Long Beach State Powers Into Big West Semifinals Behind Nation’s Elite First-Contact Game

Friday, April 24

Irvine, Calif.

Long Beach State University

Big West Conference

Buy Tickets

Long Beach State Powers Into Big West Semifinals Behind Nation’s Elite First-Contact Game

4/23/2026 12:30:00 PM | Men's Volleyball

27 BWC

No. 3 Beach earn first-round bye, await CSUN or UC Irvine after winning three weekly awards and building one of the most dominant statistical profiles in the country

By: Chelsea Pfohl, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

LONG BEACH, Calif. -- At 22-4 and ranked No. 3 nationally, Long Beach State enters the Big West Semifinals with a first-round bye and a clear identity built on pressure and precision. The Beach lead the nation in service aces, control the net with one of the top blocking units in the country, and pair that with a .348 hitting percentage that reflects balanced, high-efficiency offense. Coming off a trio of Big West weekly honors and five student-athletes named to All-Big West teams, Long Beach State now turns its focus to a semifinal matchup at UC Irvine against either No. 18 CSUN or No. 5 UC Irvine, where its ability to dictate first contact will again define the outcome.

RIGHT AWAY
• At 22-4 overall and ranked No. 3 nationally, Long Beach State enters the postseason with one of the most complete statistical profiles in the country, combining top-end efficiency with overwhelming first-contact pressure

• The Beach are hitting .348 while holding opponents to .215, a +.133 differential that underscores their ability to dictate matches on both sides of the ball and consistently win the efficiency battle

• That control starts at the service line, where Long Beach State has produced 214 aces (2.30/set) compared to just 74 allowed, creating a +140 margin that routinely forces opponents out of system and fuels extended scoring runs

• The disruption translates directly to the net, with the Beach averaging 2.70 blocks per set and holding a 251-130 total block advantage, turning broken plays into high-percentage transition opportunities

• Offensively, Long Beach State generates 12.37 kills per set on .348 hitting, a reflection of balanced distribution and high-efficiency decision-making rather than reliance on a single high-volume scorer

• That balance is reinforced by elite play across the lineup, highlighted by a sweep of Big West weekly honors: Connor Bloom (Offensive), Kellen Larson (Defensive), and Jackson Cryst (Freshman), signaling impact production at every phase of the game

THE MATCHUP
• Long Beach State enters the Big West Semifinals with a first-round bye and will face either No. 18 CSUN or No. 5 UC Irvine on the road, setting up a high-stakes match where first contact will likely determine control

• The Beach have already proven they can win in Irvine, taking both regular season meetings, including a four-set road win on April 18 and a five-set home victory the night prior

• If CSUN advances, it sets up a familiar conference battle after Long Beach State went 2-0 against the Matadors, including a five-set road win and a sweep at home

• Regardless of opponent, the contrast is clear: Long Beach State's +.133 hitting percentage differential (.348 vs .215) against teams that rely more on offensive volume than first-contact dominance

• If CSUN advances, Long Beach State holds a decisive statistical edge — the Matadors hit .306 while allowing .268, a +.038 margin that is significantly narrower than the Beach's, and they are outperformed in both serve pressure (1.03 aces/set vs 2.30) and blocking (1.90 vs 2.70)

• CSUN's offense is driven by high-volume scoring from Jalen Phillips (3.88 kills/set, .313), but Long Beach State has already neutralized that system, holding the Matadors to a .209 hitting performance in a sweep in the last meeting

• In contrast, UC Irvine presents a more balanced and efficient profile, hitting .304 as a team with 12.34 kills/set while holding opponents to .267, much closer to Long Beach State's level of efficiency

• The Anteaters feature a true two-headed attack in Andrej Jokanovic (3.50 kills/set) and William D'Arcy (3.05 kills/set), creating consistent terminal options from both pins

• UC Irvine also brings stronger serve pressure than most opponents (1.51 aces/set), but still falls well short of Long Beach State's nation-leading production, making the serve-receive battle a key swing factor

