Hawai’i rolls past NJIT behind efficient high-powered attack

HONOLULU – Even Hawai’i head coach Charlie Wade was impressed.

The University of Hawai’i men’s volleyball team swept NJIT (0-2) in straight sets on Sunday night inside Bankoh Arena at Stan Sheriff Center, (25-17, 25-16, 25-17), dominating the Highlanders behind an attack that hit .517 as a unit while committing seven total attacking errors across 58 swings.

“Overall, the efficiency of the offense, I’m somewhat surprised – pleasantly,” Wade said of his team’s performance from throughout the weekend. “We hit for a big number both nights … both setters doing a nice job running the offense, I think it’s a good way to start the year.”

Sophomore opposite Kristian Titriyski paced the balanced Rainbow Warrior attack with 11 kills, four blocks and three service aces, finishing the match as the lone player on either side of the net to tally double figure kills. Fellow sophomore Adrien Roure followed closely behind with nine kills on 13 swings for UH, committing only one attacking error in three frames of work.

With the majority of his weapons from last season’s Big West champion squad returning and at his disposal, junior setter Tread Rosenthal dished out a calm 30-assist night in two (and a little change) sets of work before turning over the keys to the offense to freshman setter Magnus Hettervik in the third frame to close out the match.

Hettervik, who hails from Norway and was recruited with help from program legend Jakob Thelle, made his Rainbow Warrior debut in the second set as a serving sub but got real action running the offense in the final stanza as he dished out three assists.

“When an alum sends me a text, e-mail, whatever with someone, I know they know the level,” Wade said discussing the recruiting process of the new Norwegian setter. “Anyone that’s been recommended by one of the alums has turned out very good. Obviously, Jakob was a two-time NCAA champion, [AVCA] Player of the Year and, I don’t think there’s any question, the most decorated athlete in the history of the University of Hawai’i athletics … So, it didn’t take me much convincing when he sent me the tape.”

Hawai’i (2-0), who was ranked as the No. 2 team in the country in the AVCA preseason coaches’ poll, raced out to a 10-3 lead in the premiere stanza behind an aggressive Titriyski service turn that produced a pair of aces and an efficient attack that came to be the norm throughout the night.

The Rainbow Warriors kept rolling as the opening frame continued, seeing back-to-back triple blocks by the trifecta of Titriyski, Justin Todd and Louis Sakanoko help the hosts double up the Highlanders, 18-9, and force NJIT to take its second timeout of the young night. UH calmly closed out the set with a 25-17 decision, hitting .533 on 15 swings as a group while all phases of the game flowed.

Hawai’i’s efficient attack leveled up in the second set, hitting .778 as a team without committing a single attacking error while Hettervik made his first entrance and promptly dealt an ace on the way to another comfortable set win, 25-16.

The third frame provided the most competitive action of the night as Wade dipped into his pool of promising prospects awaiting on the bench to close out the match. While starters Adrien Roure, Tread Rosenthal, Kristian Titriyski, Trevell Jordan and Quintin Greenidge opened the set, Finn Kearney and Ofeck Hazan got the nod for a solid portion of the frame along with time for Hettervik and middle blocker Alex Parks.

Each side played within a pair of points of each other until Hawai’i ripped off a 7-0 run to take a commanding 21-12 lead over NJIT in the final set. The Highlanders hit back with a 4-1 run, but the Rainbow Warriors quit playing with their food as Roure powered down the final kill of the night to secure the second sweep in as many matches this season.

Quintin Greenidge tallied a match-high eight digs in the sweep while Louis Sakanoko had six kills on seven swings and did not commit an error of any kind (attack, service, block or reception). Trevell Jordan added four kills on six swings with a single attacking error while chipping in one of Hawai’i’s eight team blocks.

Following the match, returning players from the 2025 squad received their Big West championship rings. Alumni such as ‘Eleu Choy, Kawai Hong and Zachary Thompson also came back following their graduation to take in the match and take part in the ring ceremony after the victory, celebrating while newcomers watched with desires to add bling of their own.

“When I look at the ring, it looks pretty insane,” freshman setter Magnus Hettervik said after watching his new teammates get their hardware. “It pushes me more that I really want to get one for myself, so I think it’s just an inspiration.”

No. 2 Hawai’i returns to action on Thursday, January 8 for a top-10 matchup against No. 7-ranked Loyola-Chicago, hosting the Ramblers for the first of a two-match weekend series. First serve is scheduled for 7 p.m. HT.