Beach Sweep Calgary, Defeat Alberta On Final Day Of North American Challenge

Sunday, January 4

Long Beach, Calif.

10 a.m.

Long Beach State University

0-0,0-0Big West

Calgary

0-0

Calgary (CAN)

Long Beach St.

Beach Sweep Calgary, Defeat Alberta On Final Day Of North American Challenge

1/4/2026 8:37:00 PM | Men's Volleyball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

Long Beach State dominates at the net and on the attack, finishing 4-0 in the exhibition tournament

By: Chelsea Pfohl, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

LONG BEACH, Calif. -- Long Beach State Men's Volleyball closed out day two of the North American Challenge, an eight-match exhibition tournament, with a pair of impressive victories Friday at the Gold Mine. The Beach opened the day with a commanding 3-0 sweep of Calgary (CAN) (25-18, 25-18, 25-15) before closing the night with a 3-1 win over Alberta (CAN) (25-19, 25-27, 25-13, 25-19).

Against Calgary, Long Beach State was in control from start to finish, hitting .372 as a team while limiting the Dinos to a .123 attack percentage. The Beach dominated the net, posting an 11-2 advantage in total team blocks, and sided out efficiently throughout the match, including an 86% rate in the third set to seal the sweep.

Connor Bloom led all players with 10 kills, adding two service aces and four block assists while hitting .333. Braedon Marquardt followed with seven kills on .583 hitting and a match-high seven block assists, anchoring the Beach defense at the net. Daniil Hershtynovich contributed eight kills and three blocks, while Myles Jordan added four kills on .444 hitting.

Setter Island Doty directed the offense with 25 assists as Long Beach State totaled 39 kills on 78 attempts. The Beach also recorded five service aces and held Calgary to just one ace on the night. After pulling away late in the opening set, Long Beach State applied steady pressure in the second before dominating the third, jumping out to an early lead and never looking back.

In their final match of the day against Alberta, Long Beach State continued to attack efficiently, hitting .377 as a team while holding the Golden Bears to a .132 hitting percentage. The Beach again controlled the net, finishing with 17.5 total team blocks compared to Alberta's 4.0.

Skyler Varga led the way offensively with 15 kills on .440 hitting, scoring key points in transition throughout the match. Hershtynovich remained highly efficient, tallying six kills on eight swings (.750) while contributing on both sides of the ball. Jackson Cryst was a force defensively, recording 12 block assists and one solo block to anchor the Beach front line.

After taking the opening set comfortably, Long Beach State dropped a tightly contested second set. The Beach responded emphatically in the third, hitting .500 while limiting Alberta to just nine kills, and carried that momentum into the fourth set to close out the match behind consistent side-out play and timely blocking. Long Beach State finished the contest with 43 kills and nine service aces.

With the pair of wins, the Beach wrapped up day two of the North American Challenge showcasing depth, efficiency, and physicality at the net, setting a strong tone the close out the international exhibition tournament as they head into regular season competition.