Hawaii handles BYU in first match back at SSC in over a month

MANOA — Home sweet home.

Playing its first match at Bankoh Arena at Stan Sheriff Center in more than a month, the University of Hawaiʻi men’s volleyball team defeated BYU in four sets Wednesday night before a crowd of 4,800.

Set scores were 27-25, 23-25, 25-17, 25-18.

The third-ranked Rainbow Warriors (13-1) extended their winning streak to 10 matches while snapping the sixth-ranked Cougars’ nine-match win streak.

“It was great. Stan Sheriff is the best gym you can play in America definitely, and playing here as a Hawaiʻi team is even better,” said junior outside hitter Louis Sakanoko.

The two teams will conclude their series Friday night. The two-match series was not on the schedule at the start of the year, but was created after the cancellation of the NIL Tournament in California earlier this month. A portion of ticket proceeds from the series will go directly toward the universities’ NIL initiatives, supporting efforts to recruit and retain players.

“I had so much fun,” Sakanoko said. “Thank you to all the fans for coming. The attendance was pretty crazy for a last-minute game, so really, really happy to be here.”

Sakanoko’s comfort on the Rainbow Warriors’ home court was on full display on the penultimate point of the first set when he put down a reverse attack behind his head while facing away from the net.

“It’s Louis being Louis,” Hawaiʻi coach Charlie Wade said.

Sakanoko said it happened in the flow of the moment.

“We don’t even really practice that. Just in the moment, that’s the only thing I could find to score, so I tried. And I know Charlie doesn’t like that, so I better score when I do that or I’m in trouble.”

This play resulted in a Hawai’i kill by Louis Sakanoko (23). | Photo: Rayden Aoki

Sakanoko was one of three Rainbow Warriors to finish with double-digit kills, recording 15 as Hawaiʻi hit .451 as a team in the win. Sophomore opposite Kainoa Wade led the team with 16 kills, while sophomore outside hitter Adrien Roure hit .500 and finished with 14 kills.

“Tonight everyone was really efficient,” Sakanoko said. “I think the more spread out the offense is, the better for us because it’s one or two blockers maximum, so it’s always really nice.”

Middle blocker Jordan Trevell also hit .636 without an error and had seven kills on 11 swings. Setter Tread Rosenthal recorded 46 assists and added three kills, while libero Quintin Greenidge also contributed a point.

Hawaiʻi dropped the second set by the minimum two points but responded by winning the third set by its largest margin of the match.

Greenidge noted that playing at home helps the team stay composed after a setback.

“There’s just a level of comfort that we have on this court,” he said. “Even after losing that second set, we can go back (in the locker room), come back out, see all our fans and just reset and know that we can win.”

Wade also made a key substitution after the intermission, inserting sophomore middle blocker Ofeck Hazan, who finished with four kills on six swings.

“We weren’t really touching much in the middle. (BYU was) running the middle a fair amount and scoring, and Ofeck is just kind of that high-energy guy. Always gives you a lift. Does a lot of things that never show up on the stats,” Wade said.

Ofeck Hazan (16) celebrates after a Hawai’i point in the fourth set. | Photo: Michael Lasquero, HSRN

“Thought it was a good spot for him to come in, and he absolutely delivered.”

Trent Moser led the Cougars (13-3) with a match-high 18 kills in the loss.