Hawai’i coasts by Penn State to set up OUTRIGGER Invitational title match

Hawai’i coasts by Penn State to set up OUTRIGGER Invitational title match

Mar 14, 2025

Hawai’i men’s volleyball huddles after scoring a point against No. 19 Penn State. | Photo Credit: Michael Lasquero, HSRN

Hawai’i coasts by Penn State to set up OUTRIGGER Invitational title match

BY PAUL BRECHT | HONOLULU
PUBLISHED MARCH 14, 2025

HONOLULU – Have sweep dreams, we’ll see you tomorrow. 

The University of Hawai’i men’s volleyball team secured a sweep of a ranked opponent for the second straight night on Friday, easily moving past Penn State (5-12) in straight sets on Day 2 of the 2025 OUTRIGGER Invitational – 25-13, 25-23, 25-12. Adrien Roure led the charge for Hawai’i as he flew all over the floor for a match-high 15 kills along with seven digs, four assists and four blocks. 

Fellow Frenchman Louis Sakanoko showed off his showmanship with nine kills of his own, hitting .412 while spinning one of Hawai’i’s six service aces and dishing out the flashiest assist of the night to Roure. With typical starting opposite Kristian Titriyski getting a night off ahead of a title-match tilt with No. 5 USC, Kainoa Wade stepped into the rotation for the Rainbow Warriors and led the team with eight digs while putting down five kills of his own. 

Tread Rosenthal captained the offense effectively once again, handing out 29 assists and recording a team-best three service aces across the three frames. The sophomore setter saw his own attacking numbers tick up as well, finishing with four kills on seven error-free attempts. 

Hawai’i (19-1) started quickly, jumping out to a nine-point lead in the first set after Kurt Nusterer recorded back-to-back service aces that forced Penn State to burn through both timeouts before the media break at 15 arrived. Two more aces from the Rainbow Warriors followed along with the team hitting .350 in the opening stanza, leading to a dominant 25-13 decision for the hosts to begin the match. 

Sloppy play from UH started the second set, seeing nine early errors help the Nittany Lions take a two-point lead at the media timeout. Hawai’i stabilized to remain within a pair after the break and roared back with the final four points of the frame, committing only two more mistakes through the set as they snatched a 2-0 advantage over PSU. 

The Rainbow Warriors made quick work of the Nittany Lions in the third set, clicking into another gear after trading the first 12 points as Roure started to let it rip. Hawai’i took a 15-7 lead into the media stoppage after Sakanoko and Roure hooked up for a beautiful back-set to the outside that sent the Stan Sheriff Center crowd into a frenzy. 

The UH domination continued when play resumed as the lead grew as large as 11 before Penn State finally scored again. A few errors from the Rainbow Warriors allowed the match to continue for a few more minutes, but Hawai’i would refocus to score the final three points and complete the sweep over the Nittany Lions. 

Will Kuhns led the charge for Penn State, finishing with 13 kills on 20 swings and committing four attack errors in the loss. The visitors hit a paltry .049 as a team, falling in straight sets for the second straight night. 

The victory by the Rainbow Warriors extends the team’s win streak to 10 games and sets up a true championship matchup against No. 5 USC on Saturday night. The Trojans (15-2) also recorded a pair of sweeps on the first two days of the tournament against Ball State and Penn State. 

First serve is scheduled for 7 p.m. HT – Hawai’i has won six straight matches in the tournament and is looking for its 12th overall OUTRIGGER Invitational title. USC is looking for the program’s first-ever title, securing a runner-up finish in each of the previous two appearances in the tournament (‘09, ‘10).

Photo Gallery: Hawaii Track & Field Intrasquad Meet

Photo Gallery: Hawaii Track & Field Intrasquad Meet

Mar 10, 2025

Photo Gallery: Hawaii Track & Field Intrasquad Meet

PUBLISHED MARCH 10, 2025
PHOTOS BY KU’ULEI AGBAYANI

The University of Hawai’i women’s track and field team held an intrasquad meet on Saturday at the campus of Kamehameha Schools Maui. The meet also served as a tune-up before the official start of outdoor season March 21-22 in Sacramento.

