Long Beach State celebrates its win against Long Island University on Saturday, Jan. 24 the LBS Financial Credit Union Pyramid. LBSU revealed its 2025 NCAA Championship banner before the game. Jorge Hernandez | Long Beach Current
On a momentous banner-dropping night for Long Beach State men’s volleyball, the No. 2 ranked Beach cruised to a 3-0 sweep of Long Island University at the LBS Financial Credit Union Pyramid on Saturday, Jan. 24.
In celebration of the program’s fourth ever national title a season ago, a championship banner was dropped in a pre-game ceremony, as the team was met with thunderous applause from the 1,766 fans in attendance.
Long Beach State men’s volleyball revealed its 2025 NCAA Championship banner at LBS Financial Credit Union Pyramid on Jan. 24. Jorge Hernandez | Long Beach Current
“The banner was an awesome thing to see,” LBSU senior outside hitter/opposite Connor Bloom said. “We did most of our celebrating back in May, but it’s great to see the university honor our achievements and the recurring reminders in the way they honor us.”
In front of a raucous LBSU crowd, the Sharks kept it close early in the first set before three straight staggering kills from senior middle blocker Ben Braun extended The Beach’s lead to 14-9.
Redshirt freshman setter and Big West Freshman of the Week Jake Pazanti continued his stellar start to the season on Saturday, racking up 16 of his total 21 assists in the first set as he orchestrated the high-flying Beach offense.
On the night where he celebrated his first championship ring at LBSU, Bloom had a monster opening set, surpassing his season-high in kills with eight as The Beach took the set 25-18.
Bloom, who is most frequently used as a serve specialist, finished the match with a game-high 13 kills in the sweep.
“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, and I’m happy to get that opportunity,” Bloom said.
Star senior opposite and 2025 AVCA First Team All-American Skyler Varga was the story of the second set.
The man who helped bring home a national title to LBSU as the team’s leading scorer a year ago showed why he is the fan-favorite he is, as he racked up four thunderous aces and two kills in the set.
The Beach dominated wire-to-wire, as the sixth of eight kills of the night from junior opposite Daniil Hershtynovich capped off the set 25-15 in LBSU’s favor.
The Sharks played their best start of a set in the third, but it was not enough to put a blemish on banner night for The Beach, as they sealed the sweep 25-15.
Varga continued his dominant performance with six kills in the set.
Sharks freshman outside hitter Ike Vernon reached a team-high 11 kills in the final set as LIU played to LBSU to a 12-12 tie early, but back-to-back kills from freshman middle blocker Jackson Cryst sparked the ensuing 13-3 extended run.
Leading 21-15, Cryst nailed three aces down the final stretch to help deliver the sweep.
On a night where the growing legacy of the program was honored, new contributors in freshman like Cryst and Pazanti played major roles, demonstrating what the future of LBSU volleyball looks like.
“I like to think we have a pretty good support system, but primarily it goes through our seniors and juniors who’ve been through those experiences,” LBSU head coach Nick MacRae said. “They’re the ones that get to help bring others along and keep leaving this program better than they found it.”
Long Beach State senior outside hitter Skyler Varga strikes the ball in the first set as The Beach defeat Long Island University on Jan. 24.c The Beach celebrated their win as they were presented their 2025 NCAA Championship banner before the game. Jorge Hernandez | Long Beach Current
After starting 7-0 to begin their championship defense, The Beach will face their biggest test of the season yet in their next outing against No. 6 Pepperdine on the road on Friday, Jan. 30.
“We’ve got four really good days together to continue to get better on our side of the net and the next match, whoever the opponent is, is the most important match,” MacRae said.
A senior at CSULB, Timothy Hessen serves as the Sports Editor of the Long Beach Current. First joining the Current as a copy assistant editor as a junior, Timothy has written about sports in several different publications, including the Long Beach Current, the Coast Report and the Laguna Beach Independent. After graduation, Timothy hopes to pursue a career in journalism or public relations, with the long-term goal of either covering or working for an NFL or NBA team.