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How The Beach became champions, again

LBSU Men’s Volleyball Team poses for a final photo with a championship banner and trophy after sweeping UCLA at the Covelli Center in Columbus, Ohio. Photo credit: Mark Siquig The path to becoming the 2025 NCAA Men’s Volleyball national champions included the Fort Valley State Wildcats, the Pepperdine Waves and the University of California, Los […]

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LBSU Men’s Volleyball Team poses for a final photo with a championship banner and trophy after sweeping UCLA at the Covelli Center in Columbus, Ohio. Photo credit: Mark Siquig

The path to becoming the 2025 NCAA Men’s Volleyball national champions included the Fort Valley State Wildcats, the Pepperdine Waves and the University of California, Los Angeles Bruins.

Here’s how Long Beach State men’s volleyball cleared the path:

The Bulgarians

A lot has been said about freshman setter Moni Nikolov this season, and if you watch him play, you will see exactly why. 

The fluidity with which he sets the ball from any angle and to any spot on the court is a large reason why LBSU was able to take home the trophy. 

The deception on his sets is what freed up the LBSU hitters from having to hit past multiple blockers and led them to hit .401 in the NCAA Tournament overall.

He is listed as a setter and stands where a regular setter stands, but can be seen hitting often. It always seems like it is the right decision — and it usually turns out to be — as his massive arm swing, coupled with the element of surprise, is almost impossible to defend. 

“Moni obviously thinks he’s a hitter, so maybe I have them [Nikolov and Varga] in the wrong spots,” Knipe said.

Of course, the most memorable kill of them all was the one that put UCLA to bed in the National Championship.

Nikolov posted 110 assists and 20 kills in the tournament. 

Freshman outside hitter Alex Kandev is the other Bulgarian whose impact can not be understated. 

With the injuries to sophomore opposite Daniil Hershtynovich, The Beach’s second-leading kill man, and senior outside hitter Sotiris Siapanis, he was forced to step up on the biggest stage. 

Kandev did just that. After only five kills versus FVSU, he posted 19 kills while hitting .533 against Pepperdine and 13 kills against UCLA on a .450 clip. 

Every time The Beach needed a point to get back in the game or put the opposition out of reach, it felt like Kandev was there for them.

“He wasn’t a starter at the beginning of the year, and then when we needed him most, he really came out and showed us what he’s capable of,” Nikolov said.

Defense wins championships

The Beach have a looming physical presence at the net, and the long reach of their hitters on offense and of their blockers on defense makes it hard for opposing teams to find a gap.

This was especially evident in the match against FVSU, which is a smaller team with only one player listed above 6 feet 4 inches. 

The Beach were sending multiple blockers at the Wildcat hitters often, recording eight blocks. 

Their block held the Wildcats to a .129 hitting percentage, and only one Wildcat with more than two attempts hit a positive percentage, junior outside hitter Isaiah Fedd

It is also worth noting that LBSU did not register a block error against FVSU or Pepperdine, and just two against UCLA. 

On the season, UCLA was second in the nation in team hitting percentage, hitting .369, but hit .129 in the title match, largely thanks to Kandev and freshman middle blocker Isaiah Preuitt, who recorded four blocks each.

Humility

The humbleness and the willingness to do what the team needs by LBSU’s middle blockers, junior Ben Braun and senior DiAeris McRaven, will not show up on the box score, but were vital in LBSU’s title run.

Braun shined against FVSU, posting nine kills on .800 hitting and two blocks, but Preuitt was inserted in the semifinal matchup against Pepperdine and became a staple on the court from that point on.

“Ben’s been great, man. How often as a middle blocker do you hit .667 and get taken out by your coach?” Knipe said. “I wanted what I’ve seen Isaiah doing in the gym; blocking defense, I wanted a little more of that.”

Braun saw his sets drop from four against FVSU to two against Pepperdine and did not play against UCLA.

Knipe went with the combination of Preuitt and McRaven in the championship against UCLA.

In the match, Preuitt had 10 total attacks to McRaven’s two, and it was McRaven’s mentorship that prepared Preuitt for the big stage.