The entire Rainbow Wahine squad made the trip and competed against one another.

Three Hawaii football keys against Sam Houston

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Three Hawaii football keys against Sam Houston BY PAUL BRECHT | HONOLULUPUBLISHED SEPTEMBER 5, 2025HONOLULU – Football can be a fickle game. After fans felt an immaculate high after the University of Hawai’i defeated Stanford on a walk-off field...

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Game Week Presser: Sam Houston’s Phil Long

by | Sep 5, 2025

Game Week Press Conference: Sam Houston Head Coach Phil Longo BY HAWAII SPORTS RADIO NETWORK STAFFPUBLISHED SEPTEMBER 5, 2025The Rainbow Warriors host Sam Houston for the second straight season, after the Bearkats won last year’s first-ever...

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Hawai’i secures outright Big West title on historic Senior Night

Hawai’i secures outright Big West title on historic Senior Night

Mar 9, 2025

The 2024-25 Hawai’i Rainbow Wahine, the Big West regular season champions, on Senior Night. | Photo Credit: Michael Lasquero, HSRN

Hawai’i secures outright Big West title on historic Senior Night

BY PAUL BRECHT | HONOLULU
PUBLISHED MARCH 9, 2025

HONOLULU – All smiles for Senior Night. 

The University of Hawai’i women’s basketball team rolled over Cal State Northridge (4-25, 2-18 Big West) on Saturday night, 62-36, seeing senior MeiLani McBee set the program’s all-time 3-point record as she and five other Rainbow Wahine closed out their careers inside the Stan Sheriff Center with the team’s third regular season Big West title in the last four years. Another senior in Lily Wahinekapu led UH in scoring, pouring in 18 points on an efficient 6-of-11 shooting performance while knocking down a pair of threes herself. 

Wahinekapu was the lone Rainbow Wahine to finish in double figures, but 10 players scored throughout the night for UH – including all six seniors. Fellow local girl Kelsie Imai chipped in with nine points, seven rebounds and three assists, putting the Hilo native one dime shy of reaching the program’s all-time top five for helpers. 

There were two moments during game action that elicited ear-splitting cheers; the first came when McBee walked into a behind-the-back pass from Wahinekapu and calmly cashed her 206th career 3-pointer with 7:38 left in regulation, passing Amy Atwell (‘22) for the program’s all-time mark to the delight of a couple thousand passionate fans that had been waiting with bated breath all night. 

The other came with just over a minute remaining when Kalani alum and beloved senior Hallie Birdsong, who spent the majority of her Rainbow Wahine career as a walk-on, drove to the cup and scored to give all six graduating seniors at least a point on Senior Night. 

“That’s what got me,” Hawai’i head coach Laura Beeman said of Birdsong’s bucket. “I was fine until she scored and then I started crying on the sideline. I don’t know if I’ve ever cried on the sidelines during a game and that’s the one that got me. A perfect exclamation point to a great night.” 

The victory secured an outright regular season Big West title for Hawai’i (22-8, 16-4 Big West), a feat that should result in an invitation to one of the NCAA Tournament or Women’s Basketball Invitation Tournament by next Sunday. Despite the guarantee of either tournament, the Rainbow Wahine have their eyes on a specific one with a message for fans after the regular season closed. 

“We’re not done yet.” 

Mia ‘Uhila started to find her 3-point stroke again, drilling a pair of triples while Brooklyn Rewers closed the regular season with seven points while posting a career-high 13 rebounds, powering the Rainbow Wahine offense in the first half to help the hosts take a double-digit lead by the break. The 6-foot-4 center finished the regular season among the top 25 players in the Big West in rebounds per game despite playing just over 16 minutes per night. 

“[Brooklyn] has always just come through when we needed her,” Beeman said of the senior post player.  

