Long Beach State University Athletics
Long Beach State Places Three on All-Big West First Team, Three Earn All-Freshman Honors
4/22/2026 1:13:00 PM | Men's Volleyball
Cryst, Varga and Larson earn First Team honors; three freshmen recognized after 22-4 season
LONG BEACH, Calif. -- Following a dominant 2026 campaign, Long Beach State men's volleyball placed three student-athletes on the All-Big West First Team and had three recognized on the conference's All-Freshman Team, the Big West office announced Wednesday.
The trio of freshman middle blocker Jackson Cryst, sophomore libero Kellen Larson and senior opposite Skyler Varga earned First Team honors, highlighting a Long Beach State squad that finished 22-4 overall and 8-2 in Big West play.
Cryst emerged as one of the nation's most efficient middle blockers, hitting .535 on the season with 127 kills (1.37 per set) while adding 101 total blocks, averaging 1.09 blocks per set. He ranked second in the Big West in blocks per set and also finished third in aces per set (0.45).
Varga led the Beach offensively, recording a team-high 281 kills at 3.16 kills per set while hitting .322. He ranked seventh in the conference in kills per set and ninth in hitting percentage, while placing sixth in points per set (4.06).
Larson anchored the back row for Long Beach State, finishing with 162 digs (1.74 per set) and posting a .961 reception percentage over 482 attempts. He ranked third in the Big West in digs per set, helping stabilize the Beach defense.
In addition to the First Team selections, Long Beach State had three players named to the Big West All-Freshman Team in Cryst, opposite Wojciech Gajek and setter Jake Pazanti.
Gajek totaled 158 kills (2.51 per set) while hitting .315, ranking 10th in the conference in hitting percentage and fourth in aces per set (0.43). Pazanti directed the Beach offense with 712 assists, averaging 9.01 assists per set, which ranked fifth in the Big West.
As a team, Long Beach State ranked among the conference leaders across the board, finishing first in aces per set (2.30) and blocks per set (2.70), second in hitting percentage (.348) and kills per set (12.37), and third in assists per set (11.61). Defensively, the Beach led the league in opponent hitting percentage (.215) and ranked first in multiple defensive categories, including opponent kills, assists and aces allowed per set.
The Beach closed the regular season on an eight-match winning streak, entering the postseason as one of the conference's most complete teams.
The trio of freshman middle blocker Jackson Cryst, sophomore libero Kellen Larson and senior opposite Skyler Varga earned First Team honors, highlighting a Long Beach State squad that finished 22-4 overall and 8-2 in Big West play.
Cryst emerged as one of the nation's most efficient middle blockers, hitting .535 on the season with 127 kills (1.37 per set) while adding 101 total blocks, averaging 1.09 blocks per set. He ranked second in the Big West in blocks per set and also finished third in aces per set (0.45).
Varga led the Beach offensively, recording a team-high 281 kills at 3.16 kills per set while hitting .322. He ranked seventh in the conference in kills per set and ninth in hitting percentage, while placing sixth in points per set (4.06).
Larson anchored the back row for Long Beach State, finishing with 162 digs (1.74 per set) and posting a .961 reception percentage over 482 attempts. He ranked third in the Big West in digs per set, helping stabilize the Beach defense.
In addition to the First Team selections, Long Beach State had three players named to the Big West All-Freshman Team in Cryst, opposite Wojciech Gajek and setter Jake Pazanti.
Gajek totaled 158 kills (2.51 per set) while hitting .315, ranking 10th in the conference in hitting percentage and fourth in aces per set (0.43). Pazanti directed the Beach offense with 712 assists, averaging 9.01 assists per set, which ranked fifth in the Big West.
As a team, Long Beach State ranked among the conference leaders across the board, finishing first in aces per set (2.30) and blocks per set (2.70), second in hitting percentage (.348) and kills per set (12.37), and third in assists per set (11.61). Defensively, the Beach led the league in opponent hitting percentage (.215) and ranked first in multiple defensive categories, including opponent kills, assists and aces allowed per set.
The Beach closed the regular season on an eight-match winning streak, entering the postseason as one of the conference's most complete teams.
Players Mentioned
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