Freshman Moni Nikolov just changed everything.
The 6-foot-10 sensation dropped six kills, four aces, and two digs, leading Long Beach State to a sweep over UCLA—25-17, 25-23, 25-21. A clean takedown to snag the NCAA men's volleyball championship.
The Big Moment
And just like that, Long Beach State (30-3) claimed their fourth championship title. This wasn’t just any win. It was their first since 2019, adding to their legacy that started in 1991 when current head coach Alan Knipe was still spiking on the court.
Nikolov, barely 18, kicked off the match with an ace that set the tone. His words after the match? Pure gold: "Not for one second did we think we were going to lose that game. We were born for this game."
UCLA's Comeback? Stopped Cold
Trailing 1-0, UCLA tried to rally in the second set, leading 18-13. But Long Beach State wasn’t having it. They outscored the Bruins 12-5 to snatch the set. One rotation flipped the entire match.
In the third set, Alex Kandev took over. His kill gave Long Beach State a 4-3 lead, and from there, it was over. Kandev finished the night with a scorching .452 hitting percentage.
Dominance on Display
The Bruins, rolling in with the second-highest hitting efficiency in the country, were shut down. Long Beach State's length was just too much. The Beach outhit UCLA .354 to .192. Cooper Robinson did his best for UCLA with a .381 hitting percentage, but it wasn't enough.
This was the third meeting between the two teams this season, and Long Beach State owned it with a 9-1 set advantage. UCLA, hoping for a historic three-peat, left empty-handed.
Long Beach State handled business. UCLA had no answer. And now? Long Beach State is back on top.
That'll do it.
Source: nbclosangeles.com
