IRVINE, Calif. – The Big West announced its 2025 Men's Volleyball Preseason Coaches' picks on Thursday. To no surprise, senior opposite
Geste Bianchi was selected to the nine-man All-Big West Team. The Gauchos were picked to finish fourth of six conference teams in the Coaches' Poll.
Bianchi not only broke out as the Gauchos' star attacker last season, but his average of 4.82 kills per set led the entire country. That, plus his 468 kills, 1,058 total attacks, and 37 aces were all top-ten for a single season in the UC Santa Barbara record book.
The Preseason Coaches' Team selection is just another in a line of accolades for the southpaw. After being named to the 2024 All-Big West First Team and an AVCA All-America Honorable Mention, he earned a spot on the 20-man United States Men's Collegiate National Team that trained this past summer.
For the Gauchos, they will look to improve off a 9-18 campaign last season where the record did not tell the full story. The Big West was arguably the toughest conference in collegiate men's volleyball, with three teams (Long Beach State, UC Irvine, and Hawai'i) ranked in the top-five of the final AVCA/NVA poll.
UC Santa Barbara begins their season hosting the ASICS Invitational beginning Thursday, Jan. 9 in Rob Gym. Tickets can be purchased online, in-person, or by phone at (805) 892-UCSB (8272).
Tune in to the 2025 Big West Men's Volleyball Preview presented by the Hawaiian Islands
on ESPN+ today at 12 p.m. PT. To see interviews with Coach McLaughlin and Bianchi, check out
the Big West YouTube channel after the Preview airs.
2025 Big West Men's Volleyball Preseason Coaches' Poll
1. Long Beach State – 24 (4)
2. UC Irvine – 21 (2)
3. Hawai'i – 18
4. UC Santa Barbara – 12
5. CSUN – 8
6. UC San Diego – 7
2025 All-Big West Preseason Coaches' Team
Geste Bianchi – Opposite – UC Santa Barbara
Anthony Cherfan – Opposite – UC San Diego
Donovan Constable – Setter – CSUN
Maxim Grigoriev – Middle Blocker – UC Irvine
Hilir Henno – Outside Hitter – UC Irvine
Moni Nikolov – Setter – Long Beach State
Tread Rosenthal – Setter – Hawai'i
Sotiris Siapanis – Outside Hitter – Long Beach State
Skylar Varga – Opposite – Long Beach State
