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Los Angeles Times
11 hours ago
- Sport
- Los Angeles Times
Sage Hill boys' volleyball secures state title with sweep in Division III final
Sage Hill boys' volleyball swiftly put up one program first after another over the last two seasons, the crown jewel arriving Saturday in the inaugural state championships. When the hardware was handed off to Sage Hill coach Jordan Hoppe, he raised the trophy — shaped like the state of California — above his head. His players surrounded him and began chanting in celebration. This was the pinnacle of a two-year run led by a transformative force in Jackson Cryst, the 6-foot-10 outside hitter headed to Long Beach State. Cryst had 23 kills, three service aces and 1½ total blocks, as Sage Hill swept San Francisco International 25-19, 25-16, 25-23 in the CIF State Division III final at Fresno City College. 'It was a business trip, and I think everybody took it really seriously, and that's why we got the result that we wanted,' said Cryst, who transferred from Long Beach Millikan for his junior year. 'Nobody came in there to mess around, and I think that showed in the clean sweep.' Sage Hill (23-11) finished the season on a 13-match winning streak, which also saw the Lightning claim a second section title in as many seasons by beating Santa Barbara on the Dons' home court in five sets in the Division 4 final. 'The season's over now,' Cryst added. 'I think for so long, it was always on to the next game. Even after winning CIF, we knew the job wasn't finished. To finally be able to know that the season was over, we did all we could and we won and we reached that goal, I think that was super motivating for everybody. It was honestly a huge relief. If you look at everybody on match point, it was almost like a huge sigh of relief that we did it.' Junior Connor Gapp, who split his playing time between the positions of setter and opposite, supplied 24 assists, six kills, three aces and 1½ blocks. 'It's kind of like a symbol of what we've done,' Gapp said of bringing home a state championship trophy. 'Winning felt the best, and touching that trophy, maybe taking a few pictures with my teammates, my coaches, my trainer, my family, especially, that was really sweet to be with all of them. 'The trophy will always be up at Sage. The banners will always be there. It will be nice to look at that next year, maybe give us some motivation to do something similar in the future.' Junior setter Jonathan Ye contributed 14 assists and an ace. Junior outside hitter Ryan Manesh added 11 kills and an ace. Junior middle blocker Carson Ellis had two kills and two block assists, and junior opposite Dylan Han chipped in with three kills. Manesh struck a similar chord to Gapp, noting the 'journey' that led the Lightning to the championships was what was most important to him. He recalled the team bonding experiences, such as playing card games on the bus. 'These memories are going to last a lifetime,' Manesh said. 'Obviously, winning the finals, that has a special place in my heart, but like the team, the team culture, the team bonding, just this team as a whole, I'm going to remember them for the rest of my life.' Santino Scanlon had eight kills, an ace and a solo block to lead International (27-8). Lyndon Song and Liam Wilson each produced five kills, and Colton Klingebiel added four kills and two blocks. Hoppe reflected on the title, saying 'it's very cool to be on the right side of history.' 'To be able to do that is just an incredibly special achievement and honor,' Hoppe said of bringing Sage Hill its first state title in a male sport since the school opened in 2000. 'To be remembered in the gymnasium with a banner up there and just to think about the guys on this team, and just the total buy-in of all the individuals on this team. It was incredible. 'Clearly, we had arguably one of the best players in the country, Jackson Cryst, but that's just one player. Our team was able to really buy in and elevate their game to support and to provide the right team chemistry to make this thing happen.'
