LONG BEACH, Calif. — At 22-4 and ranked No. 3 nationally, Long Beach State enters the Big West Semifinals with a first-round bye and a clear identity built on pressure and precision. The Beach lead the nation in service aces, control the net with one of the top blocking units in the country, and pair that with a .348 hitting percentage that reflects balanced, high-efficiency offense. Coming off a trio of Big West weekly honors and five student-athletes named to All-Big West teams, Long Beach State now turns its focus to a semifinal matchup at UC Irvine against either No. 18 CSUN or No. 5 UC Irvine, where its ability to dictate first contact will again define the outcome.<\/p>\n
RIGHT AWAY
\n\u2022 At 22-4 overall and ranked No. 3 nationally, Long Beach State enters the postseason with one of the most complete statistical profiles in the country, combining top-end efficiency with overwhelming first-contact pressure<\/p>\n
\u2022 The Beach are hitting .348 while holding opponents to .215, a +.133 differential that underscores their ability to dictate matches on both sides of the ball and consistently win the efficiency battle<\/p>\n
\u2022 That control starts at the service line, where Long Beach State has produced 214 aces (2.30\/set) compared to just 74 allowed, creating a +140 margin that routinely forces opponents out of system and fuels extended scoring runs<\/p>\n
\u2022 The disruption translates directly to the net, with the Beach averaging 2.70 blocks per set and holding a 251-130 total block advantage, turning broken plays into high-percentage transition opportunities<\/p>\n
\u2022 Offensively, Long Beach State generates 12.37 kills per set on .348 hitting, a reflection of balanced distribution and high-efficiency decision-making rather than reliance on a single high-volume scorer<\/p>\n
\u2022 That balance is reinforced by elite play across the lineup, highlighted by a sweep of Big West weekly honors: Connor Bloom<\/a> (Offensive), Kellen Larson<\/a> (Defensive), and Jackson Cryst<\/a> (Freshman), signaling impact production at every phase of the game<\/p>\n THE MATCHUP \u2022 The Beach have already proven they can win in Irvine, taking both regular season meetings, including a four-set road win on April 18 and a five-set home victory the night prior<\/p>\n \u2022 If CSUN advances, it sets up a familiar conference battle after Long Beach State went 2-0 against the Matadors, including a five-set road win and a sweep at home<\/p>\n \u2022 Regardless of opponent, the contrast is clear: Long Beach State’s +.133 hitting percentage differential (.348 vs .215) against teams that rely more on offensive volume than first-contact dominance<\/p>\n \u2022 If CSUN advances, Long Beach State holds a decisive statistical edge \u2014 the Matadors hit .306 while allowing .268, a +.038 margin that is significantly narrower than the Beach’s, and they are outperformed in both serve pressure (1.03 aces\/set vs 2.30) and blocking (1.90 vs 2.70)<\/p>\n \u2022 CSUN’s offense is driven by high-volume scoring from Jalen Phillips (3.88 kills\/set, .313), but Long Beach State has already neutralized that system, holding the Matadors to a .209 hitting performance in a sweep in the last meeting<\/p>\n \u2022 In contrast, UC Irvine presents a more balanced and efficient profile, hitting .304 as a team with 12.34 kills\/set while holding opponents to .267, much closer to Long Beach State’s level of efficiency<\/p>\n \u2022 The Anteaters feature a true two-headed attack in Andrej Jokanovic (3.50 kills\/set) and William D’Arcy (3.05 kills\/set), creating consistent terminal options from both pins<\/p>\n \u2022 UC Irvine also brings stronger serve pressure than most opponents (1.51 aces\/set), but still falls well short of Long Beach State’s nation-leading production, making the serve-receive battle a key swing factor<\/p>\n \u2022 At the net, both potential opponents are more balanced than dominant \u2014 UC Irvine averages 2.00 blocks\/set and CSUN 1.90, compared to Long Beach State’s 2.70, giving the Beach a clear advantage in controlling transition points<\/p>\n \u2022 The common thread: both CSUN and UC Irvine operate most effectively