LONG BEACH, Calif. — No. 2 Long Beach State returns to the LBS Financial Credit Union Pyramid this week for a two-match set against Jessup on Thursday, March 12 and Friday, March 13. Both matches are scheduled for 7 p.m. and mark the first meetings between the two programs.

RIGHT AWAY

• No. 2 Long Beach State continues its homestand Thursday and Friday evening with a matchup against Jessup at the LBS Financial Credit Union Pyramid. It marks the first meeting in program history between the two schools.

• The Beach are 12-2 overall, with both losses coming against No. 1 UCLA. Long Beach State remains strong at home with a 6-1 record at the LBS Financial Credit Union Pyramid, while also going 4-1 on the road and 1-0 on a neutral floor.

• Through 14 matches, Long Beach State is hitting .363 as a team, ranking No. 4 nationally, while averaging 12.08 kills per set. Opponents are limited to a .212 hitting percentage, which ranks No. 14 nationally.

• From the service line, the Beach set the national standard at 2.81 aces per set, leading the country with 135 total aces. Opponents are generating significantly less pressure from the end line, allowing Long Beach State to control first contact and dictate tempo.

• At the net, Long Beach State averages 2.63 blocks per set, ranking No. 3 nationally, and leads the Big West in total blocks with 126.0. The Beach continue to create separation through disciplined hands and efficient closing patterns.

• Defensively, Long Beach State averages 7.58 digs per set while maintaining balanced transition offense behind an 11.00 assists per set average.

THE MATCHUP

• Jessup enters seeking a marquee non-conference result in its first-ever contest against Long Beach State. The meeting provides a new data point for both programs, with no prior head-to-head history.

• Jessup enters the week at 6-7 overall and 0-4 in conference play. The Warriors have split their non-conference slate but have dropped recent matches to Pepperdine and BYU, including a 1-3 decision against BYU on March 7.

• As a team, Jessup is hitting .280 while averaging 12.20 kills per set. Opponents are hitting .242 and averaging 10.50 kills per set, indicating Jessup has generally maintained a positive offensive margin.

IN THE RANKINGS

• Long Beach State remains No. 2 in the AVCA National Collegiate MVB Poll, collecting 469 points and trailing only No. 1 UCLA.

• Nationally, the Beach rank No. 1 in aces per set at 2.81, No. 3 in blocks per set at 2.63, No. 4 in hitting percentage at .363, No. 14 in opponent hitting percentage at .212, No. 20 in kills per set at 12.08, and No. 28 in assists per set at 11.00.

• Within the Big West, Long Beach State ranks No. 1 in service aces and blocks, No. 2 in hitting percentage at .363, No. 3 in opponent hitting percentage at .212, and No. 5 in both kills and assists.

INDIVIDUAL IMPACT

• Skyler Varga averages 3.25 kills per set and 4.39 points per set while hitting .367. He ranks No. 7 in the Big West in both hitting percentage and kills, No. 3 in points per set, and is No. 45 nationally in kills per set. Varga also remains among the national leaders from the service line at 0.73 aces per set, ranking No. 2 nationally and in the conference.

• Jake Pazanti orchestrates the offense at 9.54 assists per set, ranking No. 19 nationally and No. 3 in the Big West. His distribution supports a team hitting percentage that ranks fourth in the country.

• Jackson Cryst leads the conference and ranks No. 1 in the Big West and No. 10 nationally in blocks per set at 1.15. He also remains among the nation’s most efficient middles.

• Alex Kandev ranks No. 1 nationally in aces per set at 0.765 and continues to be a primary six-rotation contributor on the pin.

• Wojciech Gajek is producing 2.16 kills per set and is ranked No. 45 nationally in hitting percentage, providing balance across the attack.

• Kellen Larson ranks No. 4 in the Big West in digs at 1.63 per set, anchoring the backcourt and reinforcing first-contact stability.