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Left (No. 8) freshman Jette Estes, center (No. 4) senior outside hitter Skyler Varga and right (No. 17) senior outside hitter Dane Hillis watch as the 2025 National Championship banner is displayed for the first time at the LBS Financial Credit Union Pyramid before its match against LIU on Jan. 24.
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Construction workers dig up the former Friendship Walk space in front of the University Student Union on Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026. Workers broke ground on the area at the start of the academic year and is projected to be finished by 2028.
ETHAN COHEN/ Long Beach Current
Friendship Walk Stairs delayed again, completion date now uncertain
BY ANNETTE QUIJADA News Editor
Completion of the Friendship Walk Stairs has been pushed back once again.
The stairs were part of the first step of the Future U project when the renovations first began in April 2025.
Problems began during early construction when an old water valve ruptured, was replaced and resolved, but then came a waterline.
On Dec. 5, 2025, the Long Beach Current reported the dis-
covery of a city-owned waterline during excavation, which temporarily halted construction.
Previously, Melissa Soto, manager of Capital Project Development, had said she hoped to have the issue resolved in the coming weeks.
Lisa Salgado, Capital Projects Manager for Design and Construction Services, said the primary delay of the stairs was due to outdated information regarding the location of the city waterline.
“During construction, we discovered that the waterline ran through the existing Friendship
land acknowlEdgmEnt
Stairs, not at the location recorded on the as-built drawings,” Salgado said. “Because this waterline serves both the campus and the surrounding community, we were required to notify the City of Long Beach before performing any work.”
After several meetings with the city, Salgado said once the actual location of the waterline was identified, they determined that rerouting the line was the best long-term solution to minimize interference with the stairs construction.
Click here for full story.
Here at the Long Beach Current we acknowledge that the school we report on is located on the sacred site of Puvungna, “the gathering place.” We are on the land of the Tongva/ Gabrieleño and the Acjachemen/Juaneño Nations who have lived and continue to live here.
We also acknowledge the Gabrieleño/Tongva (pronounced: GABRIEL-EN-YO/TONG – VAH) and Acjachemen/Juaneño (pronounced: AH-HACH-AH-MEN/JUAN-EN-YO) as the traditional custodians of the Los Angeles region along with the Chumash (pronounced: CHOO-MOSH) to the north and west, and the Tataviam (pronounced: TAH-TAH-VEE-YUM) and Cahuilla (pronounced: KAH-WEE-YAH) Nations to the east.
We respect and value the many ways the Tongva/Acjachemen cultural heritage and beliefs continue to have significance to the living people and remind us about the sacred and spiritual relationship that has always existed here at what we now call California State University Long Beach.
Editorials: All opinions expressed in the columns, letters and cartoons in the issue are those of the writers or artists. The opinons of the Long Beach Current are expressed only in unsigned editorials and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the journalism department or the views of all staff members. All such editorials are written by the editorial board of the Long Beach Current.
lEttEr Policy: All letters and emails must bear the phone number of the writer and must be no more than 300 words. The Long Beach Current reserves the right to edit letters for publication in regard to space.
Monday, January 26, 2026
University police report details safety improvements, new precautions for 2026
BY ETHAN BROWN News Assistant
The University Police Department recently released a new Campus Safety Plan for 2026, outlining 2025 improvements and upcoming safety precautions, including upgraded LED lighting in the Pyramid parking structure and cellular tower enhancements.
The UPD has taken in the last 18 months to increase safety and improvements, including:
• Adding two cameras to the G12 parking lot.
• Replacing the fire alarm system in the Bickerstaff Academic Center and the Beachside housing facility.
• Conducting shelter-in-place, evacuation and earthquake drills on campus
• Providing 150 safety workshops and trainings on topics including sexual
assault prevention, alcohol poisoning, bystander intervention, healthy relationships, violence prevention, active shooter response, fire safety and personal safety.
Projected changes in safety precautions during the next 24 months:
• Providing Safety Escorts to students through the Community Service Officer program.
• Conducting pedestrian and wheeled vehicle safety education programs.
• Conducting one RAD self-defense class each semester.
Fire alarm systems replacement
Replacements to fire alarm systems were made in the Bickerstaff Academic Center and the Beachside housing facility.
Capital Project Development manager Melissa Soto said the fire alarm systems were outdated and needed replacement.
“We also made them consistent with campus standards,” Soto said.
Safety Drills
UPD hosted over 150 training sessions in 2025 for students, staff and faculty, including active shooter, earthquake and first aid workshops, as well as self-defense training—spaced out from the first week to the last week of the semester.
Safety Workshops
An additional safety event is ASI’s NightWalk, where students and the police department collaborate to improve Beachgoers’ sense of security on campus.
“Everyone is invited to meet after hours, once the sun has gone down,” Joy said. “They divvy up into teams and see the campus through a night lens, so students can give input.”
