Hawaii makes quick work of NJIT to start the 2026 season
The Hawai’i Rainbow Warriors celebrate after a point against NJIT on opening night. | Photo: Brian Bautista
MANOA — The Hawai‘i men’s volleyball team opened the 2026 season in dominant fashion, sweeping New Jersey Institute of Technology in straight sets Friday night at Bankoh Arena at the Stan Sheriff Center.
The Rainbow Warriors needed just 95 minutes to secure the victory, winning 25-11, 25-16, 25-14 before a crowd of 6,721. Hawai‘i hit .517 as a team, totaled 13.5 blocks and served six aces in the season opener.
The win marked Hawai‘i’s 13th consecutive season-opening victory — a streak dating back to 2014 — and came in the earliest season opener in program history.
“Overall, pretty efficient, dominant performance,” Hawai‘i head coach Charlie Wade said. “Blocking was impressive. We spent more time in the fall this year than we have in a long time being more deliberate in what we’re doing in the blocking.”
Sophomore opposite Kristian Titriyski led all players with 12 kills while hitting .455. He also added two aces, four digs and two blocks. Sophomore outside hitter Adrien Roure followed with eight kills on 13 swings and just one error, finishing with a .538 hitting percentage.
Junior setter Tread Rosenthal guided a sharp Hawai‘i offense, finishing with 26 assists as the Rainbow Warriors committed just four hitting errors on 60 attack attempts. Hawai‘i had only two hitting errors through the first two sets.
“Our guys showed that they could play smart and efficient,” Rosenthal said.
Rosenthal also contributed two kills, including a one-handed dump to end the match, tied his career high with eight blocks and led the team with three aces.
Middle blocker Trevell Jordan, a transfer from Grand Canyon, added four kills and six blocks in his first appearance at Bankoh Arena.
“It was electric,” Jordan said. “It blew what I thought it was going to be like. The crowd was crazy. You could just hear how much they are involved and interacting with the game and staying locked in.”
Wade praised the home crowd, which filled the arena for the season opener.
“That’s something that we’re never going to take for granted,” Wade said. “We’re so appreciative of people taking the time, spending their money, coming out here and supporting us.”
NJIT hit just .045 as a team and did not record a block or an ace in the match.
The Rainbow Warriors (1-0) and Highlanders (0-1) will meet again Sunday at 5 p.m. at Bankoh Arena.
Radford football ready to build in Year No. 2 under Mason Manuma
HONOLULU — The first year of any coaching tenure often comes with a steep learning curve. For Radford coach Mason Manuma, the 2025 season was as much about learning the demands of leading his alma mater as it was about wins and losses. Now...
2026 OIA Football Schedule
CLICK HERE for 2026 Playoff Schedule 2026 OIA Division Breakdown Open: Kahuku, Mililani, Campbell, Kapolei, Kailua, Leilehua Division I: Waipahu, Farrington, Waianae, Moanalua, Aiea, Nanakuli, Radford, Roosevelt Division II: Pearl City, Castle,...
State runner-up Kamehameha opens at No. 1 in Lasquero’s HS Football Power Rankings
The 2026 Hawai'i High School Football season is upon us! Michael Lasquero, who nearly has 15 years of experience covering high school sports in the state, ranks his Top 25 teams in Hawai'i regardless of Division heading into the opening week of...
Aiea looks to build on breakthrough season despite key departures
‘AIEA — Expectations have changed around the ʻAiea football program. A year after surprising much of the OIA by reaching both the Division I championship game and the state tournament, Na Aliʻi enter the 2026 season focused on proving last year's...
