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The Class of 2026 graduates are the first cohort to complete their journey during a “year of transition,” marked by a series of changes across campus.
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A year in transition, a story still unfolding
BY KHOURY WILLIAMS Editor-in-Chief
Whether spring 2026 marks your first semester, your last or one of many as a student, staff or faculty member— congratulations on making it through!
The 2025–2026 academic year will be remembered as one defined by transition. It began with the closure of the University Student Union, which disrupted the connection between upper and lower parts of campus.
Yet even with that shift, students continued to find ways to come together through both traditional and new events, including the Death Café, which created space for conversations about grief.
Discussions around immigration policy and ICE activity also surfaced in campus conversations this year, reflecting the broader realities many students and their families navigate beyond the classroom.
Through it all, my role as editor-in-chief of the Long Beach Current was to guide our staff as we documented both the big and everyday moments within our communities on and off campus.
We covered the milestones, the tensions, the joy and the uncertainty. We sat in meetings, stood in
land acknowlEdgmEnt
REHANSA KULATILLEKE/ Long Beach Current
Khoury Williams, a fourth-year journalism major and editor-in-chief at the Long Beach Current, reflects on the university’s “year of transition” as he prepares to graduate from CSULB.
crowds, followed stories as they developed and most importantly, listened. We listened to students finding their voices, to faculty speaking out, to a campus community seeking answers during a year of transition. If this year taught us anything, it’s that no story is ever really finished.
The conversations we covered will continue. The leadership we’ve written about will continue to evolve. The students whose stories filled these pages will be replaced by new voices, asking new questions that help push this university forward to new heights.
As my CSULB chapter closes, I am excited to welcome Angela Osorio as the new editor-in-chief of the Current.
Serving in this role has been the most meaningful aspect of my time here, and I am incredibly proud to graduate from this university having helped tell the stories of its community.
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:
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.
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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.
A love letter to little me
BY CHRISTIAN ROBLEDO Opinions Assistant
Before the caps and gowns, before the finals and late-night study sessions, there were playground dreams and childhood ambitions. As graduation approaches, the Long Beach Current’s staff asked students to take a moment to look back and write a letter to their younger selves, reflecting on the winding, often unexpected paths that led them to walk across the stage.
Dear little Sage,
A piece of advice from grown-up me to little me:
“Just keep going.”
A graduating sociology major, Sage Florez feels that their childhood self would be quite happy with the choice of major, despite what young Florez originally envisioned.
“I wanted to be a chef and then a dentist at one point. But, I actually really hate the dentist, so I’m so glad I didn’t actually end up there.”
Dentistry dreams aside, Florez still feels very connected with their younger self.
“I loved running around and just like being outside. And, I still love to do that … I love that I’m still connected to that part of myself,” Florez said.
I know you’d be proud of how I turned out because:
“I live with my partner here in Long Beach … little me would be so proud that we moved out of our toxic household and have a place to call home,” Florez said.
Dear little Alianah,
A piece of advice from grown-up me to little me:
“Don’t doubt yourself … don’t look down on yourself and compare yourself to others.”
A child who loved to play with dolls and had dreams of college instilled in her from her parents, Alianah Sandoval could not be any prouder to be on the precipice of graduation. She believes, however, that there would be some sort of shock if a younger version of herself were to see what she’d grow up to study.
“I’m a [political science] major. Honestly, that would be extremely shocking to my little self. I genuinely thought I was going to be a singer like Ariana Grande,” Sandoval said, flashing a grin.
While she still hates math as much as she did in elementary school, Sandoval is proud of the confidence she’s gained through her time in school. Speaking to her younger self, she expressed pride.
“I struggled a lot with ADHD when I was really young … I would compare myself to a lot of other people, to a lot of other kids,” Sandoval said. “It’s really important that I [overcame] that imposter syndrome and like comparing myself to others … you’re the only person that has got you to this point.”
That growth did not come easily, but over time, Sandoval began to recognize her own progress, realizing that her journey didn’t have to look like anyone else’s to be valid.
I know you’d be proud of how I turned out because:
“I have become a lot more outgoing and a lot more openly myself as a queer woman. I’ve just been more unapologetically myself in all aspects,” Sandoval said.