Other accomplishments
“Although it isn’t listed in our CSP, a positive recent outcome has been our CAST program,” said Allyson Joy, the UPD’s Emergency Preparedness Manager.
The two full-time social workers representing the Campus Assessment & Stabilization Team, embedded in the police program, responded to almost 650 calls in 2025.
“Around 2021 or 2022, we realized that not every call for service is best suited with an armed police officer,” Joy said. “Many students come to us with acute mental health crises.”
A soft interview room and community outreach office has created a less intimidating space for students to come to
A Long Beach State UPD officer helps guide foot traffic from within their vehicle, outside the Beach Shops Vendor Parking lot on Jan 22. CHARLOTTE LOCICERO/ Long Beach Current
the police station with questions. Officers also used new VR equipment for training in 2025.
New Axon VR equipment allows UPD officers to mimic real-life scenarios as part of their training.
“Instead of clicking through PowerPoints, this prepares them realistically,” Joy said.
Finally, an unlisted positive outcome from 2025 is the introduction of a mechanism that simulates a real-life lockdown in the form of a digital toolkit accessible to all faculty members.
Pending issues
The 2025 Clery Report showed e-bike and e-scooter theft as a major area of concern, and the UPD encourages CSULB students to register their bikes, thereby obtaining a free U-lock.
“During my time here, each year it has become pretty predictable that bike theft is our number one issue,” Joy said, adding that such petty theft is preferred to violent crimes.
“It is the same thing as registering your car,” Joy said. “If it is stolen, your bike is in a database, so we can track and retrieve your bike.” Bike registration will not prevent students’ bikes from being stolen, but U-lock education will. There is a right and wrong way to put on the U-lock.
“Do not just attach the U-lock around the wheel—attach it to the whole frame,” Joy said.
What’s new on campus this spring? Billiards, food and more seating
BY JOSHUA FLORES News Assistant
Associated Students, Inc. are making some changes to improve the student experience this semester by revamping existing food options, adding two pool
tables and expanding both indoor and outdoor seating.
Changes coming to The Habit and Coastal Coffee
Iraida Venegas, director of commercial business and service operations for ASI, said current vendors Coastal Coffee and The Habit will receive changes to improve their services.
The Habit, originally a food truck on upper campus, is now a full trailer with further adjustments to come. The trailer will make operational adjustments to make it easier for workers to provide for students.
The Habit’s trailer will also receive a wrap so its appearance shows it is associated with the Habit rather than being plain.
The Habit also hopes to expand its hours of operation to 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. from its original 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. timeframe. Once these changes are made, the trailer plans to serve breakfast, according to Venegas.
Coastal Coffee, which opened early December near the College of Business on lower campus, will remain a permanent coffee option after the completion
of the USU, and is also receiving new wrapping and additional seating.
New tables and seating options
ASI announced in an email to students earlier this month that they added 32 tables and 64 chairs outdoors to give students more places to eat and study.
New seating is now available near:
• McIntosh Building
• Liberal Arts 1 Courtyard
• The Habit Grill trailer area
• Beach Circle
• The Nugget Grill Express trailer area
• Outside the Student Recreation & Wellness Center
Indoor study and seating options have also expanded at the:
• SRWC (7 a.m. to 4 p.m.)
• Peterson Hall 1 study halls
• Peterson Hall 1 lecture halls
• Second floor of the Bookstore
• University Library
• Horn Center
• The Outpost
Indoor seating will also be expanded when it rains. ASI said they will reserve additional spaces across campus and pro-
vide the locations in advance.
“I think it’s good, necessary kind of, because all the outside spaces are wet, so we need somewhere to plug in our computers and stuff,” second-year biomedical engineering major Natalia Casiano said. “With [the USU] I don’t think there was as much [seating] as before, so I think that opening of the classrooms is way better.”
ASI maintains a running list of indoor and outdoor seating for both lower and upper campus, as well as available spaces during rainy weather. When it rained on Jan. 22, the following spaces were available to students:
• Horn Center 133 — 8 a.m. to noon
• Language Arts 128 — 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Peterson Hall 1 214 — 7:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.
• Peterson Hall 1 231 — 7:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.
• Social Science Public Affairs 112 — Noon to 4 p.m.
Click here for full story
Federally Insured by NCUA
BY ANGELA OSORIO Copy Editor
Food options are constantly fluctuating on campus.
Since the closure of the University Student Union and a forced farewell to campus favorites like El Pollo Loco, the Nugget and Carl’s Jr., Long Beach State has toiled to feed growing student demand.
But several students (and professors) say it’s not enough – and that quality or price options just aren’t sustainable.
To satisfy your hunger pangs and guide you toward the best (and affordable) eats on and near campus, the Current is launching Bites at The Beach, a new series covering the culinary landscape at CSULB.