“I just try to remind him, you know, to be him, play the same way he’s been playing in practice,” McRaven said. “He’s been doing really well, and you know obviously that builds so much trust with the coaches for him to be able to play.”



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Chaminade volleyball adds 9 players

Chaminade women’s volleyball coach Kahala Kabalis Hoke announced her nine-player recruiting class for the 2025 season on Wednesday. Division I transfers Audrah Radford (6-2, outside hitter, Utah State) and Alizaysha Sopi (6-2, OH, Tennessee State) are among the group. Sopi is a Kapolei graduate. The class includes three incoming freshmen from local high schools. They […]

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Water Polo Releases 2025 Schedule

Story Links 2025 Fordham Water Polo Schedule Bronx, N.Y. – (June 26, 2025) – Coming off the team’s most successful season in program history, the four-time defending MAWPC champion Fordham Rams have released their 2025 schedule for the upcoming water polo season.   The schedule […]

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Bronx, N.Y. – (June 26, 2025) – Coming off the team’s most successful season in program history, the four-time defending MAWPC champion Fordham Rams have released their 2025 schedule for the upcoming water polo season.   The schedule has the most challenging run to date for the Rams, featuring 13 contests against opponents that received votes in the final poll of 2024, including four that participated in the National Collegiate Championship.
 
Right out of the gate, Fordham will be in the Bruno Classic, August 30-31, taking on MIT and Harvard on day one in Providence, Rhode Island, while taking on Pacific and LIU on day two in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
 
Week two will be a special one for the Rams at the Princeton Invitational, September 6-7.  Fordham will open Saturday’s action against the defending national champion, UCLA, followed by an exhibition contest against Ferencvaros (FTC) a Hungarian-based club team that recently won the Champions League.  Fordham then completes the weekend of competition on Sunday against Santa Clara.
 
After an off week, the Rams start MAWPC league play with three road contests, September 20-21.  Fordham plays at Mercyhurst on September 20th, while matching up with Bucknell and Mt. St. Mary’s the following day at the Bison Invitational.
 
Starting on September 27th, Fordham will have five straight home contests beginning with N.C.C. participant Princeton coming to the Messmore Aquatic Center for the start of a home-and-home series with the match at Princeton slated for November 1st.  The Rams will also face Wagner later that day in a league match.  Fordham is also scheduled to host Iona on October 10th, as well as MAWPC opponents Navy and George Washington on October 11th.
 
The Rams then have their longest road trip of the season to the west coast from October 21-26.  The trip begins on October 21st with a road game at Long Beach State, who the Rams defeated in last year’s N.C.C. quarterfinals.  Two days later, Fordham makes the trek to Berkeley for a highlight match-up against Cal on October 23rd
 
Fordham will then participate in the annual Julian Fraser Memorial Tournament in Santa Clara, California.  On October 24th, the Rams face UC Merced, while the following day will have another highlight match against fellow 2024 N.C.C. semifinalist Stanford on October 25th.  The trip then concludes against San Jose State on October 26th.
 
Following the second match with Princeton, the Rams then return to league play with road games at George Washington (Nov. 2), Navy (Nov. 2), and Wagner (Nov. 7).  Fordham then has their final four regular season games at home, starting with a tripleheader on November 8th against Bucknell, Mt. St. Mary’s, and Mercyhurst to conclude MAWPC play.  The home finale will be on November 15th against Brown.
 
The regular season leads to the 2025 MAWPC Championship, which will be held, November 21-23, at Fordham University’s Col. Francis B. Messmore Aquatic Center in the Bronx, as the Rams will look for their fifth consecutive championship and another N.C. Championship berth.
 
The N.C. Championship is set for December 5-7 at Stanford University in Palo Alto, California.



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U.S. Girls U19 Team Ends 2025 Pan American Cup Pool Play 3-0

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (June 26, 2025) —The U.S. Girls U19 National Team completed pool play undefeated after a 3-1 (20-25, 25-20, 25-14, 27-25) victory over Puerto Rico on Thursday in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. The U.S. (3-0) will meet the winner of the Costa Rica-Dominican Republic match in the semifinals tomorrow, Friday, June 27, at 1:30 […]

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COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (June 26, 2025) —The U.S. Girls U19 National Team completed pool play undefeated after a 3-1 (20-25, 25-20, 25-14, 27-25) victory over Puerto Rico on Thursday in Kingston, Ontario, Canada.

