Happy Valley’s Isaiah Preuitt wins NCAA title in men’s volleyball

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) -- Isaiah Preuitt had quite a freshman year for the Long Beach State volleyball team. He played sparingly for Long Beach State before hearing his number called in the Big West championship against Hawaii.

He then saw playing time in both the NCAA semis and the national championship.

“Whenever I looked out at the audience I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, this is reality, like, we’re here,’” said Preuitt of the national championship game.

“I just had to stay ready,” said Preuitt of the time he spent off the court. “I knew the opportunity would come. My coaches prepped me pretty well. When it came, I was ready, and I went out there, and we had fun. We took the natty.”

LBSU is a national power in volleyball but came up short the last few years in the NCAA tournament.

Preuitt and company won the program’s first championship since 2019 when they swept UCLA on May 12.

“So honored,” said the former #4-ranked boys high school volleyball player in the country. “To play for Alan Knipe and that coaching staff is such a blessing. I love those people so much. To win that for them and all of our fans, the LB Nation, it was a lot of fun.”

The question begs, what’s next? After all, Isaiah won a national championship in his first year playing.

Preuitt thinks LBSU can win a second straight title.

“I think so,” he said. “I think with our Long Beach system and how we play the game of volleyball, if we can work hard and do our jobs, I think we can potentially see the result we want.”