SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. — Cal Poly volleyball associate head coach and recruiting coordinator Jason Borchin — who helped the Mustangs reach the NCAA Tournament three times during his time with the program — was named the next head coach of the University of Nevada volleyball program on Monday.

Borchin spent nine seasons on the Cal Poly coaching staff across a pair of stints (2015-17, 2018-25), aiding the Mustangs to an 187-86 overall record, two Big West regular season championships and a conference tournament title during his tenure with the program.

“I’m incredibly proud that what we’ve built together here at Cal Poly has opened doors for Jason and his family,” Cal Poly volleyball head coach Caroline Walters said. “We’ve been together for more than half of my coaching career, and that’s a testament to the quality of work he does, but speaks even more to the person, coach, and friend he is. Jason has made a lasting impact on our program, and while he’ll be missed, we’re excited for him as he takes this next step. We wish Jason, Jessie, Colt, Vaughn, and Beckett nothing but the best as they embrace this new challenge at Nevada.”

Borchin, who was promoted to associate head coach for the Mustangs prior to the 2024 season, helped the program reach historic heights in his final season this fall. After defeating No. 1 seed UC Davis to capture the Big West Tournament Championship and punch its ticket to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2019, Cal Poly took down No. 5 seed BYU and then No. 4 seed USC — both in five sets — to advance to the Sweet 16 for the seventh time in program history and the first time since 2007.

The Mustangs were the lone unseeded team to reach the Third Round in this year’s NCAA Tournament, serving as the country’s Cinderella story. Cal Poly finished the year ranked No. 21 in the nation, its highest ranking to end a season in 18 years and the first time since 2018 the team ended a season nationally ranked.

After serving as a full-time assistant coach on the Sacramento State volleyball staff for five seasons (2010-14), Borchin joined the Cal Poly staff for the first time in 2015 as an assistant. While serving under then head coach Sam Crosson for three seasons, Borchin aided the Mustangs to a Big West regular season championship and an NCAA Tournament appearance in 2017.

In 2018, Borchin served as an assistant coach at Notre Dame before returning to Cal Poly in 2019 to be an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator for the Mustangs during Walters’ first season as the head coach. Borchin served in that role for four seasons before being elevated to associate head coach in 2024, helping Cal Poly capture a Big West regular season title and a conference tournament championship in his final two seasons.

Across his nine seasons with the program, the Mustangs saw 42 players earn All-Big West Team honors, eight named to the All-Big West Freshman Team, seven secure All-Region praise and four grab AVCA All-American status.

Prior to beginning his coaching career as a volunteer assistant at Sacramento State in 2007, Borchin played for the Hornets’ men’s team for two seasons (2006-07) before transferring to Pacific, where he appeared in 86 matches from 2008-10. The Roseville, Calif. native graduated from Pacific in 2010 with a degree in sports sciences.

BABSON PARK, Mass.— After a 2025 spring season that was highlighted by four All-East region selections and one athlete competing at the NCAA Championships, Babson College veteran head men’s and women’s track & field coach Russ Brennen officially announced the 2026 schedule on Monday.

For the second year in a row, the Beavers will open the season in Myrtle Beach, S.C., at the Alan Connie Shamrock Invitational on March 19-21. The Green and White come back to New England for the UMass Dartmouth Corsair Invitational on March 28.

Babson starts a busy month of April at the Coast Guard Invitational in New London, Conn., on April 4. The Beavers will be in Medford, Mass. the following weekend, beginning with day one of the Tufts Multi-Meet on April 10 and day two as part of the Tufts Invitational on April 11. The Green and White will wrap up the regular season at MIT’s annual Sean Collier Invitational on April 18.

The post-season begins with the New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) Championships at Coast Guard on April 24-25. The Division III New England Championships are slated for May 1-2 in Springfield, Mass.

