Moni Nikolov: NCAA Player of the Year as a freshman!🏐🔥

Bulgarian setter Moni Nikolov from Long Beach State continues to rewrite the history of college volleyball in the USA! After already being honored asFreshman of the Year, the 208-centimeter tall talent from Sofia was named theAVCA National Collegiate Player of the Year for 2025– a sensational achievement for a freshman! 🏆🇺🇸

Nikolov becameonly the second player in historyto win the two biggest individual awards in a single season. And what makes the triumph even more special for Bulgaria –his brother Alex Nikolovis also a recipient of the same award from 2022. Thus, the Nikolov brothers enter history asthe first pair of brothersto be awarded the title ofPlayer of the Yearby the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA). 💥

🧮Historical statistics:

• 🔝97 acesfor the season –new recordat Long Beach State and Big West;

• 🏆 Only3 aces short of the NCAA recordfor a single season;

• 🥶0.94 aces per set– #1 in the USA;

• 💥8 aces in one match– Walter Pyramid arena record and second place in LBSU history;

• 📈227 team aces– Long Beach program record;

• 🎯10.00 assists per game– third place in Big West;

• 🔐1.51 digs per game- team leader;

• 🧱0.76 blocks per game- second on the team;

• 🚀1.56 attack points per game- important contribution in attack as well.

In Long Beach State's historical list, he already ranks alongside legends like Brent Hilliard, Paul Lotman, and TJ DeFalco - and his brother Alex Nikolov, with whom they formeda unique family volleyball elite. 💪

📜 Besides the big award, Moni is already a recipient of:

• "Freshman of the Year" by AVCA;

• "Player of the Year" and "Freshman of the Year" by Big West;

• Selected to the All-America and All-Big West First Team;

• Seventimes "Freshman of the Week" in Big West;

• Threetimes "Setter of the Week" in the conference.

With this recognition,Moni Nikolov ranks alongside NCAA iconslike Kevin Durant, Anthony Davis, and Zion Williamson – all recipients of individual accolades as freshmen. And for us – he is the pride of Bulgarian volleyball. 🇧🇬❤️