2025 Men's Volleyball Roster
Nikolov, Moni
Jersey Number 1
Moni Nikolov
- Position:
- Setter
- Height:
- 6-10
- Class:
- Freshman
- Hometown:
- Sofia, Bulgaria
- High School:
- Vasil Levski Sport School
- Prev School:
- Vasil Levski Sport School
Bio
2025 AVCA National Collegiate Player of the Year
2025 AVCA Newcomer of the Year
2025 First Team AVCA All-American
2025 NCAA Tournament MVP
2025 Big West Player of the Year
2025 Big West Freshman of the Year
2025 First-Team All-Conference
2025 All-Big West Freshman Team
2025 (Freshman): Named 2025 AVCA National Collegiate Player of the Year, joining his older brother Alex Nikolov as just the second player in AVCA history to win both the AVCA Newcomer of the Year and National Collegiate Player of the Year awards in the same season ... Making the honor even more unique, the Nikolov brothers are the only sibling pair in AVCA history to win National Player of the Year ... Became the eighth Long Beach State Men's Volleyball player to earn National Player of the Year honors as he is now part of an elite club that features Long Beach legends Brent Hilliard (1992), Tyler Hildebrand (2006), Paul Lotman (2008), Taylor Crabb (2013), TJ DeFalco (2017, 2019), Josh Tuaniga (2018), and Alex Nikolov (2022) ... Named AVCA Newcomer of the Year, AVCA first-team All-American, Big West Player of the Year, Big West Freshman of the Year, All-Big West First Team selection, and All-Big West Freshman Team ... Won The Big West Setter of the Week award three times and The Big West Freshman of the Week honor on seven separate occasions ... Named MVP of the NCAA Tournament ... Recorded 27 assists, six kills, four aces, two digs, and two blocks in the championship final against UCLA.
High School: Joins the program from Sofia, Bulgaria where he was a nine-time national champion in his age group ... A member of the Bulgarian National Team, also played with the U19 squad and helped the team win the European Championship Bronze Medal.
Personal: Son of Vladimir and Maya Nikolov ... Father, Vladimir played professionally overseas until 2016, and his brother Alex is currently playing professionally and on the Bulgarian National Team after playing at Long Beach State and becoming the first LBSU men's volleyball player to be named AVCA National Player of the Year as a freshman in 2022 .. Mother Maya also played volleyball professionally.
2025 AVCA Newcomer of the Year
2025 First Team AVCA All-American
2025 NCAA Tournament MVP
2025 Big West Player of the Year
2025 Big West Freshman of the Year
2025 First-Team All-Conference
2025 All-Big West Freshman Team
2025 (Freshman): Named 2025 AVCA National Collegiate Player of the Year, joining his older brother Alex Nikolov as just the second player in AVCA history to win both the AVCA Newcomer of the Year and National Collegiate Player of the Year awards in the same season ... Making the honor even more unique, the Nikolov brothers are the only sibling pair in AVCA history to win National Player of the Year ... Became the eighth Long Beach State Men's Volleyball player to earn National Player of the Year honors as he is now part of an elite club that features Long Beach legends Brent Hilliard (1992), Tyler Hildebrand (2006), Paul Lotman (2008), Taylor Crabb (2013), TJ DeFalco (2017, 2019), Josh Tuaniga (2018), and Alex Nikolov (2022) ... Named AVCA Newcomer of the Year, AVCA first-team All-American, Big West Player of the Year, Big West Freshman of the Year, All-Big West First Team selection, and All-Big West Freshman Team ... Won The Big West Setter of the Week award three times and The Big West Freshman of the Week honor on seven separate occasions ... Named MVP of the NCAA Tournament ... Recorded 27 assists, six kills, four aces, two digs, and two blocks in the championship final against UCLA.
High School: Joins the program from Sofia, Bulgaria where he was a nine-time national champion in his age group ... A member of the Bulgarian National Team, also played with the U19 squad and helped the team win the European Championship Bronze Medal.
Personal: Son of Vladimir and Maya Nikolov ... Father, Vladimir played professionally overseas until 2016, and his brother Alex is currently playing professionally and on the Bulgarian National Team after playing at Long Beach State and becoming the first LBSU men's volleyball player to be named AVCA National Player of the Year as a freshman in 2022 .. Mother Maya also played volleyball professionally.
NCAA National Collegiate Championship Post Match Press Conference (Finals)- #1 UCLA
Sunday, May 05
NCAA National Collegiate Championship Post-Match Press Conference (Finals) #2 Long Beach State
Sunday, May 05
#1 UCLA Practice Day 2024 NCAA Men's Volleyball Championship Press Conference
Friday, May 03
#2 Long Beach State Practice Day 2024 NCAA Men's Volleyball Championship Press Conference
Friday, May 03
