Simeon “Moni” Nikolov is a freshman starting setter for our local Cal State Long Beach Men’s Volleyball team. At only 18 years old and 6-foot-10, Nikolov has the fastest recorded topspin serve in NCAA volleyball at 84 miles per hour.
This talented setter from Sofia, Bulgaria played on the Bulgarian national team last year at only 17 years old. This was Nikolov’s first and last season playing with the Beach and it’s been confirmed that he’ll be returning as the starting setter for the Bulgarian National next season.
On May 12, 2025, the team finished their season winning the National Collegiate Men’s Volleyball Championship in Columbus, Ohio—Nikolov winning game point with an insane overpass kill. Upon their arrival back to Long Beach they were greeted with a parade celebration (May 13), a parade (May 14) and celebrations at local Long Beach restaurants the Altar (May 14) and Boathouse on the Bay (May 15).
Right after their victory, Nikolov states in an interview with ESPN, “Not for one second did we think we were going to lose that game… We were born for this (expletive) game. Even when we were down five, we trusted each other because we knew we were the better team.”
His stats at the end of the season consisted of 999 assists, 104 service aces, 153 kills and 77 total blocks.
Nikolov has been awarded the Cal State Long Beach Player of the Year, Freshman of the Year and Newcomer of the Year. Head Coach Alan Knipe speaks on this accomplishment according to an article on the CSULB Athletics page, “When you are honored with both [awards] in the same year, it’s rare. Moni is a very unique volleyball player and competitor.”
His newfound fame has Millikan students raving about Nikolov. Tracy Beaton, a freshman in QUEST, and a die-hard fan expressed, “It’s exhilarating to watch him play live and really exciting to see. I think that his best skill is definitely the way he’s able to run his offense to the best of his ability and at the same time be a strong offensive player himself.”
Despite Nikolov’s short time at CSULB, his impact on the team will be hard to forget.
Jade Chuong • May 29, 2025 at 9:41 am
Dear Rose Varley,
On May 27, 2025, Rose Varley wrote an article titled “Moni Nikolov’s First and Last Season with CSULB Men’s Volleyball”. Simeon Nikolov is an extremely talented player, as a freshman stepping into such a crucial role on that court with confidence is a testament to his dedication and preparation. Being a good player all around, your photos used and phrasing of this story prove what his capabilities are.
Even with his return back to the Bulgarian National next season, he as well as his brother will be a formidable force for that team. The awards listed were a great addition, I’d only known that he’d won player of the year for CSULB (California State University Long Beach); though I think you could have included some game stats into the paragraph about their championship game.
Overall, this was extremely well written and captures the validity and success of his season at the Long Beach State Men’s Volleyball team. From the stats, down to events, as well as seeing how other people recognize his skill.
Sincerely,
Jade Chuong
Lay'lahni Lorenzana • May 29, 2025 at 9:28 am
Dear Corydon Editor,
On May 27, 2025, Rose Varley wrote an article titled “Moni Nikolov’s First and Last Season with CSULB Men’s Volleyball”. I was shocked at this news because he is a treasured volleyball player on the team and has one of the highest jumps when playing on the court. Moni Nikolov is a talented player and is a great importance to the Men’s team. This decision has left people in disbelief due to the significant accomplishments of the Volleyball team, largely attributed to their star player, Moni Nikolov. However, I think it would have been exciting if the author had the chance to interview the player herself. Although I would like to add that I think it’s great that the author asked a student at Millikan High School, who is a huge fan of Nikolov, for their opinion on his leaving the team.
Moreover, I like how the author adds in his future career in volleyball and his plans to return and begin the season off as the starting setter for the Bulgarian National team next season. I also like how the author adds some os his character traits, such as his height, which is 6’10, and his age, which is 18. This gives us a little more detail on his appearance. As well as, the author explains his stats at the end of the season, which consist of “999 assists, 104 service aces, 153 kills, and 77 total blocks.”
Overall, this is a great article if people like me are interested in looking into the deep dive of CSULB Men’s Volleyball, the players, and their talented skills. Thank you for bringing attention to this information about Moni Nikplov and his plan to continue his volleyball career elsewhere.
Sincerely,
Lay’lahni Lorenzana
Wes Aguilar • May 29, 2025 at 9:14 am
On May 27, 2025, Rose Varley wrote an article titled “Moni Nikolov’s First and Last Season with CSULB Men’s Volleyball.” This article spoke about the rising star Simeon Nikolov, who plays for Long Beach State’s men’s volleyball team. Varley gave great background information about his time in Bulgaria, and how he was the starting setter on the national team at 17 years old. Giving this information helps the reader understand the level that Nikolov plays at and why his impact at Long Beach State has been tremendous. I loved how Varley included the end-of-season stats showing that he racked up almost 1,000 assists. Additionally, I enjoyed learning about the awards he was given: Freshman of the Year, Newcomer of the Year, and even Player of the Year. To have someone of this level down the street is crazy to think about. Overall, Varley’s article about Simeon Nikolov’s only year and Long Beach State was very insightful to read and was enjoyable.