2pm PST Thursday Beach opens v Fort Valley St.
ESPN+ but you might also be able to stream it from the NCAA website

Should be a sweep but you never know. I don't think it will be a cakewalk.

Storylines

Will Sotiris Siapanis, Daniil Hershtynovich, or Lazar Bouchkov play? (IMHO Sotiris at most a few plays here and there; Daniil no clue; Bouchkov may get some time v Fort Valley St, or if Daniil isn't available and Dickinson plays opposite for him, Lazar might get subbed in for Braun who is up and down recently)

Moni: how dominant will he be? Will he up his focus and be less high risk or go for the big plays always and not give a flying f? How many aces? Will a serve hit 80 mph+? How many fans will lineup for autographs and selfies?

Varga: Mr. do it all in absence of Sotiris...he can dominate with kills but lately been dominating with a well rounded game how will that play out?

Kandev: was red hot, has struggled a little bit but still an evolving force as a freshman will he take to the spotlight and deliver?

DiAeris: will he let it all hang out? will he not float serve out at all? will he ratchet up the defense?

Braun: hot and cold, what version shows up?

Larson: best frosh libero you could hope for. Plays like a well seasoned junior. We got him 3 more years!

Dickinson: been red hot but can go icy cold, mostly seems to be a mental thing with him, either bursting with confidence or the opposite. Huge weapon if he's on, can serve some pressure, can pass (trained as a setter), good at the net.

Team: team block is very good (2nd in nation behind U$C) but could be even better. Biggest thing I've noticed is the team block is stunningly good. Guys are in unison, 2 and 3 usually gang up on the hitter. May need some enhanced solo blocking if the other teams setter is deceptive and I think we got the dudes to do it. Having Moni and Nato up front along with the MBs is massive, and our OHs do a solid job.

Passing: been very good, has its down moments, would be stellar if Sotiris were healthy and in the mix. Serving in the semi's and finals will be brutally good.

Serve Errors: if we keep them under 4 a set, we will be super difficult to beat. 5-6 per set, we got enough to win close sets...its those 7-10+ error sets we need to avoid.

Attitude: more tame lately, I expect some fire to come out from Moni, DiAeris, and if Bouchkov plays more than a few reps watch out!

GO BEACH!!!!