Top qualifying competitors will go to the Farley Inter Regional Meet at Williams College on May 8-9. Selected Beavers will compete in the Last Chance qualifying meet at MIT on May 14, attempting to qualify for the NCAA national championships, which are at Veteran’s Memorial Field Sports Complex in La Crosse, Wisc. on May 21-24.

 

IRVINE, Calif. – The University of Hawai’i men’s volleyball team was picked second in the preseason Big West coaches’ poll while a trio of Rainbow Warriors were named to the seven-member preseason team – setter Tread Rosenthal, outside hitter Adrien Roure, and opposite Kristian Titriyski.
 
UH received 22 total points and trailed preseason favorite Long Beach State (24 points, 4 first-place votes). UC Irvine (21 points) was third followed by a three-way tie for fourth between CSUN (9), UC San Diego (9), and UC Santa Barbara (9).
 
Hawai’i returns five starters — Tread Rosenthal, Adrien Roure, Kristian Titriyski, Justin Todd, and Louis Sakanoko — and 12 lettermen from last year’s squad that finished 27-6 and advanced to the NCAA Championship semifinals. Rosenthal and Roure were AVCA first-team All-Americans while Titriyski was named to the second team.
 
LBSU had two players on the preseason team – Alex Kandev and Skyler Varga – while UCSB (George Bruening) and CSUN (Jalen Phillips) both had one.
 
The Rainbow Warriors, who captured their fourth Big West Championship title last season, were picked No. 2 in the AVCA Preseason Top 20 Coaches poll behind UCLA. Hawai’i garnered seven first place votes, two more than Long Beach State, who was third.
 
2026 Big West Preseason Coaches’ Poll
Rk. Team – Points (1^st Place Votes)
1. Long Beach State – 24 (4)
2. Hawai’i – 22 (2)
3. UC Irvine – 17
T4. CSUN – 9
T4. UC San Diego – 9
T4. UC Santa Barbara – 9
 
2026 Big West Preseason Coaches’ Team
George Bruening, R-So., Outside Hitter, UC Santa Barbara, Newport Beach, Calif.
Alex Kandev, So., Outside Hitter, Long Beach State, Sofia, Bulgaria
Jalen Phillips, R-Jr., Opposite Hitter, CSUN, Anaheim, Calif.
Tread Rosenthal, Jr., Setter, Hawai’i, Austin, Texas
Adrien Roure, So, Outside Hitter, Hawai’i, Lyon, France
Kristian Titriyski, So., Opposite Hitter, Hawai’i, Sofia, Bulgaria
Skyler Varga, R-Sr., Opposite Hitter, Long Beach State, Muenster, Saskatchewan
 
 

#HawaiiMVB

Phillips earned a nod to the preseason team for the first time, joining George Bruening of UC Santa Barbara, Alex Kandev and Skyler Varga of Long Beach State, along with Tread Rosenthal, Adrien Roure, and Kristian Titriyski of Hawai’i on the Preseason Coaches’ Team.

Phillips, a first-team AVCA All-America and first-team All-Big West selection in 2025, became the first Matador named to the AVCA first-team since Kevin McKniff and Jacek Ratazczak in 2010. He was a three-time Big West Offensive Player of the Week (Jan. 20, Feb. 24, Apr. 14) last season, leading CSUN with a career-high 456 kills, while averaging 4.22 kills per set, which ranked second in the Big West and fourth in the nation. Phillips also finished his sophomore season ranked third in the Big West in points, averaging 4.81 per set, and was 13th in hitting percentage at .293.

In the Preseason Poll, the Matadors received nine points from the conference’s head coaches and were predicted to tie for fourth with UC San Diego and UC Santa Barbara, which also received nine points.

Defending national champions Long Beach State earned the top spot in the poll for the second straight season, picking up four first-place votes and 24 total points in the voting. Hawai’i earned the other two first-place votes and 22 total points for second, with UC Irvine earning 17 points for third. With nine points, the trio of the Matadors, Tritons, and Gauchos round out the polling in the vote by the league’s six head coaches.

