HONOLULU – In a thrilling showdown at the SimpliFi Arena at Stan Sheriff Center, the fourth-ranked University of Hawai'i men's volleyball team faced a tough challenge against the top-ranked Long Beach State, ultimately falling in four sets on Friday night. The match, played in front of a raucous sold-out crowd of 9,962, ended with set scores of 25-21, 25-18, 18-25, and 25-21.
Entering the match, both teams were tied atop the Big West standings at 5-1, setting the stage for a high-stakes encounter. However, the Rainbow Warriors (22-4, 5-2 BWC) had to contend with the absence of their kill leader, Kristian Titriyski, who was sidelined with an ankle injury sustained in a previous game against Cal State Northridge. His absence was felt as the team struggled to find rhythm early on.
Freshman Finn Kearney stepped up to fill the void left by Titriyski, playing in his natural opposite position. Kearney led the Warriors with a career-high 17 kills and three blocks, showcasing his capability in a high-pressure situation. "I just tried to stay focused and do my best for the team," Kearney said after the match.
Despite Kearney's impressive performance, the Warriors fell behind early in both of the first two sets. Long Beach State (24-1, 6-1) quickly established dominance, leading 6-1 in the first set and 10-4 in the second. The Beach's offensive power was evident, with Daniil Hershtynovich leading the attack with 17 kills and Alex Kandev contributing 15 kills and three aces, hitting an impressive .440.
Hawai'i managed to rally in the third set, demonstrating resilience as they took an early lead and extended it to five points at 19-14. The Warriors closed out the set with a strong 10-4 run, forcing a fourth set and igniting hope among the home crowd.
In the fourth set, the Warriors were in a favorable position, leading 20-18. However, the Beach responded with a crucial four-point run, showcasing their experience and poise under pressure. A service error by Kainoa Wade and consecutive points from Kandev sealed the match for Long Beach State, who scored seven of the final eight points. "We had our chances, but we just couldn’t close it out," said UH setter Tread Rosenthal, who recorded his first double-double of the season with 40 assists and 13 digs.
Long Beach State's Moni Nikolov, a standout freshman setter, also had a remarkable performance, tallying 38 assists, seven digs, five blocks, and three kills, proving why he is a strong candidate for national player of the year. The Beach's hitting percentage was a staggering .365 compared to Hawai'i's .294, and they dominated the blocking game, out-blocking the Warriors 11.5 to 5.5.
Despite the loss, the Rainbow Warriors showed flashes of brilliance, particularly in the third set and early in the fourth. Adrien Roure added 12 kills and six digs, while Louis Sakanoko contributed 11 kills and four digs. The Warriors' offense hit .294 overall, but their inability to sustain momentum in critical moments proved costly.
The match marked the 14th sellout in program history and the first time since 1996 that the team has had consecutive sellouts, as Saturday's rematch is also sold out. Following the match on Saturday, five seniors – Eleu Choy, Kawai Hong, Kurt Nusterer, Zachary Thompson, and Clay Wieter – will be honored during the traditional Senior Night ceremony.
As the teams prepare for the rematch on Saturday at 7:00 p.m., the Warriors will look to bounce back and even the score against the Beach. Head coach Charlie Wade emphasized the importance of learning from the loss, stating, "We need to regroup and come back stronger tomorrow. We have the talent to compete with them, and we need to show that on the court." With both teams vying for the top spot in the Big West, fans can expect another electrifying match.
