The 2024-25 year saw several successful seasons for Long Beach State athletics programs, with multiple squads getting the opportunity to compete for a national title. Here are the top five most impressive teams at LBSU this year:

5. Women’s golf 

The reigning Big West conference champions from 2024, LBSU women’s golf, ultimately failed to repeat in 2025, but had an impressive season headlined by the junior Leovao twins and sophomore Erin Lee. 

Jasmine and Janae Leovao were recognized for their standout seasons with a selection to compete at the Gold Canyon NCAA Regional. The twins make up two of the 36 individual golfers nationally elected to the postseason. 

Making history together, the twins are just the fourth and fifth LBSU women’s golfers to compete in the NCAA postseason, and it is the first time in school history that multiple players have advanced in the same year. 

In addition to their success, Lee had a breakout year as well for The Beach. She helped lead the team to a third-place finish at the Big West Tournament by shooting a 76 on the last day of competition, which was tied for third best among 47 golfers. 

4. Women’s water polo (17-11)

No. 6 Women’s water polo at The Beach stayed in the top ten of the NCAA’s top 25 rankings through the entire season for the first time in program history. 

In a stacked Big West conference with seven ranked teams, LBSU managed a 6-1 conference record, with its only loss coming to the eventual conference champion, No. 3 University of Hawai’i. 

The LBSU women’s water polo team on April 26 at the Anteater Aquatics Complex against UCI during the Big West Tournament. The Beach defeated the Anteaters 12-11, but were eliminated by Hawai’i in the championship match 8-6. Photo credit: Devin Malast

The Beach met the Rainbow Wahine again in the championship final, but finished as the conference’s runner-up for the second consecutive year after an 8-6 defeat. 

LBSU’s offensive attack was spearheaded by its duo of attackers, senior Martina Cardona and junior Elisa Portillo, who finished the season fourth and fifth in the Big West with 70 and 67 goals, respectively. 

Following her junior season, Portillo finds herself fifth in LBSU history with 177 goals and the chance to rise to first before her time with The Beach is up. 

3. Men’s water polo (20-11)

The No. 6 men’s water polo team’s placement on this list might have come as a surprise based solely on their regular season performance, as it entered the Big West Tournament as the lower-seed in its quarterfinal matchup.

However, a surging hot streak from The Beach with their season on the line led to three straight upsets of higher-seeded teams to claim their first Big West Championship in program history. 

Graduate goalkeeper Aaron Wilson was brilliant in the postseason, earning the tournament’s Most Valuable Player award with 14 saves. He also led the conference in save percentage in the regular season at .507. 

Offensively, freshman LBSU center Gabi Acosta recorded a conference-high 64 goals, winning Big West Player and Freshman of the Year honors. 

After earning an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament as conference champions, The Beach fell 16-11 in the first round to No. 3 Fordham University.

2. Women’s beach volleyball (27-11)

Led by the record-shattering top-flight junior duo of Taylor Hagenah and Malia Gementera, No. 6 women’s beach volleyball won its second conference title in the last three years this season. 

Hagenah/Gementera, who entered the 2025 campaign with already the most pair wins in LBSU history, both reached their 94th individual win in the Big West Tournament this season and now share the top spot in individual wins in program history. 

Against No. 6 Cal Poly San Luis Obispo in the championship final, LBSU needed just one of either Hagenah/Gementera or the pair of freshman Demi Wagdy/senior Megan Widener to win their third sets to clinch the championship.

1. Men’s volleyball (27-3)

The crown jewel of athletics at LBSU, the men’s volleyball team, had another fantastic season under LBSU Athletics Hall of Fame head coach Alan Knipe. 

After coming up just short in the NCAA Championship final on its home court to UCLA in 2024, No. 1 LBSU emerged with a vengeance in 2025. The Beach quickly rose to the top of the NCAA national rankings, a spot they went on to hold through the entire season, and amassed 20 straight wins before losing a game. 

The Beach’s major addition in 2025 was none other than setter Moni Nikolov.

Freshman setter Moni Nikolov (right) sets the ball to junior middle blocker Ben Braun (left) to score against UC San Diego. LBSU took down UCSD 3-0 on April 18. Photo credit: Samuel Chacko

Affectionately nicknamed “The Bulgarian Prince,” the freshman sensation did it all for The Beach this year. Known for his serving prowess, Nikolov led the nation in aces per set at .940, ranked 14th in assists per set at 9.99 and was a force defensively with 77 blocks. 