CBS News
14-05-2025
- Sport
- CBS News
Parade celebrates Cal State Long Beach men's volleyball 2025 NCAA champs
For the fourth time in program history, the California State University Long Beach men's volleyball team holds the 2025 NCAA championship title. The final NCAA Men's Volleyball National Championship game took place Monday in Ohio, where the Beach swept UCLA, 25-17, 25-23 and 25-21. To celebrate, a victory parade will take place Wednesday beginning at 11 a.m. in downtown Long Beach. The community is invited to join along the parade route on Pine Avenue, from Fifth Street to Third Street. An 11:30 a.m. reception takes place at Altar Society Brewing Co. COLUMBUS, OHIO - MAY 12: Moni Nikolov #1 of the Long Beach State Beach hits a kill against the UCLA Bruins during the Division I Men's Volleyball Championship held at the Covelli Center on May 12, 2025 in Columbus, Ohio. Jamie Schwaberow/NCAA Photos via Getty Images It's been six years since the Beach took the championship title, in 2019. Long Beach State also won in 2018 and in 1991 when current coach Alan Knipe was a player. Freshman Moni Nikolov, who at 6-foot-10, was named the NCAA All-Tournament MVP and holds the Big West Player of the Year title. The team was ranked No. 1 in the nation for the final 14 weeks of the season. Long Beach State is home to several notable volleyball players including two-time Olympic gold medalist Misty May-Treanor, US National Team player Alan Knipe, and National Championship team players TJ DeFalco and Kyle Ensing. COLUMBUS, OHIO - MAY 12: The Long Beach State Beach celebrate their victory against the UCLA Bruins during the Division I Men's Volleyball Championship held at the Covelli Center on May 12, 2025 in Columbus, Ohio. Jamie Schwaberow/NCAA Photos via Getty Images
Washington Post
13-05-2025
- Sport
- Washington Post
Nikolov leads Long Beach St. to three-set sweep over UCLA to claim NCAA volleyball crown
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Freshman Moni Nikolov posted six kills, four aces and a pair of digs and Long Beach State beat UCLA 25-17, 25-23 and 25-21 to win the NCAA men's volleyball tournament on Monday night. It was the Beach's (30-3) fourth championship in program history and first since 2019. Long Beach State also won the title in 2018 and claimed its first title in 1991 when current coach Alan Knipe was a player.
Associated Press
13-05-2025
- Sport
- Associated Press
Nikolov leads Long Beach St. to three-set sweep over UCLA to claim NCAA volleyball crown
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Freshman Moni Nikolov posted six kills, four aces and a pair of digs and Long Beach State beat UCLA 25-17, 25-23 and 25-21 to win the NCAA men's volleyball tournament on Monday night. It was the Beach's (30-3) fourth championship in program history and first since 2019. Long Beach State also won the title in 2018 and claimed its first title in 1991 when current coach Alan Knipe was a player. The 6-foot-10 Nikolov, who just turned 18, started the match with an opening-serve ace and ended UCLA's two-time reign with a thunderous kill. 'Not for one second did we think we were going to lose that game,' Nikolov said. 'Before the game in the locker room we told each other we were here. We were born for this (expletive) game.' The animated Nikolov paused, apologized for his faux pas and went on to say: 'We were built for this game. Even when we were down five, we trusted each other because we knew we were the better team.' Trailing 1-0, UCLA led 18-13 in the second set before the nation's No. 1-ranked team outscored the Bruins 12-5 for a two-point win. In the third set, Alex Kandev's kill gave Long Beach State a 4-3 lead and the Beach led for the remainder. Kandev finished with a .452 hitting percentage. The Bruins entered the tournament with the second highest hitting efficiency in the country but were stifled in part by Long Beach State's length and were outhit by the Beach .354 to .192. UCLA's Cooper Robinson finished with a .381 hitting percentage. The championship match was the third meeting between the two teams this season with Long Beach State owning a 9-1 set advantage. Long Beach State dropped just a single set as it beat Fort Valley State 3-0 and Pepperdine 3-1. Two-time defending champion UCLA (22-7) sought to become college volleyball's first three-peat champion since the Bruins' won four in a row from 1981-84. ___ AP college sports:
New York Post
13-05-2025
- Sport
- New York Post
Sabrina Ionescu reflects on iconic Oregon legacy that sparked it all: ‘Greater than any accolade'
EUGENE, Ore. — Kelly Graves, head coach of Oregon's women's basketball team, stood astonished by what he saw from an overhang. It was Dec. 14, 2019. Beneath him was the court where the Ducks blasted Long Beach State by 36 and where two crowds had remained 15 minutes after the game ended. One huddle of fans seeking autographs, selfies and a proximity to greatness encircled Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gigi, who brought two of her friends to the game. The other huddle — noticeably larger — created a portrait of star power Graves would never forget. Because at the center was his senior point guard. He witnessed live the magnetism of Sabrina Ionescu and he could hardly believe what he saw. 'The crowd around Sabrina was twice the size around Kobe,' Graves told The Post. 'It was like who's the real star here? It was incredible. … It was very, very telling that this was somebody who was pretty popular.' 6 Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu (20) celebrates after scoring in the second quarter against the Connecticut Sun at Barclays Center. Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images She would wind up with a signature Nike shoe that's become one of the most worn sneakers in the NBA. She would become popular enough to warrant the three-city Sabrina Ionescu Asia Tour in Manila, Guangzhou and Hong Kong that drew thousands. She would become the face of one of the WNBA's legacy franchises. But all of what she would become, the iconic figure to which she'd ascend, was first sparked at Oregon. Her grand return to Matthew Knight Arena for the Liberty's preseason finale against the Toyota Antelopes of the Women's Japan Basketball League on Monday shined the spotlight on the origin of her brand. For Ionescu, it was a chance to show gratitude and give back to the community that supported her through thick and thin. 6 Oregon's Sabrina Ionescu (20) reacts after her team scored against Stanford during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in the final of the Pac-12 women's tournament Sunday, March 8, 2020. AP 'This was home for four years and kind of my first home away from home,' Ionescu said. 'And so that's something that you never lose sight of and you always have those feelings every time you come back.' Ionescu claimed her old stall in the Ducks locker room. She was set to run through the tunnel as a player, knowing it would be her final time doing so after the pandemic took this opportunity from her five years ago. 'It's gonna kind of feel like I got an Oregon jersey on,' she said. Ionescu could've gone to just about any college she wanted. But she came to Eugene, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed as a naive 18-year-old with a dream of vitalizing a women's basketball program that had never made it out of the NCAA Tournament's first weekend. But her four-year journey at Oregon changed her in ways that she never could have imagined. 'Looking back,' Ionescu said as she sat back in a folding chair that overlooks Oregon's practice court, 'thinking about how risky that was and how that could have gone any way… but [I always] believed in myself and my decisions.' 6 Sabrina Ionescu of the New York Liberty signs autographs for fans before a preseason matchup against the Connecticut Sun at Barclays Center. Michelle Farsi/New York Post It's hard to pinpoint Ionescu's first viral moment. One early memory is her game-winning, buzzer-beater 3 against Cal on Jan. 8, 2017. Ionescu had a shaky shooting day, going 5-for-20 from the field. But even after missing all six of her previous shots from deep, Ionescu's confidence was unshaken. She caught the inbounds pass, took one dribble before pulling up with 1.2 seconds left and a hand in her face. Game over. Oregon won 69-66. 'I was the highest recruit the university had ever had, but it doesn't matter until you do something on the court,' Ionescu said. 'That buzzer beat at Cal probably kind of set us up for the rest of my freshman season.' 6 Sabrina Ionescu of the Oregon Ducks is introduced before the championship game of the Pac-12 Conference women's basketball tournament against the Stanford Cardinal at the Mandalay Bay Events Center on March 8, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Getty Images And everything else that would happen next. Ionescu's breakout sophomore campaign put the Ducks on the map. Attendance at home games started to rise. Ionescu was witnessing her dream gradually turn into reality. The Ducks went to back-to-back Elite Eights in her first two seasons and broke through to the Final Four her junior season. Her all-around game was so impressive that NBA players started to take notice, including Stephen Curry and Bryant. Bryant left a lasting impression on Ionescu. Her time spent with him in the summer of 2019 rewired her brain. She's always been a competitive fiend. But that 'Mamba Mentality' took it to a whole new level. 'Being able to understand that arguably the greatest basketball player of all time is kind of pouring in and trying to teach and believe in a young college female,' Ionescu said. 'For me, that was kind of eye-opening to see he didn't care where you came from, what you looked like, who you were. He just knew that you had something in you that you could go out there and be great.' 6 Kobe Bryant and Sabrina Ionescu Instagram @sabrina_i Ionescu returned to Oregon her senior season for 'unfinished business.' She wanted that national championship title more than anything. Bryant's untimely death — as heartbreaking as it was — galvanized the Ducks. Ionescu dedicated her season to him. But Ionescu's best shot at a national championship was denied by a virus that overtook the planet like a wildfire. To this day, she remains the only NCAA player who's surpassed 2,500 points, 1,000 rebounds and 1,000 assists over the course of her career. Her record-shattering 26 career triple-doubles is a mark that may never be touched. Ionescu's legend remains prevalent around Eugene, Oregon. Go to a football game and you'll spot dozens of basketball jerseys with her name on the back of them. A 5-foot tall cutout of her hangs on a wall at the Wild Duck Cafe across from the arena. 6 Oregon's Sabrina Ionescu celebrates a 3-point shot against Stanford during the third quarter of an NCAA college basketball game in Eugene, Ore. AP She — much like Kobe — is one of few who can be referred to on a first-name basis and everyone knows who you're talking about. 'Obviously a national championship here is what the ultimate goal was. But when you look back and understand the footprint that you can leave in a community and at a university, it's far greater than any accolade and any championship that you could ever bring,' Ionescu said. 'And so understanding kind of the impact that I could leave in this community as far as a fellow student-athlete, knowing I can change lives and continue to inspire and uplift this university because without it, I wouldn't be the player that I am, and so I think that goes far beyond what I would have done with the national championship year.'
