The562’s coverage of Long Beach State athletics for the 2025-26 season is sponsored by Marilyn Bohl.
On a night Long Beach State celebrated its 2025 NCAA national championship with a banner unveiling, the Beach also offered its biggest glimpse of what could be in store for 2026.
The evening began with a ceremony honoring last year’s title run, as members of the 2025 roster watched a video tribute on the big screen before the championship banner was raised into the rafters. It ended with a 25-18, 25-15, 25-15 sweep of visiting Long Island, as the Beach emptied the bench with 13 different guys getting involved.
“You were able to see all the guys that have put in the hard work behind the scenes and bleed black and gold for Long Beach State,” said coach Nick MacRae. “The goal is to be the best player-led team in the country, and I’m very proud of how all 17 guys have grown as leaders. I’m excited to continue to build this 2026 team.”
Outside of the handful of players who checked in during the final set-and-a-half, the Beach also got a bigger contribution on the outside from Connor Bloom, who has previously been a service specialist. Bloom got the start on Saturday night and took full advantage, recording a match-high 13 kills on .522 hitting.
“It feels great to get a chance and go out there to play some volleyball,” Bloom said after the match. “I was in a position that I don’t normally play in, and I’m just happy to get that opportunity.”
Bloom’s start in place of Alex Kandev on Saturday night is just one example of Long Beach State’s revolving door lineup. At opposite, junior Daniil Hershtynovich has been flipping starts back and forth with freshman Wojciech Gajek, and Hershtynovich had a productive night with eight kills, two aces and four block assists.
Hershtynovich was off and on as a starter last season before eventually going down with a lower-body injury ahead of the Beach’s NCAA tournament run. That experience has helped him prepare for the unique situation of splitting nights with Gajek this season.
“It’s part of the game,” Hershtynovich said. “I learned that last year with my injury and seeing the other side of it. It’s about what I can take in off the court, and it’s kind of the same thing now. There are things I can learn from [Gajek], and when I do start, I can just do my thing with what I’ve picked up.”
Long Beach State received its usual dose of standout senior Skyler Varga, who finished with 12 kills on .474 hitting. Varga also had another strong night from behind the service line with a match-high four aces and several long service runs.
His longest service run of the night came in the first set, when Varga nailed an ace to finish off a seven-point run and give the Beach a seven-point lead. Varga led another five-point run with an ace in the second set to give the Beach an eight point lead.
MacRae used the final set as an opportunity to get a multitude of guys involved, including senior Island Doty at setter. Freshman Myles Jordan came in on the outside with sophomore transfer Braedon Marquardt in the middle, while Dane Hillis also got in the mix at libero with Ryan Peluso as a utility player.
“We’re trying to keep the base as wide as possible for as long as possible,” MacRae said of the depth. “From a coaching standpoint, can some of my guys walk away from this weekend as fresh as possible mentally and physically going into a one-match week next week? And for the guys who are getting the opportunities, it’s about showing that we trust they’ve put in the work and they get the chance to show the entire world.”
The Beach’s one-match week next week comes against its first top-10 opponent of the season in No. 6 Pepperdine. Long Beach State will travel to Malibu for the match on Friday at 7 pm, and won’t be back at the Pyramid until Feb. 6 against UCLA.
“We’re going to be us and prepare the same way we’ve been preparing,” MacRae said. “The next match, whoever the opponent is, is the most important match. That’s how it’ll be the rest of the season. It’s how we attacked last week and how we attacked this week. We’re training and playing with the end in mind, and we’re constantly reevaluating.”