ARTS & LIFE
Dear little Diego,
A piece of advice from grown-up me to little me:
“Stand confident in what you do … without caring about what other people think, if it’s in a bad way.”
Majoring in music performance, Diego Amaya is happy he didn’t pursue his original plan to be a STEM major.
“I think little me would definitely be proud because I started music at a young age. So, to continue it would be a good thing,” Amaya said.
Feeling he still lives by what his parents told him as a child, Amaya seems content with his growth.
“Don’t let your voice die down,” Amaya said, smiling at the thought of his parents’ words.
Content in his choice to pursue music—and not math, at the very least—Amaya seems to be quite in touch with the child he once was, still sharing a love of photography, computers, video games and of course, percussion.
I know you’d be proud of how I turned out because:
“I’m living by myself and being basically independent,” Amaya said.
Dear little Raphael,
A piece of advice from grown-up me to little me:
“Know your capability. Don’t doubt yourself, and if something interests you, pursue it. Just pursue it.”
As a child, Raphael Lipana wanted to be a chef. While Lipana does work as a chef outside of school, he believes his younger self would be surprised that he’s getting a degree in graphic design.
“I would be really surprised, honestly. Really, I didn’t know what I wanted to do until further down the line, and something like [graphic design] wasn’t introduced to me at a young age. So, I think little me would be really caught off guard,” Lipana said with a chuckle. Smiling while he spoke, Lipana said he tries hard to understand people regardless of differences and is happy that he himself has had a nice balance of his two childhood passions: cooking and art.
I know you’d be proud of how I turned out because [of]:
“The person I’m becoming right now. I think morally, my compass is pointed in the right direction, and I am pursuing things I want to do,” Lipana said.
You all did it! You’re well on your way to graduation and a life beyond your college degree. Congratulations, and may you continue to thrive. Love,
Dear President Blanchard: Promises must become progress
BY LONG BEACH CURRENT EDITORIAL BOARD
Long Beach State has officially welcomed a new president.
Hailing from the University of Houston-Downtown, Loren J. Blanchard assumed the role of university president on May 1. He replaces interim President Andrew Jones, who has served the campus community since last August, following former President Jane Close Conoley’s retirement.
Dear President Blanchard:
As you begin your tenure at CSULB, you step into a role that carries both opportunity and responsibility. With more than 42,000 students and a reputation as one of the most diverse, student-focused universities in the
CSU system, you begin your presidency with great expectations.
Your appointment has been surrounded by a consistent throughline: student success. When speaking with the Long Beach Current earlier this year, you emphasized a responsibility to ensure that every admitted student reaches “the finish line.”
Your commitment to success at The Beach is encouraging and necessary. At a university where many students are first-generation – just as you were – and navigating higher education without a roadmap, success is measured not by enrollment numbers but by retention, equity and support.
However, as our previous editorials have made clear, students expect more than promises. They expect accountability, action and transparency.
During his brief tenure, Jones maintained a consistent and visible presence on campus, regularly attending events and engaging with the university community. His involvement did not go unnoticed and set a new standard for leadership accessibility. Moving forward, students will expect to see the same level of commitment from you, if not more.
CSULB’s identity as a “student-centered university” is often celebrated, but for many, that experience remains inconsistent. Access to advising, health and financial resources, and class availability continues to shape whether students can realistically graduate on time.
Your experience leading large-scale initiatives, including the CSU’s Graduation Initiative 2025, means you understand the systems needed to drive successful student
FROM YOUR FAMILY, FRIENDS AND LOVED ONES,
outcomes. Now, students will be watching closely to see how that experience translates into tangible action.
Beyond academics, there is also the question of trust.
University leadership has often felt distant from the everyday realities students face. Past letters to CSULB presidents have repeatedly called for stronger communication between the administration and the student body.
Your idea of hosting listening sessions sounds like a strong start, but sustained engagement matters more than first impressions.
This article was written by Editor-in-Chief Khoury Williams on behalf of the Long Beach Current Editorial Board. Click here for the full story.
