Moni Nikolov was honored with the prestigious AVCA "Freshman of the Year" award for 2025 and was named to the First All-America Team, achieving a unique family success alongside his brother Alex Nikolov – the first brothers in Long Beach State history to earn these distinctions!🇧🇬👊🏆🌎

🔙 Alex won the same accolades in 2022, when he was also named"AVCA Player of the Year"– the first freshman in the history of collegiate men's volleyball to receive this title. In his debut season, he led the nation in aces (57), wasthird in the USA in attack points – 4.60 per set, with attack efficiency38.5%, which ranked him second in the Big West conference and 16th in the country. He led Long Beach in scoring in22 of 25 matchesand recorded7 matches with over 20 attack points. 🚀

👊 In 2025, the 208 cm tall setter Moni Nikolov also had a historic debut season, in which he was:

" №1 in the nation in serving aces per set – 0.94
" With a total of 94 aces – a Long Beach State and Big West conference record
" Only 7 aces short of the NCAA single-season record
" 14th in the country in assists - 9.99 per set
" Led LBSU to #1 team attacking efficiency - 39.6% (.396)
" Team record - 221 aces for the season (2.21 aces per set, #1 in USA)

With a conductor like him, Long Beach State entered the NCAA tournament with championship ambitions.

collage: volleyweek