The U.S. (3-0) will meet the winner of the Costa Rica-Dominican Republic match in the semifinals tomorrow, Friday, June 27, at 1:30 p.m. PT.

The U.S. held a double-digit advantage in kills (57-46) for the third consecutive match and finished with two more blocks (8-6). Puerto Rico led in aces 12-9, with half of them in the final set.

MATCH STATISTICS (PDF)

Outside hitters Kari Knotts and Ireland Real finished with identical numbers with 19 points on 16 kills, a block and two aces. Knotts led the team with 10 digs and seven successful receptions, while Real added nine digs.

Middle blocker Taylor Harrington led all players with six blocks, adding six kills and an ace for 13 total points. Megan Hodges also reached double digits with 12 points on 11 kills and one ace.

Libero Cala Haffner and setter Marissa Jones each recorded eight digs with Hodges contributing seven.

“It was a hard-fought match, and I’m just so proud that my team showed up today,” Jones said. “We faced adversity, especially during the first set, but we all just came together, and individually everyone stepped up and gave it their all the whole entire match. We continue to trust our training and believe in our coaches. I’m so proud of the outcome, and we’re focusing on continuing to get better.”

Puerto Rico took a lead it never relinquished in the first set at 9-8. A Harrington kill, Hodges ace and Knotts kill late in the set brought the U.S. within two points, 22-20, before Puerto Rico scored the final three points. Knotts and Real each recorded four kills with Harrington scoring four points on two kills and two blocks.

A Kyla Williams ace put the U.S. ahead 5-1 to start the second set and force a quick timeout. The lead grew to six points, 9-3, before a 7-1 surge by Puerto Rico evened the set at 10. The U.S. called timeout and scored the next five points, scoring the first three on a Real kill and two Jones aces.

A Knotts kill put the U.S. up 19-16 but Puerto Rico scored the next three points to tie the set. The U.S. finished the set with a 6-1 run with Crooks scoring four points on kills, three of which were tooled off the block. Knotts also registered four kills in the set and Real, who ended the set on a kill, scored four points on three kills and an ace.

The U.S. led 10-8 in the third set before going on a 5-0 run that put them in control. Puerto Rico managed just six points the rest of the set as the U.S. took a 2-1 set lead. Hodges led all players with six kills and Knotts scored five points on three kills and two aces. Harrington added four points on two kills and a pair of blocks.

Both teams took advantage of a lengthy delay before the start of the fourth set to show off their dancing skills. Once play resumed, each team put together mini runs in the first half of the set. The U.S. used a 4-0 run to take a 13-10 lead and force a Puerto Rico time out.

Puerto Rico used its second 4-0 stretch of the set to take the lead, 17-16. Play continued to go back and forth for the remainder of the set with Puerto Rico earning set points at 25-24 and 26-25 before the U.S. scored the final three points, one on a Knotts kill and the last two on hitting errors. Real paced the U.S. with seven points on five kills, a block and an ace. Knotts totaled six points on five kills and a block.

2025 U.S. Girls U19 National Team for the NORCECA Pan American Cup
(Name, Position, Height, Birth Year, Hometown, High School, Region)

1 Taimane Ainu’u (S, 5-11, 2009, Kapolei, Hawaii, Iolani HS, Aloha)
2 Nejari Crooks (OPP, 6-1, 2009, High Point, N.C., Wesleyan Christian Academy, Carolina)
3 Cala Haffner (L, 5-8, 2009, Fort Wayne, Ind., Carroll HS, Hoosier)
4 Taylor Harrington (MB, 6-3, 2009, Arlington, Va., Wakefield HS, Chesapeake)
5 Olivia Henry (OH, 6-5, 2009, Bayside, N.Y., IMG Academy, Florida)
6 Megan Hodges (MB/OPP, 6-5, 2009, Ladera Ranch, Calif., San Juan Hills HS, Southern California)
7 Marissa Jones (S, 6-2, 2009, Atlanta, Ga., Woodward Academy, Southern)
8 Kari Knotts (OH, 6-3, 2010, Marietta, Ga., Hightower Trail MS, Southern)
11 Westley Matavao (OH, 6-0, 2009, Ontario, Calif., Mater Dei HS, Southern California)
13 Shayla Rautenberg (MB, 6-3, 2009, Pleasant Dale, Neb., Milford HS, Great Plains)
14 Ireland Real (OH, 6-4, 2009, San Clemente, Calif., Santa Margarita Catholic HS, Southern California)
18 Kyla Williams (MB, 6-4, 2009, Cleveland, Ohio, Gilmour Academy, Ohio Valley)

