Moni Nikolov continues to impress in his first season with Long Beach State, having been named "Freshman of the Week" in the Big West Conference for the second consecutive time. Additionally, he was honored with the "Setter of the Week" award. These prestigious accolades come after Nikolov helped his team secure two clean victories – the first against UCLA, who are ranked third nationally, and the second against Vanguard.
This season, Moni Nikolov has started as the primary setter in almost every match. He demonstrates excellent playmaking skills, averaging 9.56 assists per game, with 60 just in the past week. This places him in the top 20 in the country and fifth in the Big West Conference.
In addition to his role as a "conductor," Nikolov also excels with impressive defensive participation. He averages 1.79 blocks per game, which is the best achievement on the Long Beach State team. With these statistics, he is ranked fifth in the conference, and his defensive efforts, including his solo blocks and assists on other blocks against the UCLA "Bears," cannot be overlooked.
Not only defense, but offense is also an important aspect of Nikolov's game. He has established himself as one of the team's key attackers, recording 14 points from attack last week and over 60 for the entire season.
Nikolov is a true threat from the service line. In the match against UCLA, he recorded another ace, and against Vanguard, he added a total of four. He is now tied with his teammate Sotiros Siapanis for the second-most aces in a match in program history with eight aces, recorded against Pepperdine earlier in the season.

With his 1.09 service points per game, Nikolov continues to lead both the Big West and the country in aces. His performance so far indicates that his future in volleyball is bright, and he will certainly continue to be a key player for Long Beach State.