No. 3 Long Beach State Hosts No. 8 UC Santa Barbara Before Traveling North For Two-Match Big West Series

Friday, April 10

Long Beach, Calif.

7 p.m.

Long Beach State University

UC Santa Barbara

Tickets From $18 - $28

No. 3 Long Beach State Hosts No. 8 UC Santa Barbara Before Traveling North For Two-Match Big West Series

4/9/2026 10:28:00 AM | Men's Volleyball

The nation’s top serving team puts its pressure-driven identity on display against a Gaucho squad built on rhythm, with first contact set to decide the weekend

By: Chelsea Pfohl, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

LONG BEACH, Calif. -- At 18-4 and ranked No. 3 in the nation, Long Beach State enters the weekend with one of the most complete statistical profiles in college volleyball, defined by elite serving, disciplined blocking, and efficient offense. The Beach will face No. 8 UC Santa Barbara in a two-match series, Friday at 7:00 PM at the LBS Financial Credit Union Pyramid and Saturday at 7:00 PM at the Thunderdome, carrying both momentum and history into the matchup with a 64-42 all-time edge and eight straight wins in the series.

RIGHT AWAY
• At 18-4 and ranked No. 3 nationally, Long Beach State has built one of the most complete profiles in the country

• The Beach are hitting .354 while holding opponents to .227, controlling matches on both sides of the ball

• The identity starts at the service line, leading the nation at 2.44 aces per set and 190 total aces

• That pressure flows directly to the net, where Long Beach State leads the Big West and ranks among the nation's best at 2.65 blocks per set

• Offensively, the Beach average 12.27 kills per set with a balanced system built on tempo and efficiency, not reliance on a single scorer

THE MATCHUP
• Long Beach State leads the all-time series 64-42 and has won the last 8 meetings

• UCSB enters 13-9, built around rhythm, balance, and system execution

• The Gauchos average 11.95 kills per set and hit .254 as a team

• George Bruening (3.80 kills/set) leads a multi-option offense, with Ethan Saint adding 2.75 kills/set

• UCSB prefers extended rallies and offensive flow, contrasting with Long Beach State's pressure-driven approach

• The match will hinge on first contact: serve and pass will determine tempo and control

IN THE RANKINGS
• Long Beach State ranks No. 1 nationally in aces and No. 1 in the Big West in blocks

• Nationally, the Beach combine elite serving, top-tier blocking, and high-level offensive efficiency

• The serve creates disruption, and the block converts it into points, forming one of the most effective sequences in the country

• Skyler Varga ranks No. 1 in the Big West and No. 2 nationally in aces at 0.53 per set, while also ranking No. 4 in the Big West in points (4.09/set), No. 6 in kills (3.16/set), and No. 6 in hitting percentage (.342)

• Jake Pazanti ranks No. 3 in the Big West in assists at 9.72 per set and sits among the top 15 nationally in the category

• Jackson Cryst ranks No. 1 in the Big West and No. 3 nationally in hitting percentage (.529), while also ranking No. 3 in the Big West and top 25 nationally in blocks at 1.06 per set

• Kellen Larson ranks No. 6 in the Big West in digs at 1.54 per set, anchoring the Beach defensively and in serve receive

TEAM IDENTITY
• Long Beach State's identity is built on pressure from the first contact

• The Beach hold a 190-62 advantage in total aces over opponents, consistently forcing teams out of system

• Once out of system, the block takes over, closing space and simplifying defense

• When controlling first contact, the Beach separate quickly and sustain scoring runs

• Opponents struggle to establish rhythm, limiting long rallies and second-chance opportunities

• Against UCSB, preventing offensive rhythm is critical to controlling the match

INDIVIDUAL IMPACT
Skyler Varga, Sr., OH
• 3.16 kills/set, 0.53 aces/set, 1.36 digs/set, 4.09 points/set, .342 hitting
• Named one of 8 AVCA National Player of the Year semifinalists
• Surpassed the elite 1000 points / 750 kills / 300 digs / 200 blocks career milestone
• Impacts every phase and serves as the centerpiece across all six rotations

Jake Pazanti, R-Fr., S
• 9.72 assists/set
• Controls tempo and distribution, keeping the offense balanced and unpredictable

Jackson Cryst, Fr., MB
• .529 hitting, 1.06 blocks/set
• Back-to-back Big West Player of the Week nods: Freshman of the Week last week, Defensive Player of the Week this week.
• Elite efficiency and a major presence at the net

Alex Kandev, So., OH
• 2.52 kills/set, 0.60 aces/set
• Key contributor to both scoring and service pressure

Wojciech Gajek, Fr., OPP
• 2.63 kills/set on .324 hitting
• Emerging as a high-impact offensive option, especially in key stretches

Ben Braun, Sr., MB
• .496 hitting, 1.06 blocks/set
• Provides efficiency and balance in the middle

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