Credit Union Pyramid this weekend for a pair of non-conference matches against Fort Valley State (RV) on Friday at 7 p.m. and Long Island on Saturday at 7:30 p.m., highlighting the home stand with the unveiling of the Beach's 2025 NCAA National Championship banner prior to Saturday night's match. The Beach enter the weekend unbeaten at 5–0 after a perfect road trip and will celebrate last season's title in front of the home crowd before turning their focus to competition.

RIGHT AWAY

• No. 2 Long Beach State completed a perfect 3-0 road trip through the Buckeye State, extending its season-opening winning streak to five matches. The Beach opened the week Wednesday with a straight-set win at Central State before earning a neutral-site sweep over No. 20 George Mason at the Covelli Center on Friday. Long Beach State capped the trip with a statement four-set road victory at No. 13 Ohio State on Saturday, closing the week unbeaten away from home.

• Long Beach State has now won four of its five matches in straight sets, including road and neutral-site victories, while handing No. 13 Ohio State its first home loss of the season. The Beach are 2-0 at home, 2-0 on the road and 1-0 at neutral sites through the opening two weeks.

2025 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP BANNER UNVEILING

• Long Beach State will officially unveil its 2025 NCAA National Championship banner prior to Saturday's 7:30 p.m. match against LIU at the LBS Financial Credit Union Pyramid. The pregame ceremony will take place before the team walkout and national anthem.

• The presentation will include a video, recognition of members of last season's championship team and staff, and the formal unveiling of the banner before the lights come back up for pregame introductions. As a result, pregame warmups will begin six minutes earlier than usual to accommodate the ceremony. The unveiling serves as a celebration of Long Beach State's fourth NCAA men's volleyball national championship and marks the first opportunity for the Beach to honor the title in front of the home crowd this season.

IN THE RANKINGS

• Long Beach State continues to rank among the nation's elite, checking in at No. 2 nationally in the latest AVCA National Collegiate Men's Volleyball Poll, receiving three first-place votes and trailing only UCLA. The Beach improved to 5-0 overall, reinforcing their status as a national title contender.

• Statistically, Long Beach State ranks top five nationally in multiple team categories, highlighted by a No. 1 national ranking in blocks per set (3.41). The Beach also rank No. 3 in aces per set (2.50), No. 4 in hitting percentage (.418), No. 5 in opponent hitting percentage (.158), and sit inside the top 25 nationally in kills, digs, and assists per set.

• Individually, Skyler Varga continues to lead the nation, ranking No. 1 nationally in service aces per set (1.07) and No. 15 in points per set (4.63), while also sitting inside the top 30 in hitting percentage (.391). Jackson Cryst ranks top three nationally in blocks per set (1.56), and Kellen Larson ranks top 15 nationally in digs per set (2.38).

• As a team, the Beach remain balanced and efficient, averaging 12.38 kills per set, 11.25 assists per set, and 8.63 digs per set, while holding opponents nearly .260 points below their own team hitting percentage.

WEEKLY AWARDS

• Long Beach State has now earned Defensive Player of the Week honors in back-to-back weeks, underscoring the Beach's early-season dominance at the net.

• Ben Braun was named Defensive Player of the Week after anchoring the Beach defense during a 3-0 week. Braun averaged 1.86 blocks per set, totaling 13 blocks across two matches against George Mason and Ohio State, including six blocks in four sets against the Buckeyes. His presence helped limit opponents to a .158 hitting percentage on the week.

• Braun also delivered elite efficiency offensively, hitting .684 while contributing 14 kills without sacrificing his defensive responsibilities. Through five matches, Braun is averaging 1.46 blocks per set while hitting .600, establishing himself as one of the nation's premier middle blockers.

• Last week, Jackson Cryst earned Defensive Player of the Week honors after totaling nine blocks during opening weekend, while Redshirt Freshman Jake Pazanti earned Freshman of the Week honors after totaling 58 assists (9.67 per set) while directing the Beach offense to a combined .351 hitting on the week.

ABOUT THE BEACH

• Long Beach State open the 2026 campaign looking to build on a national championship 2025 season which saw the Beach post a 30-3 overall record. The Beach went 8-2 in Big West action winning their fourth-straight regular season title and fourth national championship title.

• Long time Long Beach State Head Coach Alan Knipe retired after his championship 22nd season. The winningest coach in LBSU Men's Volleyball program history, Knipe owns a career record of 449-171 for a winning percentage of .724.

• Replacing Knipe at the helm is long time former Associate Head Coach Nick MacRae. MacRae is joined by Assistant Coaches McKay Smith, Amir-Lugo Rodriguez, Matt Prosser and Technical Coordinator Jon Parry. MacRae, a seasoned coach under Knipe, has worked at Long Beach State for the last 13 seasons helping Long Beach State capture three NCAA National Titles, two Big West Championships, and has helped lead the Beach to eight NCAA Final Four appearances.

• The Beach return 12 Student-Athletes from one year ago and welcome five newcomers.

• Senior Skyler Varga and Sophomore Alex Kandev, both returners, were named to the 2026 Big West Preseason Team. Varga returns as one of the nation's premier attackers. Both earned NCAA All-Tournament Team honors for their performance in the NCAA Championship match. Varga finished the year with 270 kills (2.73 per set) on a .368 attack percentage, while adding 33 service aces, 70 total blocks, and 341 points across 99 sets. In addition to his on-court excellence, Varga also received CSC Academic All-America recognition. Kandev concluded his freshman season with 210 kills (3.23 per set) while hitting .458, and added 21 aces, 36 blocks, and 250 points in 65 sets.