It’s a rare feat when an athlete is able to secure a championship as a player and a coach. Long Beach State men’s volleyball head coach Alan Knipe has put himself in an elite group by becoming the fifth person to ever win a national championship as a player and[Read More…]
Tag: volleyball
A new dynasty has arrived
From the very first day of practice this year, the Long Beach State men’s volleyball team’s philosophy was to get one to two percent better every day. I’d say the team still isn’t at its best after winning the National Championship, only reaching the halfway point of its true potential.[Read More…]
Long Beach State men’s volleyball wins 2018 NCAA Championship
LOS ANGELES — Fans rushed the court as the Long Beach State men’s volleyball team embraced each other, some with tears of joy streaming down their faces. “It means the world to us,” junior opposite Kyle Ensing said. “Looking back on the last two years and losing in the semi-finals,[Read More…]
Long Beach State breaks two year semi-final curse
LOS ANGELES — Pauley Pavilion went silent, the ball was in play and No. 1 Long Beach State was attempting to end the match for the seventh time in the set. A rally ensued as both teams refused to give in to the match. The ball went to junior setter[Read More…]
Long Beach State senior has one last shot at title
In front of a Walter Pyramid crowd of over 2,200, Long Beach State senior outside hitter Bjarne Huus would rise up and unleash a 60 mph rocket from his right arm. The serve would dive down the left sideline, landing just inside the line for an ace and giving the[Read More…]
Long Beach State setter and opposite take home hardware
A week after being honored with the All-Big West Team awards, juniors Kyle Ensing and Josh Tuaniga added two more trophies to their mantles. Off The Block awarded Ensing with the Bryan Ivie Award, which is given to the best opposite in the nation, while Tuaniga received the Lloy Ball[Read More…]
No. 1 Long Beach looks to finish its season with a championship
The last time Long Beach State won a national championship, Michael Jordan finished his second three-peat with the Chicago Bulls, Google had just launched its search engine and the very first MP3 player was introduced. It’s been 20 years since Long Beach has tasted a national championship, when the[Read More…]
No. 1 Long Beach State sweeps No. 6 Hawaii for Big West Conference title
In what can only be described as redemption, the No. 1 seed Long Beach State men’s volleyball team dismantled the No. 2 seed University of Hawaii Saturday in the Big West tournament championship, pleasing 2,325 fans at the Walter Pyramid. Exactly one week after suffering a brutal five-set loss in[Read More…]
No. 1 Long Beach State headed to Big West Championship
Three methodical steps, a jump and a thunderous swing of the right arm unleashed a 65 mph rocket serve from Long Beach State junior outside hitter TJ DeFalco, leaving opposing libero Emmett Enriques stuck like a deer in headlights as the ball would bite him in the shoulder and shoot[Read More…]
Complete Guide for first Big West Tournament
The Big West men’s volleyball programs have been competing in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation since 1992. But the Big West Conference did not recognize volleyball as a conference sport until May 31 2016, when Big West commissioner Dennis Farrell announced that men’s volleyball would become the 18th sponsored sport[Read More…]