The562’s coverage of Long Beach State athletics for the 2023-24 season is sponsored by Marilyn Bohl.
There was a time when the Monson Maniacs filled the far side of Walter Pyramid to support their men’s basketball team, but now the best student section in the city and at Long Beach State has been for national powerhouse men’s volleyball.
We as local sports writers are always impressed with how much the LBSU men’s volleyball student section knows about the sport. That high volleyball IQ creates some impressive and effective heckles and noise.
Those dedicated fans got a chance to show the nation what LBSU volleyball is all about when the NCAA Men’s Volleyball Final Four was hosted at Walter Pyramid. LBSU coach Alan Knipe even shouted out the crowd after a thrilling five-set victory in the semifinals.
“I have to thank that amazing LB nation crowd,” Knipe said. “You could feel the crowd, not just hear them. That helped push them through when maybe other teams would have heard the bus running. It was an amazing environment all tournament long.”
Knipe is an LBSU alum and one of the longest tenured coaches on campus, so it holds some weight when he said after the national championship game, “This is by far the best supported season in Long Beach State history and we really appreciate it.”
“The students and everyone who came out love this team…they were absolutely amazing.” he added. “Our student section was by far the best in college volleyball. They need to know how much the team talked about it and appreciate it.”
The team graduates several players including setter Aidan Knipe and libero Mason Briggs.
“A lot of the sadness and emotion comes from just Long Beach, these guys, the team,” LBSU libero Mason Briggs said. “Just the gratitude for this team and everyone that’s done so much for me and this program.”
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