• At the net, both potential opponents are more balanced than dominant — UC Irvine averages 2.00 blocks/set and CSUN 1.90, compared to Long Beach State's 2.70, giving the Beach a clear advantage in controlling transition points

• The common thread: both CSUN and UC Irvine operate most effectively in-system, while Long Beach State's serve-and-block identity is built to disrupt rhythm — whichever team handles that pressure best will control tempo in the semifinal

IN THE RANKINGS
• Long Beach State ranks among the national leaders in multiple categories, including No. 1 in aces, No. 2 in blocks, and No. 6 in hitting percentage

• The Beach also lead the Big West in opponent hitting percentage (.215), reflecting system discipline and consistent defensive structure

• The serve-to-block pipeline is decisive: a +140 ace margin and +121 total block margin illustrate how frequently Long Beach State creates and capitalizes on out-of-system situations

• Skyler Varga continues to anchor the offense as a six-rotation presence at 3.16 kills/set and 4.06 points/set, ranking No. 7 in the Big West in kills/set and No. 6 in points/set, while also sitting top 50 nationally in both categories along with top-10 conference marks in hitting percentage and aces

• Jake Pazanti directs the offense at 9.01 assists/set, ranking No. 5 in the Big West and top 35 nationally, orchestrating one of the most efficient attacks in the country

• In the middle, Jackson Cryst (.535 hitting, 1.09 blocks/set) and Ben Braun (.525, 1.13 blocks/set) form one of the most efficient and disruptive middle duos nationally, ranking No. 2 and No. 1 in the Big West in blocks/set, respectively, while both sit inside the top 15 nationally

• Kellen Larson anchors the backcourt with 1.74 digs/set and a .961 reception percentage, ranking No. 3 in the Big West in digs/set and top 50 nationally, stabilizing first contact and enabling offensive tempo

• Alex Kandev is one of the most dangerous servers in the country, ranking No. 3 nationally in aces per set at 0.56, adding consistent first-contact pressure to the Beach attack

ALL-BIG WEST RECOGNITION
• Long Beach State placed three on the All-Big West First Team, signaling a roster built on impact across every phase

• Jackson Cryst emerged as one of the nation's most efficient middles, pairing .535 hitting with 1.09 blocks/set and high-end service pressure

• Skyler Varga led the offense with 3.16 kills/set and 4.06 points/set, providing a steady, high-volume scoring presence

• Kellen Larson anchored the backcourt at 1.74 digs/set with a .961 reception rate, stabilizing first contact and defensive structure

• The future is already contributing: Cryst, Wojciech Gajek and Jake Pazanti all earned All-Freshman honors, highlighting the Beach's blend of immediate production and long-term depth

• Gajek adds efficient scoring on the right side (2.51 kills/set, .315), while Pazanti drives tempo as the team's primary setter (9.01 assists/set)

INDIVIDUAL IMPACT
Skyler Varga, Sr., OH
• 3.16 kills/set, 0.51 aces/set, 1.34 digs/set, 4.06 points/set, .322 hitting
• A true six-rotation stabilizer who impacts every phase and maintains offensive efficiency under volume, recently named an AVCA Player of the Year Semifinalist

Jake Pazanti, R-Fr., S
• 9.01 assists/set
• Controls tempo and distribution for a top-tier offense

Jackson Cryst, Fr., MB
• .535 hitting, 1.09 blocks/set
• Elite efficiency with high-impact presence at the net, coming off Freshman of the Week honors

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

Wojciech Gajek, Fr., OPP
• 2.51 kills/set on .315 hitting
• Emerging terminal option providing efficiency in key rotations

Ben Braun, Sr., MB
• .525 hitting, 1.13 blocks/set
• High-efficiency middle presence that complements Cryst

Kellen Larson, So., L
• 1.74 digs/set
• Defensive anchor and recent Big West Defensive Player of the Week, stabilizing serve receive and extending rallies

Connor Bloom, Sr., OH/OPP
• .374 hitting with 93 kills on the season, including back-to-back 15-kill performances in wins over UC Irvine
• Coming off Big West Offensive Player of the Week honors, a double double with two career highs (15 kills and ten digs) providing efficient scoring and veteran stability on the right side