No. 3 Long Beach State Closes Regular Season At Home Against No. 5 UC Irvine On Senior Day Before Black And Blue Rivalry Finale In Irvine

Friday, April 17

Long Beach, Calif.

7 p.m.

Long Beach State University

UC Irvine

Tickets From $28 - $44

No. 3 Long Beach State Closes Regular Season At Home Against No. 5 UC Irvine On Senior Day Before Black And Blue Rivalry Finale In Irvine

4/16/2026 4:20:00 PM | Men's Volleyball

25 26 UCI

Beach honor five seniors while bringing nation-leading serve, block, and efficiency into final two regular season matches

By: Chelsea Pfohl, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

LONG BEACH, Calif. -- Long Beach State returns to the LBS Financial Credit Union Pyramid at 20-4 and ranked No. 3 nationally for its regular season home finale, hosting No. 5 UC Irvine on Friday at 7 p.m. for Senior Day honoring Skyler Varga, Connor Bloom, Ben Braun, Island Doty, and Dane Hillis, before heading to Irvine to face the Anteaters on Saturday at 6 p.m. The Beach enter with one of the most complete statistical profiles in the country, leading the nation in aces at 2.38 per set while hitting .349 and holding opponents to .218, a combination that has defined their identity through first-contact pressure and two-sided control.

RIGHT AWAY
• At 20-4 and ranked No. 3 nationally, Long Beach State has built one of the most statistically dominant profiles in the country, pairing elite efficiency with first-contact control

• The Beach are hitting .349 while holding opponents to .218, a +.131 differential that ranks among the best in the nation and reflects consistent two-sided control

• The identity starts at the service line, where Long Beach State ranks No. 1 nationally at 2.38 aces per set with 200 total aces, while allowing just 0.77 aces per set to opponents

• That pressure translates directly to the net, where the Beach average 2.70 blocks per set, ranking No. 1 in the Big West and No. 3 nationally

• Offensively, Long Beach State averages 12.23 kills per set on .349 hitting, generating production through distribution and efficiency rather than high-volume reliance on a single attacker

THE MATCHUP
• Long Beach State leads the all-time series 59-28 and took the last meeting in a 3-0 sweep (25-23, 25-19, 29-27) on March 29 in Irvine

• No. 5 UC Irvine enters 17-5 overall and 5-3 in the Big West, bringing one of the most efficient offenses in the conference

• The Anteaters average 12.54 kills per set while hitting .316 as a team, ranking among the top offensive units nationally

• Andrej Jokanovic (3.62 kills/set) leads the offense, with William D'Arcy adding 3.17 kills/set and giving UCI a high-volume, two-headed attack

• UC Irvine runs a balanced, tempo-driven system with strong pin production, contrasting with Long Beach State's serve-and-block pressure identity

• First contact will be decisive: Long Beach State's nation-leading serve (2.38 aces/set) against a UCI team hitting .316 will determine which side controls tempo and stays in system

IN THE RANKINGS
• Long Beach State ranks No. 1 nationally in aces, No. 3 nationally in blocks, and No. 6 nationally in hitting percentage

• The Beach also rank No. 1 in the Big West opponent hitting percentage (.218), emphasizing their defensive efficiency and system discipline

• The serve-to-block pipeline is elite: Long Beach State holds a 200-65 ace advantage and a 226.5-116.5 total block advantage over opponents

• Skyler Varga ranks top 20 nationally across multiple categories, averaging 3.18 kills/set, 0.50 aces/set, and 4.08 points/set while hitting .345

• Jake Pazanti averages 9.24 assists/set, ranking top 20 nationally while directing an offense hitting .349

• Jackson Cryst is one of the most efficient middles in the country, hitting .517 with 1.08 blocks/set, ranking top 10 nationally in both categories

• Ben Braun adds another elite middle presence at .507 hitting with 1.10 blocks/set, giving Long Beach State two top-tier middle attackers

• Kellen Larson averages 1.58 digs/set and anchors a backcourt unit holding opponents to .218 hitting

TEAM IDENTITY
• Long Beach State is built on first-contact pressure and conversion efficiency

• The Beach hold a +135 ace differential (200-65), consistently forcing opponents out of system

• Out-of-system opponents hit just .218, while Long Beach State converts those opportunities into points at the net

• The block simplifies the defensive structure, allowing controlled transition offense

• When the Beach control serve and pass, they separate quickly and sustain long scoring runs

INDIVIDUAL IMPACT
Skyler Varga, Sr., OH
• 3.18 kills/set, 0.50 aces/set, 1.38 digs/set, 4.08 points/set, .345 hitting
• One of the most complete six-rotation players in the country, contributing across all phases, AVCA Player of the Year Semifinalist

Jake Pazanti, R-Fr., S
• 9.24 assists/set
• Drives tempo and distribution for a .349 offense

Jackson Cryst, Fr., MB
• .517 hitting, 1.08 blocks/set
• Elite efficiency and a primary scoring option in transition

Alex Kandev, So., OH
• 2.44 kills/set, 0.56 aces/set
• Major contributor to both scoring balance and service pressure

Wojciech Gajek, Fr., OPP
• 2.52 kills/set on .323 hitting
• Emerging terminal attacker with efficiency in key rotations

Ben Braun, Sr., MB
• .507 hitting, 1.10 blocks/set
• Stabilizes the middle with high conversion rate

Kellen Larson, So., L
• 1.58 digs/set
• Anchors serve receive and defensive consistency