The most common recipients of Nikolov’s assists were the heavy-hitting pair of opposites, junior Skyler Varga and sophomore Daniil Hershtynovich.

Varga led the team in kills on the year with 250, hitting .377, which was the 14th best percentage in the country, while Hershtynovich was just behind with 245 kills on .354, the 19th best hitting percentage in the country. 

While LBSU was upset by Hawai’i in the Big West Championship game on April 26, it will still enter as the No. 1 seed in the NCAA Championship Tournament, starting on May 8.

Forum Communications Company, headquartered in Fargo, N.D., has acquired the Sioux City, Iowa-based MetroSports TV, and will expand its commitment to sports broadcasting in the Upper Midwest.

MetroSports TV will become Midwest Sports+ with a soon-to-launch streaming app and website

(midwestsportsplus.com).

This new sports media brand aims to connect viewers across all platforms — a destination for fans, families and athletes alike with high-quality sports content and streaming. In addition to digital streaming, games will also be broadcast on KSFL TV in Sioux Falls, KNBN TV in Rapid City, and KCAU in Sioux City, creating a broad regional footprint.

“Our focus will be on high-quality broadcasts so fans can feel close to the action,” said Mary Jo Hotzler, chief content officer for Forum Communications. “We’re excited to be able to showcase our incredible sports reporting and broadcasting talent in this way, too.”

Forum Communications is a family-owned media company with more than 35 newspapers, TV stations, websites and apps across the Upper Midwest. Those include The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead and WDAY TV in Fargo, as well as the WDAY+ streaming app.

In South Dakota, the Mitchell Republic, Sioux Falls Live, KSFL-TV in Sioux Falls and KNBN Newscenter 1 in Rapid City all are part of Forum Communications Company and will also contribute the sports broadcasts for Midwest Sports+.

MetroSports TV, founded in 2017 by retired coach and educator Pat Schiltz, has steadily grown into a trusted name in regional sports broadcasting and a leader in high school sports coverage, bolstered in recent years by partnerships with local TV stations in Sioux Falls and Sioux City. Schiltz will remain with Forum Communications and will be the director of business development for Midwest Sports+.

“Metro Sports TV is delighted to join the Forum Communication Company’s multi-media platform,” Schiltz said. “Forum’s dynamic content team combined with our existing coverage areas is a big win for all the sports viewers in the Upper Midwest.”

The Midwest Sports+ app will go live later this summer and will be available in the app store or through Google Play, Roku, AppleTV and FireTV devices, as well as through Android and IOS mobile devices.

MAAC CHAMPIONSHIPS
May 10-11

Lawrenceville, N.J. | Michael P. Brady Track & Field Complex
 
CHAMPIONSHIP CENTRAL
 
EMMITSBURG, Md. (May 7, 2025) – Mount St. Mary’s track & field begins postseason competition for the outdoor campaign, starting with the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Championships hosted by Rider.
 
MOUNT UPDATE: The Mountaineers competed in 11 meets across the outdoor season, with the highlight as a team coming at the Messiah Invitational, a victory for the women’s team. Emelie Beckman and Madelyn Valpy set records for the pole vault and triple jump, respectively, and both now possess the school mark for both the indoor and outdoor season. In the latest meet at Princeton, Donovan Harrington earned a long jump distance of 7.17 meters, which now leads the MAAC.
 
MOUNTAINEERS IN THE MAAC: Mountaineers have collected 45 times and marks that rank in the top five in the MAAC. 10 of those lead the conference – Abdoulaye Bah (100m), Lucas Koon Perez (200m), Abdulazeez Iyiola (400h), Arran Fahey (Pole Vault), Beckman (Pole Vault), Harrington (Long Jump), Valpy (Triple Jump), Keighan DeCoff (Discus), Brandon Falconer (Javelin), Tierney McCarroll (Javelin). Falconer’s javelin distance of 69.02 meters ranks 33^rd among NCAA Division I competitors.
 
2024 OUTDOOR TRACK & FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS: Last season, the Mount men finished second and the women finished in third. Lorelai Paxton was named Women’s Field Rookie of the Meet, and Will Stephenson won two events.  
 
