The562’s coverage of Long Beach State athletics for the 2023-24 season is sponsored by Marilyn Bohl.
It became one of the greatest single seasons in NCAA men’s volleyball history when Long Beach State’s Moni Nikolov stepped off the court Monday night—adding a national championship to his already impressive list of accolades from his freshman season. That’s when the question that had loomed all season came to the forefront of his career: Was this the last time we’d see Nikolov in the Black and Gold?
The Bulgarian sensation has gone viral throughout his debut season, with new clips reaching millions of views after each match—played in front of sold-out crowds virtually everywhere the Beach competed. That attention has, of course, reached professional volleyball clubs across the globe, and many have speculated about his departure, expecting him to accept a high-level offer to play professionally.
Just four days after becoming a national champion, Nikolov confirmed those speculations, taking to Instagram to announce his departure from Long Beach State. Nikolov has not announced where he’ll continue his volleyball career.
“Every moment here has mattered. And leaving with a national title is more than I could’ve asked for. With gratitude and pride, thank you, Long Beach,” he wrote.
“It’s always exciting for your players to take any and all opportunities that will allow them to expect greatness in their life. That’s what our program is built on,” said LBSU coach Alan Knipe. “At this point, the options he has available to him are those that very few athletes get. As much as Long Beach State and myself would love to see him stick around and compete for us, he gets the opportunity to fulfill another one of his dreams and get himself ready to try and qualify for the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028. I’m excited for him and what lies in front of him.”
Knipe has seen this story pan out before—when Nikolov’s older brother, Alex, went one-and-done at Long Beach State as a freshman in 2022. Together, the brothers have left behind a remarkable legacy at the Beach, becoming the only two players in NCAA history to win AVCA National Player of the Year honors as freshmen.
Both brothers also walked away with AVCA Newcomer of the Year and Big West Player of the Year honors. Moni added NCAA All-Tournament MVP honors to his resume on Monday night, capping off an incredible era of Nikolov volleyball in Long Beach.
“It speaks for itself,” Knipe said of the brothers’ accomplishments. “There are two players in NCAA history who achieved Player of the Year and Newcomer of the Year in the same season. They’re both from Long Beach State, and they’re both from the same family. Enough said. It’s a very special feat.”
It was Moni’s 6-foot-10 frame and remarkable athleticism at the setter position that made him the face of volleyball in the country this year. His soft hands, capable of delivering pinpoint sets, combined with the imposing height and physicality of an outside hitter, made him a nightmare for opposing teams.
Nikolov steps away from the NCAA scene after leading the Beach to a nation-best .398 hitting percentage. He finished fourth in the nation in assists this year with 1,030 (10 per set), while also averaging 1.56 kills per set. Nikolov also recorded the fastest serve in NCAA history at 84 mph, and became the new single-season aces record holder. He finished with 106 aces—breaking Curtis Abram’s 2011 record in 15 fewer sets.
“I think this was the most impactful season anyone’s been able to have,” Knipe said. “What he was able to do from the end line to the new reinvention of what the setting position looks like…The other side is the attention to men’s volleyball and the sellout arenas throughout the country that we played in. I think its gonna be hard for someone to find a player with a bigger impact in one season. And to do that in your freshman year is even more spectacular.”
After his championship win on Monday night, Nikolov called it “the best year of my life,” he told ESPN. Today, Nikolov took to social media to thank his coaches, the fans, and his teammates, whom he refers to as his brothers.
“Dear Long Beach,” he wrote. “From day one, you gave me the tools to succeed on the court. I leave here not just with a championship, but with growth, perspective, and lifelong memories.”
The departure closes the door on the Nikolov era, during which the brothers set a new standard for what had already been one of the best programs in the nation. Many will now remember the Beach because of the Nikolovs, just as the Nikolovs will always remember the Beach. Take it from their father:
“At Long Beach, Alex and Moni were truly satisfied with everything,” he said. “The coaching staff, the teachers, the whole campus, and the people—everything. They love the Long Beach family.”