“I’m sure the Big West will be exactly what we expect it to be; it’s the best volleyball conference in the country,” said head coach Theo Edwards. “All six Big West teams are ranked in the preseason top-20 of the AVCA national poll, so I know the guys on this team will embrace the challenge ahead and are poised to make some noise in the Big West this season.”

As they’ve done 21 times in the last 22 seasons, the Matadors open the season at the annual UCSB Invitational at Robertson Gym. CSUN will meet Maryville University, Harvard, and Kentucky State over the three-day tournament, which runs from Jan. 8-10.

In addition to Phillips, CSUN returns a host of starters in 2026, including outside hitter Joao Avila, middle blockers Joao Favarim and Shane Nhem, and libero Chris Karnezis. The Matadors also welcome a talented group of newcomers in 2026, including redshirt sophomore setter Owen Douphner, who steps in for departed senior All-American Donovan Constable.

 

The Hawaiian Islands presents the 2026 Outrigger Big West Men’s Volleyball Championship at the Bren Events Center on the campus of UC Irvine from April 23-25, 2026. All six conference members will vie for The Big West’s automatic berth into the national postseason bracket. 

#GoMatadors

LA JOLLA, Calif. — UC San Diego men’s volleyball was picked to finish in a tie for fourth in the 2026 Big West Men’s Volleyball Preseason Coaches’ Poll, the conference announced today.
 
The loaded Big West also sees all six of the conference’s teams ranked in the national AVCA preseason poll. The Tritons are No. 10 nationally.
 
Long Beach State was picked to win The Big West by the conference’s head coaches after winning the national championship last season. UC San Diego’s projected fourth place finish is the same as the Tritons’ actual finish in 2025 after they went 18-12 overall and 3-7 in Big West play.
 
The 2026 Triton men’s volleyball season begins at home on January 6 against Jessup. The team’s Big West opener will also be at home as the Tritons host CSUN on March 3. Season and single game tickets are both on sale now.
 
The Tritons will face each Big West opponent home and away this season with the exception of Hawai’i, who will play in La Jolla twice. The Hawaiian Islands presents the 2026 Outrigger Big West Men’s Volleyball Championship will be April 23-25 on the campus of UC Irvine.
 

 
About UC San Diego Athletics
After two decades as one of the most successful programs in NCAA Division II, the UC San Diego intercollegiate athletics program has begun a new era as a member of The Big West in NCAA Division I. The 24-sport Tritons earned 30 team and nearly 150 individual national championships during its time in Divisions II and III and helped guide 1,400 scholar-athletes to All-America honors. A total of 83 Tritons have earned Academic All-America honors, while 39 have garnered prestigious NCAA Post Graduate Scholarships. UC San Diego scholar-athletes exemplify the academic ideals of one of the world’s preeminent institutions, graduating at an average rate of 90 percent, the highest rate among public institutions in NCAA Division I or II. For more information on the Tritons, visit UCSDtritons.com or follow UC San Diego Athletics on social media @UCSDtritons.
 

IRVINE, Calif. – The Big West Conference released its 2026 Men’s Volleyball All-Conference Preseason Team on Monday, with UC Santa Barbara’s George Bruening earning preseason honors. Bruening was named to the team alongside players from No. 2 Hawai’i, No. 3 Long Beach State, and No. 11 CSUN.

Bruening exited the 2025 season with a spot on the All-Freshman team as well as a First Team Honorable Mention. He was also recognized as the SBART Men’s Volleyball Athlete of the Year. He averaged 2.97 kills per set and hit .299, the highest on the team. 

Additionally, UC Santa Barbara was voted to finish fourth in the conference. Their first match of 2026 will take place on Jan. 8 at 2:00 p.m. versus Kentucky State in Rob Gym. 

The Big West Preseason Coaches’ Poll

The Big West Preseason Coaches’ Team