Men’s Volleyball Falls to Long Beach City, Prepares for Road Trip to Pierce

SAN MARCOS, CA (2/6/2026) -- After dropping a road match to Santa Monica College, Palomar returned home Friday looking to secure its first win of the season against Long Beach City College. The Comets battled early but ultimately fell in straight sets, 25-22, 25-17, 25-12.

Palomar came out strong in the opening set, hitting .296 and keeping the score tight before Long Beach closed late. The Vikings gained momentum in the second and third sets to complete the sweep.

Tyler Smith led the Comets offensively with seven kills and a service ace, while Paul Kozmiski added six kills and two block assists. Aiden Gardiner was efficient at the net, recording five kills on eight swings for a .625 hitting percentage along with two block assists. Josh Garland contributed four kills, and Connor Ferguson added three blocks to anchor the front-row defense.

Setter PJ Sambrano dished out 14 assists in directing the offense, and Palomar totaled 17 digs as the back row worked to extend rallies throughout the afternoon.

The Comets will look to regroup on Wednesday night when they travel to face Los Angeles Pierce College for their next matchup.