The Hawaii men’s volleyball team delivered its finest performance when it mattered most, rallying from a lopsided first-set loss to capture its third national title. The second-seeded Rainbow Warriors defeated UC Irvine 15-25, 25-18, 25-18, 25-20 on Tuesday at Pauley Pavilion in the final of the National Collegiate Men’s Volleyball Championship.
Kristian Titriyski led a balanced Hawaii offense with a match-high 16 kills, including the decisive point, as the team hit .410 for the match. Adrien Roure contributed 15 kills and seven digs, while Louis Sakanoko added 12 kills, six digs, three blocks, and three consecutive aces in the fourth set to seal the victory. Sakanoko was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player.
Middle blockers Justin Todd and Trevell Jordan combined for 12 kills on 17 swings. After the Anteaters dominated the opening set with a .562 hitting percentage and just one error, Hawaii took control, hitting .452 or better in each of the next three sets, including .538 in the fourth.
The Rainbow Warriors finished with a program-record 30 wins (30-5), earning six of those victories against Big West rivals Long Beach State and UC Irvine, all on the road or at neutral sites. UC Irvine’s freshman Andrej Jovanoic led the Anteaters with 13 kills.
This title marks Hawaii’s ninth NCAA team championship across all sports.