To kick off our series, here’s a master list of all the food and drink spots on campus this semester, from sit-down eateries and pop-up vendors to vending machines and grab-and-go convenience shops.
Nugget Grill Express
Lower Campus – Near Human Health Services Lawn
Price range: $3.29 to $12.99
Since the historic Nugget’s devastating closure last fall, the Nugget Grill Express has faithfully served students on lower campus, offering a smaller menu but with many of the same items, including breakfast burritos, chicken sandwiches and the classic tenders and tater nuggets.
The only downside? No cocktails at this truck.
Hours:
Monday: Closed
Tuesday–Thursday: 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday: 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Saturday–Sunday: Closed Higher Taste Plant-Based
Upper Campus – Near Liberal Arts breezeway
Price range: $4.95 to $10.95 for bagels, $7.95 to $11.95 for acai bowls
REHANSA KULATILLEKE/ Long Beach Current Pop-up vendor Higher Taste, Plant-Based offers a variety of acai bowls including “Berry Good,” an acai base topped with granola, banana, goji berries, coconut shreds, hemp seeds and peanut butter drizzle.
The 100% vegan restaurant made its pop-up debut on upper campus last semester, with acai bowls that quickly became a campus favorite, as well as veggie bowls. While the acai continues to sell, the veggie bowls are now replaced by bagel sandwiches, with options ranging from a BTLA with plant-based bacon to a breakfast bagel with plant-based egg, jalapeno schmear, hashbrown and tomato.
Hours:
Monday–Thursday: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Coastal Coffee
Lower Campus – Near College of Business
Price range: $3.25 to $6.95 for drinks
The newest coffee addition to CSULB, Coastal Coffee serves up Starbucks coffee with traditional menu items including lattes, mochas, iced tea and refreshers, as well as breakfast and pastries.
Hours:
Monday: Closed
Tuesday–Thursday 7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Friday: 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Saturday–Sunday: Closed
Click here for full story.
Pop. Art. Critique: In the Court of the Orange King
BY DELFINO CAMACHO Arts and Life Editor
Wanted to start by saying Stephen King is having a moment, but that’s not quite accurate.
King has never really faded. The 78-year-old author remains as relevant as ever with three of his works (“The Running Man,” “The Monkey,” and “The Long Walk”) adapted for film last year and the TV series “IT: Welcome to Derry” becoming both a critical and commercial hit.
Even CSULB caught King fever last semester, with Cal Rep producing “Carrie: The Musical,” based on his debut novel.
For over 50 years, since he first splattered onto the literary scene in 1974, King’s work has stayed firmly in the mainstream. Famously prolific, with 67 novels and 200 short stories, his output is only part of the reason.
Best known for the terror he produces, King is equally skilled at crafting sharp character studies of human behavior. I’d argue that insight is just as responsible for his enduring popularity.
King’s characters are dense and thanks to his overwriting tendencies, readers feel like they know them. Even when their actions are questionable or disturbing, his prose makes their logic – twisted or not – comprehensible.
He’s not called a master storyteller for nothing.
While it’s not my favorite of his works, I’ve been thinking about his 1979 novel “The Dead Zone.”
A supernatural thriller, it centers on Johnny Smith, who awakens from a coma with the ability to see the future through touch, and Greg Stillson, a dangerously unstable politician. After shaking Stillson’s hand at a rally, Johnny foresees a future in which Stillson becomes president, triggering nuclear war and decides to stop him.
Much has already been written about the similarities between Stillson and modern political figures, so I won’t rehash that.
Instead, I keep thinking about the climax (spoilers).
Johnny attempts to assassinate Stillson but fails and is killed, but his sacrifice isn’t meaningless. Stillson uses a child as a human shield, is photographed, and his campaign collapses overnight.
In 1979, the most unbelievable part of the story was predicting the future. In 2026, it’s the idea that people would turn on their candidate for any reason. Today, we’d likely see political commentators explaining why that behavior is “fine, actually.”
“The Dead Zone” ends on a hopeful note: Johnny dies, but a collective sense of decency saves the world.
Our current reality feels too bewildering for even a Stephen King book–and isn’t that a scary thought?
Graphic by DANTE ESTRADA/Long Beach Current
ARTS & LIFE
First week back brings spring showers, fresh starts
HERNANDEZ
Photo Assistant
The spring semester at Long Beach State kicked into full throttle on Tuesday, Jan. 20, as students arrived on campus for the first day of class sessions.
Students poured onto campus by foot, bus, bike, and car, heading to class with anticipation of their new weekly routines.
The first week of each semester is always marked by heavy campus congestion, with crowded parking lots and busy walkways, compounded by light showers later in the week.
Kathy Nguyen, a communications transfer from Orange Coast College, began her CSULB journey on Tuesday. Nguyen found her way in her first classes with help from SOAR members.