UP NEXT: Postseason continues with the IC4A/ECAC Championships, beginning on May 16 and hosted by George Mason. NCAA postseason begins at the end of May.    
 

Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love might be the king, according to his fiancée.

Despite falling short in the MPSF semifinals, No. 3 seed UCLA men’s volleyball (20-6, 10-2 MPSF) secured the second at-large bid in this week’s NCAA quarterfinals and will face No. 6 seed Belmont Abbey (17-8, 12-2 Conference Carolinas) on Thursday. Daily Bruin Sports’ men’s volleyball beat predicts how the Bruins will fare as they fight to three-peat as national champions.

Connor Dullinger
Assistant sports editor
Prediction: NCAA champions

I don’t know what to think about this team.

At the end of the regular season, I said the Bruins were “consistently inconsistent.”

[Related: Beat breakdown: UCLA men’s volleyball battles inconsistency in quest to avenge MPSF title]

And I was exactly right to say that.

UCLA won 10 in a row before getting swept by then-No. 13 Grand Canyon on April 4. And following the loss, the Bruins won four consecutive before getting swept again by crosstown rivals USC and falling in five sets to Pepperdine in the MPSF semifinals.

There is no reason why I should believe in UCLA.

But just like I said before: At the MPSF tournament, the best team doesn’t always win, and there isn’t always a fairytale ending.

[Related: UCLA men’s volleyball 2025 MPSF championship predictions]

It is evident that UCLA isn’t the best team in the country, with powerhouses Long Beach State and Hawai’i idling in the bracket.

And the Bruins can be the nightmares to other squads’ championship dreams.

Just as the Bruins surprised me when they fell, they have equally surprised me when they’ve risen again.

And despite my inconsistent assessment of this year’s squad, I said at the beginning of this season that the Bruins have all the makings of a championship-caliber team.

[Related: UCLA men’s volleyball seeks 3-peat championship run amid coach, roster changes]

This is evidenced by four newly honored 2025 AVCA All-Americans in outside hitter duo redshirt junior Cooper Robinson and junior Zach Rama and junior tandem setter Andrew Rowan and middle blocker Cameron Thorne.

Championship genetics reside in every fiber of the Bruins’ veins, cultivated by back-to-back national titles and a nation-leading 21 trophies.

Two weeks ago, I said this team lacks an identity.

Now, I’m saying this could be the year they three-peat.

Lex Wang
Daily Bruin senior staff
Prediction: NCAA champions

In my MPSF tournament takeaways, I wrote that I learned to expect the unexpected.

[Related: Beat Breakdown: Men’s volleyball writers discuss takeaways from the Bruins’ MPSF semifinals loss]

It was a bit of an evasive answer, because who hasn’t seen a top-seeded frontrunner get toppled by the underdog?

It’s a timeless trope that fuels every compelling sports narrative.

But when UCLA unexpectedly failed to get an automatic bid to Columbus, Ohio, I realized this could work in the Bruins’ favor come May.

UCLA can run with the big dogs – that much is clear.

Among the top 10 teams, it defeated then-No. 2 UC Irvine twice in the regular season, who in turn swept No. 1 Long Beach State – the team UCLA would likely face in the national championship – a month later. Furthermore, UCLA took both of its matches against then-No. 7 BYU and defeated Cal State Northridge – who also swept Hawai’i, the team UCLA would probably compete against in the semifinals.

Granted, I’ll admit that UCLA has yet to play Hawai’i since 2023. And, yes, UCLA lost to Long Beach twice while only taking one set combined in both matches.

It’s easy to overlook the sheer amount of talent on the Bruins’ roster when their shortcomings take center stage. But let outside hitter duo redshirt junior Cooper Robinson and junior Zach Rama’s top-30 ranked hitting percentages speak for themselves.

And don’t forget about freshman outside hitter Sean Kelly, who only got to shine for half the season yet still earned an All-MPSF honorable mention. Remember that junior setter Andrew Rowan is the only setter coming to Columbus who has two years of NCAA tournament experience under his belt.

Since UCLA is no longer the top contender and comes into Thursday’s match as the No. 3 seed, viewers seem to largely be anticipating a Long Beach-Hawai’i contest in hopes of a Big West title replay.