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE CLASS OF 2026
CONGRATULATIONS CLASS OF 2026
CONGRATULATIONS CLASS OF 2026
CONGRATULATIONS CLASS OF 2026
CONGRATULATIONS CLASS OF 2026
CONGRATULATIONS CLASS OF 2026
CONGRATULATIONS CLASS OF 2026
CONGRATULATIONS CLASS OF 2026
CONGRATULATIONS CLASS OF 2026
CONGRATULATIONS CLASS OF 2026
NEWS
CSULB removes Students for Justice in Palestine adviser, sparking backlash
BY JAYDEN SANDSTROM News Assistant
Faculty members, affiliated groups and academic organizations are pushing back against Long Beach State administrators following the removal of Students for Justice in Palestine adviser Azza Basarudin, an associate professor in the Department of Women and Sexuality Studies, drawing formal letters of condemnation across the campus community.
Basarudin received a letter on Feb. 2 from Student Life and Development stating that she had been removed as the organization’s faculty adviser.
Following a review, the letter stated that university officials had determined that Basarudin engaged in conduct that violated the terms of the CSU Faculty Adviser Agreement, which requires advisers to help students adhere to campus regulations.
The link in the letter, intended to direct Basarudin to the policy violation page, instead led to a nonfunctional webpage from Cal State Bakersfield.
The letter followed an ongoing organizational conduct review process involving SJP.
The email referenced in the letter includes a message from Basarudin to Assistant Dean of Students Alexandria Cordon regarding Cordon’s request to meet with the organization’s president, including attempts to contact the student by phone.
In the email, Basarudin stated students should not be contacted by phone and staff should instead communicate via email.
The email also stated that a meeting would not be held in Cordon’s office, noting that legal counsel had advised the organization against scheduling a meeting.
Sequoia Sanchini, a senior linguistics major and member of SJP, described the October event she said led to the organization undergoing the organizational conduct review process.
“We had a remembrance event for people who had been killed in Gaza, specifically for murdered journalists,” Sanchini said. “It was in a free speech zone during a designated free speech time, but we were told that because we had printed posters of the journalists, it was no longer considered free speech activity
and instead classified as an event.”
Sanchini added that since the university considered it an event, they were told they were in violation of the time, place and manner policy.
Following the event, members were contacted on their cellphones, prompting Basarudin to send a letter addressing the communication.
“The organizational conduct review process was really stressful and really challenging,” Sanchini said. “I think it would have been even more isolating if we didn’t have her on our side. I don’t think she did anything to direct us to break school rules. She reminded us of our rights and that we should be allowed to mourn, however that manifests.”
In a personal statement, Basarudin said she was not given sufficient information to justify the decision.
“I am confounded by the complete absence of any specific information or evidence identifying any wrongdoing on my part that would justify such severe action,” she said in the statement.
She also expressed concern about the timing of the decision, noting the director of SLD was aware she is currently on sabbatical.
“The decision to remove me during a period when I am not acting as an adviser and to notify me while on sabbatical raises serious procedural, retaliation and equity concerns,” Basarudin wrote.
“As a member of the CSULB community, I believe I not only deserve, but am entitled to a transparent explanation of the decision-making process, including: (1) the specific allegations against me, (2) the policies invoked, (3) the individuals who participated in the review and the evidentiary basis for the decision,” Basarudin wrote.
Multiple organizations have written letters in support of Basarudin, including the California Scholars for Academic Freedom, the Middle East Studies Association, and the Palestine Arab and Muslim Caucus of the California Faculty Association.
The letter from the Middle East Studies Association criticized the university’s handling of the situation, arguing the decision lacked transparency and due process.
“This kind of arbitrary administrative decision, bereft of transparency and specificity, constitutes a serious violation of the principles of academic freedom and of Professor Basarudin’s right to due process,” the letter states.
The letter went on to say that the manner in which the situation has been handled is extremely disrespectful, citing the absence of a formal hearing or opportunity for dialogue.
A separate letter from the California Scholars for Academic Freedom, signed by 25 members, emphasized that Basarudin’s suspension has disrupted her mentorship of students and her professional responsibilities.
