Not Your Average Setter: Moni Nikolov Revolutionises the Position

(Image credit to Sportal)

The setter. A vital position in every volleyball match. A player known for choosing timing over power, finesse over force. But in 2025, that image was shaken to the core by the 6’10 Bulgarian phenomenon - Moni Nikolov.

It took him just one season at Long Beach State to prove he is not just a prodigy. At the ripe age of 18, Moni is an accomplished player. Some say he is even better than his brother Alex and his father Vlado, who both have ruled the volleyball world in their time.

Traditionally the smallest player on the court, setters were once viewed as the quiet strategist, often forgotten. But Moni? He brought force, height, creativity, and pure power, showing everyone that their place in the spotlight has to be earned.

At 6’10, Nikolov towers over most middle-blockers. His towering presence at the net created a unique tactical advantage: blockers had to respect him as an attacker, not just a distributor. Moni moved college volleyball to a new, much higher level.

“He’s not just setting the ball—he’s creating options we didn’t know we had,” one teammate said after their Final Four win. The young playmaker is the reason the audience of Long Beach witnesses greatness unlike any other. Greatness, foreign to college volleyball. Greatness worthy of the highest stage.

What Moni Nikolov represents is more than dominance and skill – it’s a turning point. In a sport increasingly driven by force players, his example challenges young setters to think beyond textbook footwork and repetition. Now, a setter can be the best athlete on the floor. A game-changer. A risk-taker. A showman. That is what Moni Nikolov is. Not just a player. The player.

And his success continues outside America. During the Nations League, Moni showed why he deserves to be the first choice for setter at his young age. His serves - unmatched, unexpected, powerful like no other. Ace after ace, Moni is the man.

Moni Nikolov didn’t just set volleyballs—he set a new standard.

And the game may never look the same again.

Article written by Meggie S.