The fourth-ranked University of Hawai'i (UH) men's volleyball team secured a four-set victory over No. 11 UC San Diego in a Big West match on Saturday that got heated late, with both teams receiving warnings for net talk.
Set scores:
✅ 27-25
✅ 25-23
❌ 17-25
✅ 25-18
Rainbow Warriors(21-2, 4-0 BWC) were led by Frenchmen Louis Sakanoko and Adrien Rouchs, who combined for 29 of the team's 56 total kills (51.8%). Sakanoko led the team with 15 kills, hitting 41.4% (15/29) with five digs and four blocks, while Rouchs added 14 kills, hitting 40.0% (14/35).
UH overcame 18 service errors, hitting 39.0% for the match, including 64.0% in the decisive fourth set. Hawaii also accounted for half of the team's nine total blocks in the final set.
The Tritons (16-6, 2-2) had three players with double-digit kills, including Josh Schellinger's 18 kills on 38.2% hitting (18/47).
UH's middle blockers, including Kurt Nusterer and Ofek Hazan, combined for 15 kills with only one attack error on 21 attempts (71.4%) and eight blocks. Nusterer had eight kills on 11 attempts with no errors (72.7%), while Hazan added seven kills and a team-high five blocks.
Kristian Titriyski finished with 9 points (1 ace, 2 blocks).
Match Progression
Set 1 (27-25)
UCSD tied it at 21, then the teams traded points. Rouchs' fifth kill ended the set on Hawaii's third set point.
Set 2 (25-23)
UH led wire-to-wire, but the Tritons got within one at 23-22. Sakanoko's seventh kill gave UH set point, and Hazan finished the set with his third kill.
Set 3 (17-25)
UCSD started with a 9-3 run andRainbow Warriorsand never managed to threaten their lead until the end. That's when the provocations began.
Fourth set (25-18)
UH doubled the Tritons' score early and took a 16-11 lead after a 5-1 run.Rainbow Warriorsscored four straight points, including an ace by Kainoa Wade, to reach match point, and Rour's thunderous attack point sparked celebrations.
Hawaii's next stop is Southern California for a series of two "Bulgarian" derbies against CSUN - on Friday, April 4, and Saturday, April 5, in Northridge, California.