The letter added that Basarudin has long advocated for fair, impartial treatment of SJP students, while raising concerns about uneven enforcement of campus policies.
Members of the Palestine Arab and Muslim Caucus of the CFA also raised concerns about the broader implications of the decision for students and campus climate.
“Depriving these students at this vulnerable time of students’ growth of their mentor because of CSULB’s arbitrary decision is harmful to students, the campus climate, and represents a violation of their constitutional rights,” members stated in their letter.
In addition to these letters, a faculty letter was drafted and signed by 76 faculty members and sent to interim President Andrew Jones, President Loren J. Blanchard, Provost Karyn Scissum Gunn, and Vice President for Student Affairs Beth Lesen on April 17.
The letter requests that the following be provided in writing:
A clear and specific explanation of the basis for Basarudin’s suspension, including identification of any policy or contractual provision she is alleged to have violated; a full accounting of the process and standards used in conducting any review leading to this action, including the identities of the officials involved in the decision; a description of the procedural protections afforded to Basarudin prior to and in connection with this action, and confirmation that Article 19 of the CSU Collective Bargaining Agreement has been or will be honored in full; and the immediate reinstatement of Basarudin to her position as faculty adviser to SJP pending the outcome of any properly constituted review process conducted in accordance with applicable contractual procedures.
The letter was organized by Kimberly Walters, a Global Studies professor.
Click here for the full story.
Photo courtesy of SJP member SEQUOIA SANCHINI
Remembrance event for journalists killed in Gaza held in October 2025. The event led to the Students for Justice in Palestine undergoing an organizational conduct review.
OPINIONS
Another disastrous Dirtbag season leads to skepticism of coaching staff
BY JUNIOR CONTRERAS
Sports Assistant
Is TJ Bruce the man for the job?
Time will tell.
Long Beach State baseball fans have to understand the once-golden era of Dirtbag baseball from the late ‘80s to the 2000s has passed by, and second-year LBSU head coach TJ Bruce is here for the rebuilding of the program, not the blame.
The first 96 games of the Bruce era have not been pretty, as the Dirtbags are 36–60 (.375).
With a program dating back to 1954 and joining the Big West in 1985, Bruce has the lowest winning percentage among all managers in program history.
Although the past Dirtbag success may have blinded us to the present problems.
“All I would tell our fan base, they’re very passionate … Nobody loves them more than our administration and myself,” Bruce said. “I know they want us to be really good and I know we’ve struggled in the last decade or so, but we are doing things right.”
Since 2008, LBSU has claimed the Big West title just once in 2017 under head coach Troy Buckley, who earned Coach of the Year honors after guiding the team to a regional berth and seeing eight players selected in that season’s MLB Draft.
After 2008, LBSU has placed first just once in the Big West, that being in 2017 under head coach Troy Buckley, who took home Big West Coach of the Year honors while leading the team to a regional appearance and had eight players on the roster selected in the MLB draft that season.
Buckley was released during the 2019 season due to a workplace violence incident. Greg Bergeron and Dan Ricabal took over as interim co-head coaches with 24 games remaining, and together they led LBSU to the worst season as a member of the Big West in program history, 14–41 (.255).
In 2020, LBSU hired head coach Eric Valenzuela, who had four straight winning seasons above .550, though the season was cut short due to COVID-19.
His term never featured a conference trophy or regional appearance. Valenzuela’s best was a third- and fourth-place finish in
the Big West in 2021 and 2022.
Valenzuela returned to Saint Mary’s College to coach after 2023, as associate head coach Bryan Peters took over as the interim head coach for the 2024 season, when LBSU finished 25-29-1 (.464) and 10-20 (.333) in conference play.
Last year, the Bruce era began as he took over the worst statistical Dirtbag team since the 2019 season. The 2024 Dirtbags ranked second-worst in batting average in the conference but finished fourth in team Earned Run Averages.
Although Bruce was handed an above-average pitching staff, five out of the 10 statistically best pitchers from the 2024 team returned, and just one had a better statistical season in 2025.
Bruce and pitching coach Rolando Garza coached the third-worst pitching roster in the Big West as the team combined for a 6.23 ERA, the highest Dirtbag ERA since ‘88 with 7.01.