in-system, while Long Beach State’s serve-and-block identity is built to disrupt rhythm \u2014 whichever team handles that pressure best will control tempo in the semifinal<\/p>\n IN THE RANKINGS \u2022 The Beach also lead the Big West in opponent hitting percentage (.215), reflecting system discipline and consistent defensive structure<\/p>\n \u2022 The serve-to-block pipeline is decisive: a +140 ace margin and +121 total block margin illustrate how frequently Long Beach State creates and capitalizes on out-of-system situations<\/p>\n \u2022 Skyler Varga<\/a> continues to anchor the offense as a six-rotation presence at 3.16 kills\/set and 4.06 points\/set, ranking No. 7 in the Big West in kills\/set and No. 6 in points\/set, while also sitting top 50 nationally in both categories along with top-10 conference marks in hitting percentage and aces<\/p>\n \u2022 Jake Pazanti<\/a> directs the offense at 9.01 assists\/set, ranking No. 5 in the Big West and top 35 nationally, orchestrating one of the most efficient attacks in the country<\/p>\n \u2022 In the middle, Jackson Cryst<\/a> (.535 hitting, 1.09 blocks\/set) and Ben Braun<\/a> (.525, 1.13 blocks\/set) form one of the most efficient and disruptive middle duos nationally, ranking No. 2 and No. 1 in the Big West in blocks\/set, respectively, while both sit inside the top 15 nationally<\/p>\n \u2022 Kellen Larson<\/a> anchors the backcourt with 1.74 digs\/set and a .961 reception percentage, ranking No. 3 in the Big West in digs\/set and top 50 nationally, stabilizing first contact and enabling offensive tempo<\/p>\n \u2022 Alex Kandev<\/a> is one of the most dangerous servers in the country, ranking No. 3 nationally in aces per set at 0.56, adding consistent first-contact pressure to the Beach attack<\/p>\n ALL-BIG WEST RECOGNITION \u2022 Jackson Cryst<\/a> emerged as one of the nation’s most efficient middles, pairing .535 hitting with 1.09 blocks\/set and high-end service pressure<\/p>\n \u2022 Skyler Varga<\/a> led the offense with 3.16 kills\/set and 4.06 points\/set, providing a steady, high-volume scoring presence<\/p>\n \u2022 Kellen Larson<\/a> anchored the backcourt at 1.74 digs\/set with a .961 reception rate, stabilizing first contact and defensive structure<\/p>\n \u2022 The future is already contributing: Cryst, Wojciech Gajek<\/a> and Jake Pazanti<\/a> all earned All-Freshman honors, highlighting the Beach’s blend of immediate production and long-term depth<\/p>\n \u2022 Gajek adds efficient scoring on the right side (2.51 kills\/set, .315), while Pazanti drives tempo as the team’s primary setter (9.01 assists\/set)<\/p>\n INDIVIDUAL IMPACT Jake Pazanti<\/a>, R-Fr., S Jackson Cryst<\/a>, Fr., MB Alex Kandev<\/a>, So., OH Wojciech Gajek<\/a>, Fr., OPP Ben Braun<\/a>, Sr., MB
\n\u2022 Long Beach State enters the Big West Semifinals with a first-round bye and will face either No. 18 CSUN or No. 5 UC Irvine on the road, setting up a high-stakes match where first contact will likely determine control<\/p>\n
\n\u2022 Long Beach State ranks among the national leaders in multiple categories, including No. 1 in aces, No. 2 in blocks, and No. 6 in hitting percentage<\/p>\n
\n\u2022 Long Beach State placed three on the All-Big West First Team, signaling a roster built on impact across every phase<\/p>\n
\nSkyler Varga<\/a>, Sr., OH
\n\u2022 3.16 kills\/set, 0.51 aces\/set, 1.34 digs\/set, 4.06 points\/set, .322 hitting
\n\u2022 A true six-rotation stabilizer who impacts every phase and maintains offensive efficiency under volume, recently named an AVCA Player of the Year Semifinalist<\/p>\n
\n\u2022 9.01 assists\/set
\n\u2022 Controls tempo and distribution for a top-tier offense<\/p>\n
\n\u2022 .535 hitting, 1.09 blocks\/set
\n\u2022 Elite efficiency with high-impact presence at the net, coming off Freshman of the Week honors<\/p>\n
\n\u2022 2.44 kills\/set, 0.56 aces\/set
\n\u2022 Key contributor to both scoring balance and service pressure<\/p>\n
\n\u2022 2.51 kills\/set on .315 hitting
\n\u2022 Emerging terminal option providing efficiency in key rotations<\/p>\n
\n\u2022 .525 hitting, 1.13 blocks\/set
\n\u2022 High-efficiency middle presence that complements Cryst<\/p>\n