Notes & Quotes: A Late Fight, a Hard Lesson for Hawai‘i Men’s Volleyball

After a dominant sweep the night before, the Rainbow Warriors couldn’t complete the series sweep Friday night, falling to a much-improved Loyola Chicago squad in four tightly contested sets, 25-23, 25-22, 24-26, 29-27.

Hawai‘i showed resilience throughout the match — particularly in a dramatic third-set comeback — but Loyola Chicago’s improved serving pressure, blocking presence, and late-set execution proved decisive in the series finale.

What Changed from Night One

Head coach Charlie Wade was quick to credit Loyola Chicago for responding after Thursday’s sweep, noting that the Ramblers were simply sharper in key areas.

“They were better, just straight up,” Wade said. “They touched a lot of balls on the block, and those first two sets we had balls come back on our side to score real points and didn’t. Against a good team, if you let them hang around, they’re going to make plays late.”

Loyola Chicago’s serving, particularly from the setter position, disrupted Hawai‘i’s rhythm early and often, forcing the Rainbow Warriors into more out-of-system swings than the night before.

First Two Sets Slip Away

Hawai‘i held leads in both the opening sets but couldn’t fully capitalize. In Set 1, the Rainbow Warriors battled back late after a significant Loyola service run, closing the gap to 23 before the Ramblers finished the set. Set 2 followed a similar script, with Hawai‘i within striking distance late before Loyola closed it out 25-22.

“We just weren’t quite as crisp and efficient,” Wade said. “Those loose points add up, and at this level you pay for them.”

Third-Set Fight Shows Team Grit

Down two sets and trailing by as many as eight points in the third, Hawai‘i showed its character. The Rainbow Warriors chipped away behind improved serving pressure, strong blocking at the pins, and steady leadership on the floor to pull out a 26-24 win and extend the match.

“You’ve got to love the fight,” Wade said. “To battle back like that and actually win the set says a lot about the team. That’s not easy when you’re down 0-2 and things aren’t going your way.”

Players echoed that sentiment postmatch, pointing to energy from the crowd and belief within the group as the difference during the rally.

“You cannot just give up,” Ofeck Hazan said. “The fire of the guys and the fans pushed us. Everybody came in, served tough, made plays — it changed a lot.”

Fourth Set Goes to the Wire

The fourth set turned into a back-and-forth battle with neither team able to create separation. Hawai‘i fought off multiple match points, but Loyola Chicago ultimately closed the door at 29-27 behind strong out-of-system swings and timely blocking.

Despite the loss, Wade highlighted several positives, including contributions off the bench and the team’s overall response to adversity.

“Kainoa came in and gave us a real spark,” Wade said. “That’s big, knowing he can come off the bench and do that. Early in the season, experiences like this help build character.”

Early-Season Reality Check

With the loss coming in just the fourth match of the season, both coaches and players viewed the result as a valuable early test rather than a setback.

“You get a sense of your own mortality,” Wade said. “Nothing’s a given. You’ve got to earn it every night.”

Players agreed, framing the match as a reminder of the standard required to compete at the highest level.

“It’s a reality check,” Kainoa Wade said. “The whole nation just watched us lose, so now we know what we have to do better. This will help us down the road.”

Hawai‘i moves forward from the split knowing it was pushed — and tested — in ways that could prove valuable later in the season.

By the Numbers

• Sets: Loyola Chicago def. Hawai‘i, 25-23, 25-22, 24-26, 29-27

• Attendance: 6,671 at SimpliFi Arena at Stan Sheriff Center

• Match Time: 2 hours, 49 minutes

• Hawai‘i Attack Percentage: .254 (60 kills, 25 errors, 138 attempts)

• Loyola Chicago Attack Percentage: .231 (48 kills, 18 errors, 130 attempts)

• Kills Leader (Hawai‘i): Louis Sakanoko – 18

• Kills Leader (Match): Aleksandar Sosa (LUC) – 19

• Assists:

  • Hawai‘i – 56

  • Loyola Chicago – 45

• Aces:

  • Hawai‘i – 6

  • Loyola Chicago – 8

• Team Blocks:

  • Hawai‘i – 10.5

  • Loyola Chicago – 15.5

• Longest Set: Fourth set (56 total points)

• Comeback Moment: Hawai‘i rallied from a late deficit to win Set 3, 26-24, extending the match after trailing two sets to none

• Series Result: Split series

  • Hawai‘i win (Jan. 8): 25-18, 25-19, 25-15

  • Loyola Chicago win (Jan. 9): 25-23, 25-22, 24-26, 29-27