Command issues were a problem as LBSU gave up 224 walks, the most since 2000 when the team gave up 229. Free bases and opponents hitting .281 against The Dirtbags led to 321 earned runs given up, the most since ‘98.
Bruce’s second year has been a disaster, as the team has solidified another losing home record, the first time since the 2018 and 2019 seasons.
Nothing has changed from the bullpen after Bruce brought in LBSU Hall of Famer Abe Alvarez as the pitching coach for the 2026 season.
The pitching staff has a 6.08 team ERA and ranks fourth-worst in the conference while giving up the most walks, balks and hit-by-pitches in the conference.
Offensively, the Dirtbags have been average, ranking sixth in the Big West and hitting .250 as a team.
“It’s the whole year,” Bruce said. “The whole year has been disappointing…I wish I had better words, but the whole year is disappointing and it’s kind of, it is where we’re at.”
Accountability is a part of Bruce’s D.I.R.T.B.A.G identity acronym, and he may not be sticking to it himself.
After a loss to California Baptist University on April 5, Bruce claimed, “legally,” that there was nothing he or Alvarez could do to fix the pitching problems.
The loss to CBU, along with Bruce’s postgame comments to the Long Beach Current,
attracted backlash from the Dirtbag fanbase, causing Bruce to respond to the criticism on the Long Beach Current Instagram.
“Has this guy ever taken accountability for anything?” Instagram user eyeknowball619 said. “He committed the players. He hired the coaches. He cancels practices, and is the one that loves to quit mid game when things go bad.”
Bruce has declined post-game interviews multiple times throughout the season and after a fifth-straight home loss, he declined once again after holding a team meeting less than a minute before leaving his team in the outfield.
The bright side of this season for LBSU is the strong and impactful freshman class that Bruce brought in.
“I think as you’re building a program, you know, it’s hard, because I think as coaches, you want to win today…we’re trying to build this thing for longevity, is what we’re trying to do,” Bruce said.
LBSU freshman outfielder Trevor Goldenetz has been one of the best hitters in the Big West all season long as he currently ranks second in the conference, hitting .369 while leading the team in runs with 26.
Goldenetz has been out since April 5, after suffering an injury against CBU after being hit on his hand by a pitch.
Freshman pitchers Luke Howe and Jason Gerfers have been carrying the load on their arms this season, as they both have the lowest ERAs of the qualified pitchers.
Howe leads the team with 70.2 innings pitched and a 4.71 ERA, while Gerfers posts a 5.67 ERA while accomplishing back-toback complete games, giving up just two total earned runs earlier in the season.
The Dirtbags are far from being back to a powerhouse baseball program, but if Bruce continues to bring in successful freshman products, there’s potential to save his job.
Scan here to read the rest of the year’s stories.
ETHAN COHEN/Long Beach Current Long Beach State Dirtbags coach TJ Bruce walks back to the home dugout at Blair Field before a game against the University of Southern California on Tuesday, April 14.
CSULB
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GRADUATES
CLASS OF 2026
FROM
Star LBSU hitter pursues second straight national title
BY BRIANNA APODACA Sports Assistant
From Canada’s icy cold winters to the sunlit courts of sunny Southern California, Skyler Varga found more than a change in scenery – he found his place at Long Beach State.
Now a graduating senior, Varga exits as one of the defining figures of the men’s volleyball program, combining leadership with consistent production on the court.
“When people think of me, I hope they think that I did everything in my effort to just make the team better,” Varga said. “I don’t really think about my wins or stats, just trying to make the people around me better.”
Varga backed that mindset with production, finishing the season with 254 kills while hitting .345 and averaging 3.18 kills per set.
His presence anchored the offense while setting the tone for the team’s identity and leading the team to a Big West title this season.
“He defines Long Beach greatness,” LBSU head coach Nick MacRae said.
After arriving from Canada, he adjusted to a different style of play and leaned on the program’s culture to ease the transition.
That early growth was interrupted by a
season-ending injury in 2023, forcing him to step away from the court and rethink his approach.
