Long Beach State took UCLA to school. Again.
The Sweep Heard 'Round the NCAA
Long Beach State was straight up dominant, sweeping UCLA 3-0 in the 2025 NCAA Men's Volleyball Championship. The set scores? 25-21, 25-19, 25-23. UCLA had no answer for the firepower coming from the Long Beach State side.
Unstoppable Force
Long Beach State's Alex Nikolov ran the show. The Bulgarian star was a problem for UCLA, racking up 20 kills with a hitting percentage north of .400. And just like that, the Bruins were left in the dust.
Let's be real, UCLA tried. But when Spencer Olivier gets going, it's game over. Olivier added 15 kills and a couple of blocks for good measure. You could feel it coming.
A Rivalry Renewed
This isn't just a one-off. It's the third time in recent years these teams have clashed in the finals. Back in 2024, UCLA managed a 3-1 win over Long Beach State. But Long Beach State wasn't having any of that this year. They came in with a point to prove.
The Reality Check
UCLA's Iain McKellar had moments of brilliance, but it wasn't enough. 12 kills and a handful of blocks might look good on paper, but it couldn't flip the match. Long Beach State handled business from start to finish.
And from there, it was over. Long Beach State is the real deal, and with talent like Nikolov and Olivier, they're not slowing down anytime soon.
That'll do it.
Source: NCAA
