Long Beach State men’s volleyball just put on a show. A banner night at the LBS Financial Credit Union Pyramid turned into a sweeping celebration as The Beach rolled over Long Island University, 3-0.
BLOOM BRINGS THE HEAT
Connor Bloom wasn't just there for the banner drop. The senior outside hitter lit up the court, surpassing his season-high with 13 kills. Bloom, usually a serving specialist, took full advantage of his time in the spotlight. "It feels great to get a chance to go out there and play some volleyball in a position I don’t really get to play in," Bloom said.
VARGA’S ACES UP
And then, there was Skyler Varga. The 2025 AVCA First Team All-American showed why fans love him, racking up four aces and adding two kills in the second set. That set? Dominated by The Beach. The Sharks had no answer for Varga’s serving clinic.
MOMENTUM SHIFTS
Early in the first set, LIU tried to keep pace, but three straight kills from Ben Braun flipped the match. From 14-9, the Beach never looked back. Jake Pazanti, the redshirt freshman setter, orchestrated the offense with 21 assists, keeping LIU on their heels.
Even when the Sharks tied it up 12-12 in the third set, freshman middle blocker Jackson Cryst injected life into The Beach with back-to-back kills, sparking a 13-3 run. By the time Cryst nailed three aces to close it out, the sweep was sealed.
FUTURE LOOKS BRIGHT
Head coach Nick MacRae praised the team's depth: "I like to think we have a pretty good support system, but primarily it goes through our seniors and juniors." The Beach isn’t just living in the past; they’re building the future.
7-0 to start their title defense, the real test awaits. Next up? A showdown with No. 6 Pepperdine. Buckle up.
That’ll do it.
Source: lbcurrent.com