“It was definitely hard,” Varga said. “But it gave me time to watch the game differently and build my volleyball IQ.”
He returned sharper, helping Long Beach go on deep postseason runs, including a national championship and multiple appearances on the sport’s biggest stage. His ability to respond to adversity became a defining part of his career.
“He handled the epitome of adversity… then he comes back and now he’s leading us again,” MacRae said.
That experience now shapes how he leads in high-pressure moments. Rather than letting frustration take over, Varga focuses on keeping the team connected and composed, reinforcing belief when sets begin to slip away.
“It’s about continuing to believe we can get through it. We’ve been in these situations before,” Varga said. “Pressure is a privilege.”
Teammates see that consistency daily. His leadership is not limited to matches, but shows up in practice, preparation and the way he carries himself around the team.
“[Varga] is a very technical and high-lev-
el player, and I’ve learned a lot from him,” LBSU senior outside hitter Connor Bloom said. “Off the court, he’s a fun, sometimes even goofy kind of guy, and he’s not afraid to be himself.”
That personality pairs with accountability on the court, where his voice becomes one of the most important in the gym.
He holds teammates to the program’s standards while also reinforcing confidence and trust.
“When no one else wants to say something, he’s the first guy to step up,” Bloom said. “He holds everyone accountable, but also encourages us.”
Moments like last season’s national championship run highlighted that presence, where his ability to stay composed helped drive the team forward.
“That’s one performance I won’t forget,” Varga said.
Now in his final season, the focus is clear.
Varga is chasing one more opportunity to end his career on the biggest stage, with the same mindset that has defined his time at The Beach.
Fresh off a Big West Championship title and being ranked third in the nation, not only Varga, but the program as a whole is
REHANSA KULATILLEKE/Long Beach
Current
LBSU senior outside hitter Skyler Varga holds up the Big West Championship trophy after LBSU’s match against Hawai’i at the Bren Events Center. Varga ended the night with 16 kills on April 25.
hungry for another NCAA title.
“I want to be in the national final every year,” Varga said. “I just love to win. I hate losing. We really want this one. We want to go out on a bang.”
Click here for the full story.
Catching the Wave: The Beach’s best this season
BY TIMOTHY HESSEN Sports Editor
As we near graduation season at Long Beach State and turn the page on the 2025-2026 season, this week’s Catching The Wave takes a look back at the most successful athletic programs of the year.
3. Softball
When Kendall Fearn took over the program this season for former head coach Kim Sowder, she inherited one of the youngest rosters in the Big West, with just two returning seniors.
Despite that, LBSU softball has one of the most optimistic outlooks of any of The Beach’s programs, and it’s due to Fearn and the new energy she’s brought to the team.
Taking over for a retiring Sowder after 19 years of being at the helm of the program, Fearn lived up to that
pressure early on.
On Feb. 21, The Beach upset the then-No. 4 Oklahoma Sooners, making a major statement.
After going 15-9 in the conference this year, The Beach will look to finish the year strong at the Big West Tournament.
2. Beach volleyball
The Beach reached the NCAA Championships for the fourth straight year this season, with top-flight pair Malia Gementera/Taylor Hagenah eclipsing the 100-win milestone in their season.
Battling against some of the best teams in the nation, The Beach came up just a point short against No. 8 Cal on May 1 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
Despite the loss, this season marked the run of an incredible run for Gementera/Hagenah.
The pair played together through all four seasons of
their careers, becoming the fourth pair in the sport’s history to win over 100 games, and took LBSU to the NCAA Tournament during each year of their careers.
1. Men’s volleyball
Repeating as a national champion is incredibly difficult in any sport, especially after your all-time great and threetime NCAA Champion head coach retires in the offseason.
But in head coach Nick MacRae’s first season, The Beach lived up to the prestige of the program with a 24-4 regular season and a Big West title.
LBSU established new stars like freshman outside hitter Wojciech Gajek, who took home Big West Tournament MVP honors, and saw career seasons for stars like senior opposite Skyler Varga, who is a semifinalist for the AVCA National Player of the Year award.
The Beach will look to repeat as national champions at the NCAA tournament at Pauley Pavilion from May 9-11.
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