“I’m gonna walk a lot, the parking
STORY AND PHOTOS BY JORGE
ARTS & LIFE
was bad, but I’m kinda excited,” Nguyen said. “I’m still trying to explore around and see where my classes are.”
With the University Student Union and other areas of campus still under construction, many students arrived early to secure parking and avoid missing their morning or early-afternoon classes. Some students bundled up in winter clothing as they trekked toward upper campus.
From early birds to rush-hour commuters, as students arrived, they were greeted with complimentary campus activities and food, including free balloon art and resources from Long Beach State programs and sororities.
Jose Hernandez Flores, an accounting sophomore, arrived on campus to avoid traffic before his 11 a.m. class.
“I found there was no traffic at all, ” Hernandez Flores said. “I expect there’s been greater parking since last semester. It was kinda rough with all the construction going on.”
Clockwise from bottom left, Students walks towards lower campus near West Campus Drive as they finish their classes on Jan. 20, during the first day of the 2026 spring semester. | Students pass by the College of Business on Jan. 22, during the first week of the 2026 spring semester as rainfall rolls in. | Students at upper campus quad were offered balloon art by CSULB staff on Jan. 20, celebrating the first day of the 2026 spring semester. | Students donning winter apparel walk toward upper campus on Jan. 20, as the 2026 spring semester begins in full swing.
Photos by JORGE HERNANDEZ/Long Beach Current
Cal Rep’s spring reprise offers cabarets, crabby clowns and more
BY DELFINO CAMACHO Arts and Life Editor
Along with returning classes, spring 2026 brings a return to theater at Long Beach State with Cal Rep, the university’s student-centric, professional stage company, unveiling the four shows making up their new season.
Cal Rep General Coordinator and theater management graduate student Perla Barajas was part of the Theater Department’s season selection advisory board last year and helped finalize this fall and spring semester’s lineup
Barajas said last semester’s broad theme of “retelling classics” carried over to this season’s four productions.
“It might not apply to all the shows, [but] it feels like we’re retelling classics, sometimes it feels like we’re modernizing stories,” Barjas said. “We’re just trying to have a twist on fairy tales.”
LOVE NOTES
Opens: Feb. 12 | Director: Kari Hayter | Musical Direction: Anthony Zediker | Writer: Various
Just in time for Valentine’s Day, Love Notes, the first show of the season, serves as an evening cabaret.
Light on narrative, the show is instead a musical showcase of classic tunes with a “burlesque, jazz club vibe.”
“The first show in the semester is a great way for people to try something new,” Barajas said. “There will be a lot of singing, a lot of romantic songs. So if
people have friends, family, or just loved ones, this is the show to go to.”
The full cast boasts seven student actors singing and improvising for laughs including Bobby Brannon and Aya Sherian, both of which had prominent singing roles in last semester’s Carrie: The Musical.
THE ASSEMBLY WOMEN
Opens: Feb. 26 | Director: Sunder Ganglani | Writer: Aristophanes | Adapted by Sunder Ganglani and Kate Attwell
Based on an ancient Greek comedy written by Aristophanes in 391 B.C. Assemblywomen, as adapted by Ganglani and Attwell puts a queer, contemporary spin on the already humorously progressive original work.
The adaptation follows the basic plot of the original satire in which Athenian women take control of their city, wherein they immediately introduce sexual equality and ban private property.
The adaptation mixes in a queer reimagining to the civic power takeover.
Local theater fans may recognize director Ganglani as the artistic director of local non-profit Corner Stone Theater Company.
After having watched all of Cal Rep’s productions as of last year, Ganglani was eager to collaborate and was invited in by CSULB professor and Cornerstone Theater Company managing director Megan Wanlass. Written by a friend and colleague of Ganglani’s, the show promises improvisational opportunities.
“The actual show that they’re doing on stage, he wants it to be different ev -
CHARLOTTE LOCICERO/Long Beach Current
The CalRep Theatre Company set up banner displays showcasing their four new stage productions premiering this spring semester.
ery single night,” Barajas said. “Kate Attwell wrote the entire thing, but students cast in the show have the opportunity to scoot ahead or stay back in the scene and improvise a little bit. It’s a lot more fluid of a show, very different to anything that we’ve done here.”
CRABS IN A BUCKET
Opens: March 18 | Director: Carolina Montenegro and Turner Munch | Writer: Bernardo Cubría
The third play of the season tells the story of Amargo and Pootz, two crabs living their best (or worst?) life inside a literal bucket.
The childishly simple premise and set production hides a deceptively sharp satire that ruminates on themes of herd mentality, jealousy and bitterness.
The show incorporates clowning in a literal sense, giving students the opportunity to stretch their funny physicality.
