MVB is shaping up to be extra special in 2026


starting with defending a championship, that will be anything but easy to do. and the usual Beach-Canadian 'exhibitions' which Knipe had fostered and great for the sport as well as Beach's own Canada pair.

1) Skylar Varga returns?! seems like that is the case, playing up in Fresno amid rumors he might go pro. Huge huge team with him - this is his team, the Crabbe era, The TJ era, the Briggs era, last year had Moni but no question Varga is the quiet leader amid the storm. No way they win without his consistency and backrow play last year. Have ot make sure he's there on Jan 1, this is his year. And much needed with a new setter situation

2) a bunch of alpha dog hitters. MBs, Pruitt & Crist, and Braun. then the pins, unbelievable set of arms with Kandev and Herschy and adding Gajek now, and guys like Jorden who will compete just to see game reps, in addition to Varga. these guys can rip it. Big, Physical. Kandev showed he could pass well, so hopefully he remains healthy. & Binev as well has a heavy arm.

3) Larson is now officially taken over the libero full time, and he is really really good.

4) all the above should help mitigate losing what Moni brings, no replacing Moni of course, just overall if the passing of Pazanti is good, and Pazenti keeps improving. it's a lot of pressure on him or Peloso and Doty, and teams will try to take some advantage with a shorter block sans Moni

5) The UCLA match in the Pyramid, the biggest rivalry in MVB, UCLA with Rowan as a senior, rematch of last two Nattys. Note to AD, put in 1000 extra sets cause they would sell.

6) The innaugral Honda Center MVB event in February that is gonna get promoted with Beach, USC, UCLA, Hawaii - should be a great environment. Odds are about 80%+ or so that one of those 4 teams will win teh National Championship. They all bring back loaded teams.

7) The most open competitive field in a long time. aside from those 4 teams, Pepperdine is getting some foreign players and will be really good, as is IRvne that can play, and they will be good.

8) Expanded NCAA field of 12, which probably is a good thing as the margins were so slim to get one of two at-larges, and this year there will be 5, so even if a team slips for a period of the season or a learning curve (like breaking in a new setter), the paths to the NCAA final four is more wide open. I'd wager a lot that 4 of the 5 at-larges come from the Big West and MPSF, so 3 teams from each conference very likely.


If I were to pick the NCAA field, it'd be UCLA, Hawaii, USC, Pepperdine, Beach, IRvine, Penn State & Loyola/Ohio State & the other we shall see.

8) no home court bias for Hawaii this year, and get to play them twice at the Pyramid, with the BWCT close @ IRvine. Hawaii will have their Opp hammer back.

9) The finals at Pauley Pavillion, close by and so bound to be a huge event and would be nothing better than to beat the snot out of UCLA in that place once again, and make it 3 comeback wins lol in a row there.

10) almost forgot. The serving subs are special & experienced. Peluso & Binev have nasty and uniquely different left to right action, Hills for defense/sub serving, or one of the non-starting arms may see action, and lastly Bloom back for one more year and approximately 100 sets so I guess that's about 100-200 more claps he'll get. The usual total team crew.