The party continued for Long Beach State’s national champion men’s volleyball team as they participated in a victory drive along downtown’s Pine Avenue on Wednesday.

The team returned victorious on Tuesday from the NCAA tournament in Columbus, Ohio, after defeating No. 3 UCLA in the national championship match.

This is Long Beach State’s fourth national title in program history. Long Beach won all three of its matches against UCLA this season, beating the Bruins twice in February before Monday’s title match. The Beach swept two-time defending champions UCLA in the NCAA tournament finals, a year after the Bruins beat them to win the title at the Walter Pyramid.

This year’s victory sparked pride and celebrations throughout the university campus, as well as across the city.

Downtown Long Beach was painted in black and gold — the university’s colors — as scores of people converged along Pine Avenue waiting for the team to arrive for their victory drive. People were holding up signs and waving pompoms.

“We’re super excited to support; it was a spur of the moment,” said Jamie Peacock, a Long Beach resident and 2019 alumna. “Long Beach has always been known to have a good volleyball team, so it’s really cool that our school is known for it nationally.”

The parade started around 11 a.m. from Fifth Street and Pine Avenue, with fire trucks blaring their sirens to let fans know the team was on its way. Some of the volleyball players were atop a fire engine from Station 22.

Behind them was a caravan of cars — one with 4th District Councilmember Daryl Supernaw, followed by university administrators — and the last fire truck had more team members waving at the crowd and holding up the national championship trophy.

People cheered and chanted “Go Beach” as the team drove by. Cars stopped in traffic and honked their horns in support. The crowd grew larger as more people joined, and bystanders also cheered on as they found out in the moment of the team’s accomplishment.

The team also threw towels, small volleyball-shaped stress balls and pins that said “Go Beach” into the crowd.

“We went to a couple of games this year and they were unbelievable,” said Lakewood resident Terry Prowell, who was at the parade with his wife, Juanita. “It’s a really good vibe here today.”

The Lakewood couple are among a group of fans who don’t have a personal connection with the university but still want to support their local university volleyball team. Prowell said they arrived at the parade route an hour early because of how “fired up” they were to join the celebration.

The Beach community followed the parade down Pine Avenue toward the Altar Society, where there was a community celebration with food, drinks, music and opportunities to get pictures with the national championship trophy and the team.

City leaders attended the celebration, including Supernaw, Councilmember Mary Zendejas and Vice Mayor Roberto Uranga.

“I’m super excited and super proud of our Long Beach State University men’s volleyball team,” Zendejas said in an interview. “It makes us so proud of them. They were able to show the world what excellence is, on and off the court. It’s super exciting to host them in downtown, the heart of the city; it’s the most appropriate place to celebrate with the whole city.”

Students were also proud of their university’s volleyball team.

“We’re having a great time; it’s super exciting to support them,” said Malia Irwin, a graduating nursing student at Long Beach State. “We’re graduating, so it’s a great way to end it all.”

Irwin attended games throughout the season with her friend Selima Zida, also a graduating nursing student, and both said they were impressed with the team’s hard work.

“We’re so proud of you,” Zida said she would tell the team. “Let’s do nationals again next year.”