“It’s a clowning show, it’s just a few actors and there’s going to be puppets alongside our real actors so it’s funny obviously,” Barajas said. “But there’s also a lot of philosophical questions, like, ‘Why do we tear each other apart when we could lift each other up?’”
Written by a Hispanic playwright, Bernardo Cubría, the stage book fea-
tures Spanglish dialogue throughout.
Staged in the seldom-used Players Theatre, a black box theater that seats less than 100, the production promises to be an intimate one. Claws up.
THE PLIANT GIRLS
Opens: April 23 | Director: Beth Lopes | Writer: Megan Brown
The second show of the season, The Pliant Girls, is a woman-centered reimagining of The Suppliants by Aeschylus, originally performed in 463 B.C.
In both plays, a group of women seek to escape mass imposed marriages to their concerns.
But while the original text has the women seeking other men as their saviors, in The Pliant Girls, 50 sisters scheme to escape their forced annulment fate on their own – by any means necessary.
The modern adaptation spotlights five of the sister characters, focusing on their character dynamics to explore themes of feminism.
“It’s contemporary, it’s funny and I think it flips the ancient Greek drama tragedy into something bold and kind of feminist rebellion,” Barajas said. “If you think about it, everyone’s just trying to be free in times of hardship, which I think is also pretty on topic.”
Graphic by STEPHANIE MORALES/Long Beach Current
BY BETHANY PRICE Guest
Ihave been on staff at Long Beach State for more than 26 years and have received commendable or exemplary performance reviews during the approximately 22 years I have served in my current position. During that time, there have been no merit-based raises or any salary changes in recognition of my excellent work as the College of the Arts Communications Coordinator. The raises I have received came only through strong negotiations as part of the CSU
Partial raises aren’t enough for CSU’s tenured staff
Employees Union’s collective bargaining agreement.
Because the CSU system continuously “cries poor,” there have been years and years of stagnant salaries with no growth for its staff. For the past 30 years, the Chancellor’s Office and Board of Trustees refused to implement the kind of merit-based annual salary increases that are standard for every other state agency in California. We call them “steps,” and we were promised them in the current contract, negotiated and signed in 2023, which expires on June 30.
Importantly, staff did not negotiate only for steps going forward, but for a
“Full Implementation of Steps.” This was designed to make workers like me, who have remained loyal to the CSU, “whole” after decades without the gradual salary increases that should have occurred over time.
Full implementation would raise my salary by more than $700 per month, bringing my pay closer to comparable positions in the private sector and at other institutions of higher education.
Instead, CSU is refusing to honor full implementation. It has opted for a partial implementation that moves employees only one step up the salary scale. Under this approach, I receive about $100
YOUR GRADUATE CONGRATULATE
more per month—roughly $600 less than what full implementation would provide. That difference has real consequences for my family’s ability to pay rent, maintain
The CSU Chancellor’s Office and Board of Trustees must stop hiding behind legal maneuvers and political delays. It is time for CSU to keep its promise and fully implement salary steps for its staff.
OPINION
Apple or Samsung? I’d rather pick a flip phone
BY EMANUEL GUADARRAMA
Contributor
When it comes to which phone is best, the argument tends to boil down to Apple versus Samsung. Every year, there is no shortage of reviews comparing the latest iPhone with the latest Galaxy S series
Personally, I have always liked buying a new phone once every two years, which, financially speaking, is probably not the best idea.
In the grand scheme of things, after cycling through numerous different phone brands growing up, my top choice would be Samsung; specifically, the Z Flip 5, released in 2023, which is the best phone I’ve ever owned.
My timeline with phones started at 9 years old, when I bought an iPhone 4 without cell service. Then, I bounced around between Android and iOS devices throughout middle and high school.
At some point, besides the iPhone, I had a touchscreen Nokia phone, an HTC, an LG and a Motorola. They all ran on Android; yet, each had its own style and personality. Nearly all of them are either discontinued or irrelevant in the U.S. today.
Eventually, I settled with Samsung. I started with an A23, but the phone that truly won me over is the Z Flip 5. The flipping mechanism alone is satisfying,
REHANSA KULATILLEKE/Long Beach Current
While Apple is beloved by many, Samsung’s high level of personalization has allowed the brand to nurture a cult following, one that is far removed from contrarianism.
especially when hanging up a call. It takes me back to when I would borrow my mom’s flip phone as a kid.
When folded, it is a pocket-friendly square with a fully functional back screen on the top half side. The back screen has its own separate live wallpaper and can be used to check notifications, send texts, control music and even play videos or shows on YouTube or Netflix.
When flipped open, some can even use it as a makeshift Game Boy, running emulators to play games such as “Pokémon.” Although I never used it much for gaming, the idea alone showcases the phone’s versatility.
The only downside for me was the narrow display ratio, which made texting annoying and finding good phone cases a hassle.