I wonder if there’s a chance that the Bruins – arriving as a dark horse – can catch their opponents off guard. And I think with just enough willpower, that answer is yes – and that the Bruins just might be able to hold their own until the end.

Grant Walters
Daily Bruin contributor
Prediction: NCAA champions

An untarnished resume is a mark of success.

But it can also be a sign of a team’s inevitable collapse.

Such is the case with the 2007 New England Patriots – who lost in Super Bowl XLII despite boasting a 16-0 regular season record – or even the 2015 Kentucky Wildcats, who didn’t have a blemish on their record until the Final Four.

Overcoming adversity is something that builds championship DNA, which is what these teams lacked.

And the anguish of defeat is a luxury that often determines a team’s long-term success.

UCLA has been challenged this season, especially with its recent five-set MPSF semifinals loss to Pepperdine on April 25.

However, this has been a persistent theme throughout the season, since the squad experienced growing pains.

First-year coach John Hawks replaced John Speraw, who captured two national championships during his tenure, and program cornerstones middle blocker Merrick McHenry and outside hitter Ethan Champlin began their professional careers abroad.

Even with these moving pieces, the Bruins still accumulated 20 wins and defeated five top-10 teams in the process.

And the Bruins still have the talent to go the distance. Redshirt junior outside hitter Cooper Robinson and junior setter Andrew Rowan – both of whom were staple pieces on the 2024 national championship campaign and are newly minted 2025 AVCA First Team All-Americans – spearhead an efficient Bruin attack that sports the third-best hitting percentage in the nation with a .367 clip.

Yet it is the Bruins’ breakout pin-hitting duo of junior Zach Rama and freshman Sean Kelly that could represent the squad’s X-factors, amassing a combined 132 kills and 15 aces across their last five outings.

UCLA has consistently grown through constant adversity.

And I expect them to answer the call again, especially with their backs against the wall.

Jacob Nguyen
Daily Bruin contributor
Prediction: NCAA runner-up

The Bruins had all the potential in the world to win the MPSF championship.

Coming one game short may have been a decent expectation.

But losing in the semifinals to Pepperdine might have been a punch in the mouth.

UCLA finished the regular season with its worst record since 2021 – a clear sign that the gap between the reigning two-time national champions and everyone else is diminishing.

It would not faze me if the Bruins proved me wrong. However, I initially predicted UCLA would bounce back after being swept in the regular season finale by crosstown rivals USC. The squad’s faltering performance in the MPSF semifinals makes me question whether there’s enough resilience in the tank to three-peat.

[Related: UCLA men’s volleyball 2025 MPSF championship predictions]

Assuming No. 3 seed UCLA trumps No. 6 seed Belmont Abbey, No. 2 Hawai’i likely awaits.

The Bruins haven’t faced the Rainbow Warriors since besting them in the 2023 NCAA finals.

However, precedent is no accurate indicator of another UCLA triumph.

Nonetheless, the Bruins boast a trio of First-Team All-Americans, most notably junior middle blocker Cameron Thorne, who is coming off an 11-kill and six-block performance against the Waves.

UCLA has the chops to beat anyone, especially when you pair Thorne’s production with a trio of outside hitters in redshirt junior Cooper Robinson, junior Zach Rama and freshman Sean Kelly.

But volleyball isn’t like basketball.

Each individual set is a game of its own, and every play can typify a whole outcome.

Although past results from this season do not favor UCLA, there may be enough star power to win it all. Nonetheless, my prediction errs on the safer side.

At least, until the Bruins can prove me wrong.

For the third time this season, Sa’Nijah Houston of the Lindenwood track and field team has been named OVC track athlete of the week as announced by the conference today.

At the Music City Outdoor Challenge last week, Houston broke her own 400 meter school record with a time of 53.71, beating her previous record of 53.79. As a result, she finished second among 33 competitors in the event. That mark is nearly a second faster than the next closest competitor among OVC schools.

Houston, along with Kristen Hendricks, Jyrah Powell, and Chanel Honeywell teamed up to PR in the 4×100 with a time of 46.41 to finish fourth. That time was also good enough to earn the foursome in the events top 10 list at Lindenwood.

The freshman also finished fifth in the 200 meter with a time of 23.99.

Houston and the rest of the Lions will be back in action at the OVC Championships which are set to begin on Thursday, May 15 in Cape Girardeau, Mo.