Long Beach State University Athletics
Long Beach State University
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Long Island
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2025 National Championship Banner Unveiled Before Beach Win Over Long Island
1/24/2026 10:49:00 PM | Men's Volleyball
LONG BEACH, Calif. – Long Beach State remained unbeaten in the early 2026 season Friday night, sweeping Long Island University in straight sets at the LBS Financial Credit Union Pyramid. The Beach leaned on depth, relentless serving pressure and balanced offense to secure the 25-18, 25-15, 25-15 victory.
The night carried added significance as Long Beach State honored its 2025 national championship team prior to first serve. The Beach unveiled a new championship banner inside the Pyramid and welcomed back former head coach Alan Knipe along with championship alumni.
Long Beach State set the tone early in the opening set, winning a challenge on the first serve of the match before building momentum behind kills from Skyler Varga and Ben Braun. Connor Bloom, making his first start of the season on the outside, delivered multiple key swings as the Beach pulled ahead 8-7 and never trailed again. A 5-0 scoring run midway through the set, highlighted by a Varga service ace, pushed the lead to 16-9. Bloom closed the frame with a back-row kill to secure the 25-18 win.
The Beach asserted control in set two behind heavy pressure from the service line. A block by Varga and Ben Braun helped Long Beach State open a 3-0 lead, while Bloom continued to score from both pins. Varga recorded multiple aces during a run that forced Long Island into a timeout. Island Doty entered late in the set and immediately steadied the offense, guiding the Beach through the closing stretch as Bloom capped the 25-15 win with a service ace.
With Doty running the offense from the start of the third set, Long Beach State maintained its rhythm. The set featured several ties early before the Beach pulled ahead at the media timeout. A late 6-0 scoring run, fueled by service aces from Jackson Cryst and kills from Myles Jordan and Daniil Hershtynovich, allowed Long Beach State to pull away and complete the sweep with a 25-15 decision.
Long Beach State hit .453 for the match and recorded 11 service aces across three sets. Bloom led the Beach with a match-high 13 kills on .522 hitting, while Varga added 12 kills and three aces. Braun contributed seven kills hitting .875 on the night. Doty directed the offense over the final set with 15 assists, as the Beach closed the match efficiently.
Long Beach State remains unbeaten in the early 2026 season and will return to the Pyramid on Jan. 30 to host No. 6 Pepperdine. First serve is scheduled for 7 p.m.