Regardless, if someone were to ask me today which device I enjoy most, I’d say the Flip 5 without hesitation—even though I’m currently using the more powerful S24 Ultra.
However, neither Apple nor Samsung is without its faults. In 2024, Apple paid a $500 million settlement after it was accused of slowing down older iPhone models through software updates.
In 2025, Samsung faced heavy criticism after reports surfaced of pre-installed, unremovable spyware linked to a third-party app from Israel.
It’s been found only in the A and M models sold specifically in the West Asia and North Africa regions. It upset many Samsung users, including me, and even led to calls for a boycott of all Samsung products.
As a longtime Android user, I’ll admit that I’m a little envious of some iPhone-only features, including iMessage games and the convenience of AirDrop and NameDrop. Samsung has its own Quickshare feature, but it’s nowhere near as good as AirDrop.
A phone choice should ultimately depend on individual needs and preferences. For me, the Z Flip 5 remains my top choice and recommendation, but only if it’s within budget, as the price for a new one can range from $750 to $1,000.
I choose to stay with Samsung because it represents what drew me to Android platforms years ago—versatility, personality and the ability to make the phone truly feel like my own personal device.
LBSU falls just short of second-half comeback against UC Santa Barbara
BY JUNIOR CONTRERAS
Sports Assistant
Long Beach State men’s basketball fell just short of a major comeback victory against UC Santa Barbara in a nail-biting 74-71 loss in front of 2,351 at LBS Financial Credit Union Pyramid on Saturday, Jan. 24.
Back-to-back tough layups at the final two-minute mark from UCSB freshman guard CJ Shaw put the Gauchos ahead four late, quieting the home crowd before The Beach cut the deficit to three with the final possession in their hands.
LBSU star freshman guard Gavin Sykes drew a double team from the Gaucho defenders, finding LBSU sophomore forward Petar Majstorovic open for a wing three that fell short of the overtime-forcing make, as The Beach could not complete the 15-point comeback win.
“We don’t believe in moral victories at all but that was really the tale of two different teams,” LBSU head coach Chris Acker said. “One team was the team in the first half that we’re trying to avoid being for every game that we play moving forward, and then in the second half, we were the team we’re trying to become, so the goal is to be that team in the second half for 40 minutes and that’s what we’re chasing.”
After dropping 26 points to lead all scorers in the previous meeting between UCSB and LBSU, Gauchos senior guard Aidan Mahaney picked up where he left off against The Beach, scoring the first four of six for UCSB.
Both teams came out the gates shooting efficiently from the field as they both shot above 50% past the halfway mark in the first half as LBSU trailed 20-15.
Mahaney kickstarted an 8-0 UCSB run with a wing three, shooting perfect from the field, as LBSU found two empty trips, leading to the Gauchos taking a commanding 28-15 lead.
Similar to their previous matchup, the Gaucho defense had Sykes quiet in the first half, as the freshman guard
found his first points of the game with just four minutes left in the half.
A lack of production from LBSU’s offensive leader, who is battling against an injury, held The Beach behind the Gauchos as Mahaney stayed perfect.
A top of the key three from Mahaney led to another by a way of his own steal, extending UCSB’s lead to 44-29.
Leading by 15, the Gauchos finished the half shooting just under 60% from the field and beyond the arc, demonstrating why they have been the most efficient offense in the Big West this season.
Through their first 20 games, the Gauchos rank first in the conference in field goal percentage at 49% and first in three-point field goal percentage at 39%.
Mahaney finally showed he was human by opening the second half with his first miss of the night, as Majstorovic began to catch fire for LBSU, scoring backto-back and-one layups, causing UCSB head coach Joe Pasternack to slam and break his clipboard during a timeout.
“At halftime, we saw that we wasn’t playing with our heart…after we started playing harder, we started playing defense more, so we got more opportunities in transition, and when we start getting in transition, I feel like nobody can stop us honestly,” Majstorovic said.
Majstorovic continued to look unreal as he scored nine straight for The Beach before a three from LBSU graduate student Shaquil Bender capped off a 10-3 run to cut the lead to 10.
A tough jumper from LBSU junior guard Isaiah Lewis, who finished the game with a season-high 16 points, and a wing three from Majstorovic cut the lead to five.
Pasternack was forced to call another UCSB timeout as Majstorovic turned to the student section screaming and flexing as the momentum began to shift into The Beach’s hands.
Goaltending from LBSU freshman forward Dallas Washington put The Beach down 10 before five-straight from Bender led to a 7-0 run capped off by a
LBSU sophomore forward Petar Majstorovic tries to dribble past Santa Barbara guard Miro Little. UCSB defeated LBSU with a final score of 74-71 on Jan. 24 at the LBS Financial Credit Union.
layup from freshman forward Leopold Levillan as LBSU cut the deficit to 65-62.
