Long Beach State University Athletics
Long Beach State Men's Volleyball Well Represented In 2026 Volleyball Nations League
6/18/2026 1:17:00 PM | Men's Volleyball
Eleven current and former Long Beach State standouts will represent five nations in the premier international competition of the summer.
LONG BEACH, Calif. -- Long Beach State Men's Volleyball will once again be well represented on the international stage this summer as 11 current and former student-athletes have been selected to compete in the 2026 Volleyball Nations League (VNL) for their respective national teams.
The Beach's 11 representatives across five countries are among the most of any collegiate program in the nation and continue a tradition of Long Beach State players competing at the highest levels of international volleyball.
"Having Long Beach State men's volleyball represented at the highest level of our sport has been one of the greatest standards that has been set by so many Long Beach legends that have come through this program," said head coach Nick MacRae.
Leading the way for the United States are TJ DeFalco, Kyle Ensing and Mason Briggs. Bulgaria's roster features brothers Alex Nikolov and Moni Nikolov alongside Lazar Bouchkov. Canada will be represented by Skyler Varga, Daniil Hershtynovich and Owen Weekes, while Wojciech Gajek will compete for Poland and Simon Torwie will represent Germany.
While each athlete's journey is unique, MacRae believes they all embody many of the qualities that define the Long Beach State program.
"For these 11 Long Beach family members representing their countries this summer at VNL, they share a drive for excellence, a championship mindset, and all of them carry an edge with LB Grit," MacRae said. "Each of them has added value in their own way to our Long Beach team culture, and there is a massive sense of joy being able to see the five LB-represented countries compete with their varying volleyball systems."
The Volleyball Nations League is the premier annual international competition organized by the Fédération Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB), bringing together many of the world's top national teams and serving as a key event on the international volleyball calendar.
For MacRae, the Beach's presence throughout the tournament also serves as a powerful example of the opportunities available to future Long Beach State student-athletes.
"For our future recruits, this is an amazing example of what is possible at Long Beach State," MacRae said. "If your goal is to compete for championships, develop as a holistic person, and maximize your potential, this program has a support system in place that helps you prepare, develop and succeed at the highest levels of our craft."
As VNL competition continues throughout the summer, the Long Beach State community will have plenty of opportunities to follow and support Beach athletes around the globe.
"It is another exciting summer for our Long Beach community to support each of them on their quest for greatness," MacRae said.
The Beach's 11 representatives across five countries are among the most of any collegiate program in the nation and continue a tradition of Long Beach State players competing at the highest levels of international volleyball.
"Having Long Beach State men's volleyball represented at the highest level of our sport has been one of the greatest standards that has been set by so many Long Beach legends that have come through this program," said head coach Nick MacRae.
Leading the way for the United States are TJ DeFalco, Kyle Ensing and Mason Briggs. Bulgaria's roster features brothers Alex Nikolov and Moni Nikolov alongside Lazar Bouchkov. Canada will be represented by Skyler Varga, Daniil Hershtynovich and Owen Weekes, while Wojciech Gajek will compete for Poland and Simon Torwie will represent Germany.
While each athlete's journey is unique, MacRae believes they all embody many of the qualities that define the Long Beach State program.
"For these 11 Long Beach family members representing their countries this summer at VNL, they share a drive for excellence, a championship mindset, and all of them carry an edge with LB Grit," MacRae said. "Each of them has added value in their own way to our Long Beach team culture, and there is a massive sense of joy being able to see the five LB-represented countries compete with their varying volleyball systems."
The Volleyball Nations League is the premier annual international competition organized by the Fédération Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB), bringing together many of the world's top national teams and serving as a key event on the international volleyball calendar.
For MacRae, the Beach's presence throughout the tournament also serves as a powerful example of the opportunities available to future Long Beach State student-athletes.
"For our future recruits, this is an amazing example of what is possible at Long Beach State," MacRae said. "If your goal is to compete for championships, develop as a holistic person, and maximize your potential, this program has a support system in place that helps you prepare, develop and succeed at the highest levels of our craft."
As VNL competition continues throughout the summer, the Long Beach State community will have plenty of opportunities to follow and support Beach athletes around the globe.
"It is another exciting summer for our Long Beach community to support each of them on their quest for greatness," MacRae said.
Players Mentioned
MB
/ Men's Volleyball
OPP
/ Men's Volleyball
OPP
/ Men's Volleyball
S
/ Men's Volleyball
OH
/ Men's VolleyballSaturday, May 09
Friday, December 19
Sunday, May 05
Sunday, May 05