Alternates
9 Pulelehua Laikona (L, 5-8, 2009, Gilbert, Ariz., Mesa HS, Arizona)
10 Leilani Lamar (OH, 6-2, 2009, Tampa, Fla., Tampa Preparatory School, Florida)
12 McKenna McIntosh (OH, 6-1, 2009, Stockton, Calif., St. Mary’s HS, Northern California)
15 Josalyn Samuels (S, 6-1, 2009, Harrisburg, S.D., Harrisburg HS, North Country)
16 Marlee Steiner (MB, 6-4, 2009, St. Louis, Mo., Lindbergh HS, Gateway)
17 Caroline Ward (OPP, 6-0, 2009, Lizton, Ind., Tri-West Hendricks HS, Hoosier)
19 Shaye Witherspoon (OH, 6-3, 2009, Wildwood, Mo., Lafayette HS, Gateway)

Coaches
Head Coach: Jamie Morrison (Texas A&M)
Assistant Coach: Michelle Chatman Smith (LOVB)
Assistant Coach: Maggie Eppright (LOVB)
Performance Analyst: Michael Bouril (Mississippi State)
Athletic Trainer: Rebecca Himes (PVF)
Team Lead: Alex Purvey (NTDP)

2025 Girls U19 Pan American Cup Schedule
All times Pacific
All matches will be livestreamed on Volleyball Canada YouTube

June 24:  USA def. Venezuela, 3-0 (25-9, 25-23, 25-21)
June 25: USA def. Mexico, 3-0 (25-21, 25-21, 25-23)
June 26: USA def. Puerto Rico, 3-1 (20-25, 25-20, 25-14, 27-25)
June 27: 1:30 p.m. USA vs. Costa Rica/Dominican Republic
June 28: Medal Match, TBA



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Canada falls to host Americans in Volleyball Nations League | National Sports

HOFFMAN ESTATES – Canada dropped a 3-0 decision to the United States in Volleyball Nations League play on Thursday at the NOW Arena.  All three sets were close, but the host side pulled out a 25-23, 25-22, 30-28 victory. Canada captain Fynn McCarthy had eight attacks, four blocks and an ace. “Once we solidified our […]

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HOFFMAN ESTATES – Canada dropped a 3-0 decision to the United States in Volleyball Nations League play on Thursday at the NOW Arena. 

All three sets were close, but the host side pulled out a 25-23, 25-22, 30-28 victory. Canada captain Fynn McCarthy had eight attacks, four blocks and an ace.

“Once we solidified our reception and service tonight, we were able to play at a much higher level and we put more pressure on them,” said Canada head coach Dan Lewis.

Canada is 14th in the 18-team preliminary standings. 

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 26, 2025. 

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.



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Water Polo to Host Jr. ‘Bows Summer Camp

Registration for the Jr. ‘Bows 2025 Summer Water Polo camp is under way. The camp is scheduled for July 11-13 at the Duke Kahanamoku Aquatic Complex and is open to players ages 13-18 of all skill levels. The clinic will focus on developing a love for water polo in players and participants will receive instruction […]

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Registration for the Jr. ‘Bows 2025 Summer Water Polo camp is under way. The camp is scheduled for July 11-13 at the Duke Kahanamoku Aquatic Complex and is open to players ages 13-18 of all skill levels. The clinic will focus on developing a love for water polo in players and participants will receive instruction on fundamental offensive and defensive movements, positional skills, shooting, and general tactics. Camp sessions will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily and will be led by the UH water polo coaching staff and assisted by student-athletes from the reigning Big West champion…





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