Levillan found Bender open for three to tie the game at 67, sending the thousands in attendance into a frenzy as The Beach clawed all the way back from down 15 with just two minutes remaining.
Majstorovic fell just short of the game-tying three as UCSB held on to defeat LBSU, 74-71.
Acker reflected on his team’s resilience postgame.
“The one thing about this group
that I love is that they like each other a lot, they really enjoy being around each other, and so I know, I can come in and challenge them like I did at halftime, and they’ll respond,” Acker said.
Although Acker was “excited” to see his team give themselves the opportunity at the end of the game to win, he wants his team to perform how they did in the second half, through the whole game.
The Beach has the opportunity to do that on the road next at UC Riverside on Thursday, Jan. 29.
REHANSA KULATILLEKE/Long Beach Current
SPORTS
Turnovers sink The Beach in rivalry loss to Fullerton Titans
BY JUNIOR CONTRERAS
Sports Assistant
The season’s struggles continue for Long Beach State women’s basketball, as 35 turnovers helped Cal State Fullerton build control in an 84-66 cross-town rivalry defeat on Thursday, Jan. 22, at the LBS Financial Credit Union Pyramid.
Taking on the no.1 offense in the Big West, The Beach (2-16) flipped the script on the Titans (10-9) as LBSU, which ranks worst offensively in the Big West, shot a perfect 6-6 in the first five minutes, leading the Titans, 14-10.
A steal and lay from CSUF sophomore forward and Long Beach native Cristina Jones, who sits fifth in the nation with 68 steals, began a 5-0 run from the Titans after a corner three from CSUF graduate student guard Kya Pearson gave her team a 15-14 lead.
Finishing the quarter on a 10-2 run, LBSU shot an efficient 71% as they led, 24-17, to end the first, withholding a 10-point quarter from Pearson on an effective 80%. The Titans had nine points off nine turnovers from The Beach, not capitalizing fully on their opportunities.
The Titans’ full-court pressure did not create diamonds for The Beach, as LBSU went scoreless for the first five minutes of the second half, allowing Fullerton to go on a 12-0 run and take a 2924 lead.
“They switched their press a little bit, he’s [CSUF head coach John Bonner] got about four presses that he runs, so we were trying to make adjustments, I had to go to my bench because of some foul trouble…I think that kind of led to some quick turnovers,” LBSU head coach Amy Wright said.
With four minutes left in the second, LBSU freshman forward Rosie Akot scored the first points of the quarter with a corner three, as LBSU trailed just two after finding no offensive success.
The Beach lost control as they went three-straight possessions with a turnover, allowing the Titans to finish the quarter on an 8-0 run, and going into the half with a 48-38 lead.
The Beach struggled to adjust to the Titans’ full-court press, as they forced 12 turnovers in the second quarter, resulting in 14 points off turnovers.
CSUF found LBSU’s weakness and kept attacking the wound, as turnovers became nonstop for The Beach.
CHARLOTTE LOCICERO/Long Beach
Current LBSU sophomore guard JaQuoia Jones-Brown shoots a layup during a rivalry matchup against the Fullerton Titans on Jan. 22 at the LBS Financial Credit Union Pyramid.
“We have to get better individually, we have to get better with pressure, we have to want the ball, we have to be more fundamental, and you know that’s on me, and I have to teach these kids how to be more fundamentally sound,” Wright said.
LBSU had a total of eight turnovers in a span of four minutes before The Beach finished the quarter with 11 turnovers, as the Titans had 41 points off turnovers, leading 73-56 into the fourth.
The deficit was too much for The Beach to come back from as Akot led
LBSU in scoring with 16 points and one rebound short of a double-double in the 84-66 rivalry defeat.
“At the end of the day, you’re not going to beat anybody with 35 turnovers… you cut those in half, it’s a three-point game,” Wright said.
Wright believes there is still time for the team to turn the season around as LBSU falls to 2-16 and sits 10th out of 11 in the Big West.
The Beach will travel the road to take on the UC Santa Barbara Gauchos on Saturday, Jan. 24.
Catching the Wave: Today’s legends and tomorrow’s case for induction
BY TIMOTHY HESSEN Sports Editor
Long Beach State officially welcomed seven new inductees to its illustrious Hall of Fame on Wednesday, Jan. 21.
In celebration of the rich history of the university’s athletic programs, LBSU’s 2026 Hall of Fame class was headlined by former Beach stars like Abe Alvarez and James Ennis.
Abe Alvarez - Baseball: Alvarez is a shining example of what makes an LBSU Hall of Famer.
While the criteria for induction include both collegiate success at The
Beach and post-collegiate success at the Olympic or professional level, Alvarez meets both.
The star Dirtbag was a back-to-back Big West Pitcher of the Year in 2002 and 2003, and then went on to win a World Series in the majors with the Boston Red Sox in 2004.
