## Long Beach State Dominates UCLA in a Stunning Sweep
**LONG BEACH, Calif.** — In a thrilling display of skill and teamwork, **No. 1 Long Beach State** maintained its perfect record, improving to **10-0** as they **swept No. 3 UCLA** with impressive set scores of **25-23, 25-19, 25-23** on Wednesday night at Pauley Pavilion. This match showcased the Beach’s ability to deliver under pressure, and it has fans buzzing with excitement.
### Stellar Performances Lift the Beach
The team’s success can be attributed to several standout players. **Daniil Hershtynovich** led the charge with an eye-popping **11 kills**, showcasing his offensive prowess. Following closely was **Skyler Varga**, who contributed **9 kills**, while both **Moni Nikolov** and **Sotiris Siapanis** added **7 kills** each. Nikolov didn’t just shine in scoring; he also fortified the defense with **3 blocks**. Additionally, players like **DiAeris McRaven** and **Lazar Bouchkov** supported the effort with **2 blocks each**, emphasizing a strong collective performance.
### Match Overview: Back and Forth Action
The match began with teams exchanging points in a tightly contested opening set. **Long Beach State** held a slim **12-10 lead**, but UCLA fought back to take a temporary lead at **18-15**. Not to be outdone, the Beach rallied, igniting a scoring run that put them back on top, **19-18**. A timely double block from Hershtynovich and Bouchkov forced UCLA to call a timeout, and out of the break, Hershtynovich struck again to stretch the lead to **20-19**.
With a **3-0 scoring run**, Long Beach State reached **match point** at **24-22**, ultimately taking the set on a mishit from the Bruins. This created a wave of momentum that the Beach would ride throughout the match.
### Building Momentum in the Second Set
Long Beach State surged ahead in the second set, quickly establishing a commanding **7-2 lead**. Bouchkov made a mark with the first service ace of the night, further bolstering the Beach’s confidence. His consecutive aces contributed to yet another **3-0 scoring run**, amplifying the lead to **15-11**.
The team didn’t let up, culminating in a **set point** of **24-18**. A decisive kill from **DiAeris McRaven** clinched the second set, sending Long Beach State into the third set with a confident lead.
### A Nail-biting Conclusion
As the third and final set began, Nikolov—known for his exceptional service—recorded the first ace, setting the tone for an electrifying end to the matchup. Although UCLA battled back with their own ace from **Cooper Robinson**, they couldn’t maintain the momentum.
Long Beach found themselves trailing **15-12** at a media timeout, but a critical kill from Nikolov sparked a powerful comeback that tied the set at **18-18**. Another quick run gave the Beach the lead again at **21-19**. With match point looming at **24-22**, a statement kill from **Siapanis** sealed the match, delivering a clean sweep against the Bruins.
### Historical Significance
This victory marked **the first time** since **January 19, 2019**, that Long Beach State swept UCLA in Los Angeles and their first sweep over UCLA since **February 11, 2022**.
### What’s Next for the Beach
Looking ahead, Long Beach State will continue its quest for glory as they return to action on **Friday night**, hosting **Vanguard** (2-3) at **7 p.m.** This match poses another opportunity for the Beach to demonstrate their strength and depth in competition.
For more details, you can check out the official site of [Long Beach State Men’s Volleyball](https://longbeachstate.com/sports/mens-volleyball).
Keep following as the Beach surges through the season, and don’t miss any of the action!
