Long Beach State Sports : Daniil Injured

We hear nothing about injuries anymore, health privacy laws.

Instagram has shots of the team arriving in Ohio.

Daniil on a scooter, looks like in a boot.

He ain't playing.

Sotiris, didn't see him but assume he travelled with the team. He went to Hawaii both times.

Bouchkov is ready if needed but Pruitt has played great subbing in for Braun I forgot about that.

Depth is good, we are thin at opposite, Dickinson will start and can be very good but can also have bad stretches so who subs in for him at opposite? I wouldn't think Varga, he passes too well keep him at OH. Conner plays opposite and he's a serving weapon, but not that dominant a pin hitter. Intrigue might be Sani or Binev.

Knipe knows how to pull a rabbit out of his hat. Or rabbits if needed.

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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!!!!