James Ennis - Men’s Basketball:
For The Beach’s men’s basketball program, Ennis was a major needle-mover.
Ennis played on an LBSU team that won consecutive Big West titles in the 2011-2012 and 2012-2013 seasons, and was named Big West Player of the Year in the latter year.
Ennis was then a very successful role
player as a defensive wing in the NBA, playing in 395 games over eight seasons.
While this year’s Hall of Fame class takes its well-earned bow, it’s not too early to throw a name in the hat for 2027.
My pick for 2027:
A hometown kid raised in Long Beach before playing for the Dirtbags, Matt Duffy is a name that would fit right into the LBSU Hall of Fame.
While Duffy’s most notable collegiate achievement was a Second-Team All-Big West selection in 2011, his Hall of Fame case relies more on his Major League Baseball career.
Drafted in the 18th round by the San Francisco Giants, Duffy made an imme-
diate impact when called to the majors.
Duffy played a significant role as the youngest member of the 2014 World Series champion Giants.
As third baseman, Duffy finished as runner-up for the National League Rookie of the Year award.
While his career was ultimately shortened by injuries, Duffy’s career accolades cement him as one of the best Dirtbags in MLB history.
While there may be several candidates with much more successful collegiate careers at LBSU, inducting Duffy would not just celebrate his own pro career, but also put a spotlight on LBSU’s legacy of producing MLB stars.
The Beach cruises to sweeping victory on banner night
BY TIMOTHY HESSEN Sports Editor
On a momentous banner-dropping night for Long Beach State men’s volleyball, the No. 2 ranked Beach cruised to a 3-0 sweep of Long Island University at the LBS Financial Credit Union Pyramid on Saturday, Jan. 24.
In celebration of the program’s fourth ever national title a season ago, a championship banner was dropped in a pre-game ceremony, as the team was met with thunderous applause from the 1,766 fans in attendance.
“The banner was an awesome thing to see,” LBSU senior outside hitter/ opposite Connor Bloom said. “We did most of our celebrating back in May, but it’s great to see the university honor our achievements and the recurring reminders in the way they honor us.”
In front of a raucous LBSU crowd, the Sharks kept it close early in the first set before three straight staggering kills from senior middle blocker Ben Braun extended The Beach’s lead to 14-9.
Redshirt freshman setter and Big West Freshman of the Week Jake Pazanti continued his stellar start to the season on Saturday, racking up 16 of his total 21 assists in the first set as he orchestrated the high-flying Beach offense.
On the night where he celebrated his first championship ring at LBSU, Bloom had a monster opening set, surpassing his season-high in kills with eight as The Beach took the set 25-18.
Bloom, who is most frequently used as a serve specialist, finished the match with a game-high 13 kills in the sweep.
“It feels great to get a chance to go out there and play some volleyball in a position I don’t really get to play in, and I’m happy to get that opportunity,” Bloom said.
Star senior opposite and 2025 AVCA First Team All-American Skyler Varga was the story of the second set.
The man who helped bring home a national title to LBSU as the team’s leading scorer a year ago showed why he is the fan-favorite, as he racked up four thunderous aces and two kills in the set.
JORGE HERNANDEZ/Long Beach Current Long Beach State celebrates its win against Long Island University on Saturday, Jan. 24 at the LBS Financial Credit Union Pyramid. LBSU’s athletics department revealed its 2025 NCAA Championship banner during a ceremony before the game.
The Beach dominated wire-to-wire, as the sixth of eight kills of the night from junior opposite Daniil Hershtynovich capped off the set 25-15 in LBSU’s favor.
The Sharks played their best start of a set in the third, but it was not enough to put a blemish on banner night for The Beach, as they sealed the sweep 25-15. Varga continued his dominant performance with six kills in the set.
Sharks freshman outside hitter Ike Vernon reached a team-high 11 kills in the final set as LIU played to LBSU to a 12-12 tie early, but back-to-back kills from freshman middle blocker Jackson Cryst sparked the ensuing 13-3 extended run.
Leading 21-15, Cryst nailed three aces down the final stretch to help deliver the sweep.
On a night where the growing legacy of the program was honored, new contributors in freshman like Cryst and Pazanti played major roles, demonstrating what the future of LBSU volleyball looks like.
“I like to think we have a pretty good support system, but primarily it goes through our seniors and juniors who’ve been through those experiences,” LBSU head coach Nick MacRae said. “They’re the ones that get to help bring others along and keep leaving this program better than they found it.”
After starting 7-0 to begin their championship defense, The Beach will face their biggest test of the season yet in their next outing against No. 6 Pepperdine on the road on Friday, Jan. 30.
“We’ve got four really good days together to continue to get better on our side of the net and the next match, whoever the opponent is, is the most important match,” MacRae said.