Former Rainbow Wahine forward Nnenna Orji started the night’s scoring with an and-one chance for CSUN, but Hawai’i quickly rattled off the next 10 points to take an eight-point lead with under two minutes left in the first quarter. The Matadors’ scoring drought only snapped with Alondra Lizama’s trip to the charity stripe with 1:37 left in the period, missing their final 15 field goal attempts as Hawai’i led 15-4 through one quarter. 

A nice second quarter from Rewers helped the Rainbow Wahine push the advantage out to 15 by halftime as she knocked down her only 3-pointer of the night and racked up four more boards.  

The second half turned into a rewrite of the Hawai’i record books as MeiLani McBee got in on the fun with her first triple of the night, tying the program 3-point record with 1:06 left in the third quarter while pushing the Rainbow Wahine lead above 20 for the first time all game. After flipping into the final frame, the senior guard broke the mark set by Amy Atwell with 7:41 left in regulation, draining a walk-up three off of a nice behind-the-back drop-off pass from Wahinekapu to give a 47-23 lead to the Rainbow Wahine. 

“I told Mei that I was going to get her one,” Wahinekapu said of the pass with a big smile. “She trailed me, and I saw her – no one was guarding her, so I behind-the-back passed to her and she hit that. That’s when I got chills, when she hit that.” 

 

The crowd roared for Birdsong’s basket as well, seeing the bench sent into a frenzy too as the senior recorded her third career bucket, all of which have come against Cal State Northridge. With the game in hand, Beeman went to a platoon switch to sub out all five seniors on the floor – giving the crowd one last chance in game to show their aloha to a historically successful crew. 

“Every Senior Night brings something so remarkable, so unique, so different, and each one of them talked about how special each one was to each other and how they were sisters. That’s what I take out of this is the love that this group has for each other,” Beeman said of the memorable night. 

The Rainbow Wahine will leave for the Big West Tournament early on Monday but will not play until the semifinal round on Friday, March 14 at 9 a.m. HT. Hawai’i is looking for the team’s third Big West Tournament title in the past four years and would match the program’s highest win total under Laura Beeman in any season with one more victory. 

Aiea climbs back to stun Pearl City in OIA opener, 9-8

Aiea climbs back to stun Pearl City in OIA opener, 9-8

Mar 7, 2025

Aiea celebrates after recording the final out against Pearl City in the top of the seventh inning. | Photo Credit: Brian Bautista

Aiea climbs back to stun Pearl city in OIA opener, 9-8

BY MICHAEL LASQUERO | HSRN
PUBLISHED MARCH 7, 2025

‘AIEA — Thursday’s regular season opener for ‘Aiea and Pearl City did not disappoint.

Na Ali’i overcame an early deficit and took their first lead in the bottom of the sixth inning for a 9-8 win over the Chargers at ‘Aiea District Park to begin OIA Division I-West play.

‘Aiea faced multiple four-run deficits in the game before pushing across three runs in the penultimate frame to pick up its third straight win at home dating back to last season.

“Honestly that was dog mentality,” said ‘Aiea second-year coach Brennan Alejo.

Senior right fielder Dennison Zakahi led the way in the batter’s box for Na Ali’i by getting on base in all four plate appearances, batting 3-for-3 with a double, two RBIs and three runs scored to earn HSRN’s “VIP of the Game” award, presented by Fun Factory Games.

“I just wanted to be on time and just wanted to be the next man up and do my job,” said Zakahi. “It feels good to start off this season like this.”

It was also a get-back game for ‘Aiea, who saw its 2024 season end to Pearl City in the state tournament in a 11-inning marathon contest. Na Ali’i had defeated the Chargers in the previous three meetings that year.

“We came out really wanting to beat them,” said Zakahi.

Senior Caden Schaefer came over from center field in relief of starting pitcher Dylan Wong to start the fifth inning to pick up the win in the longest pitching stretch of his career. He went three innings and allowed just two hits and two unearned runs, needing just 29 pitches.

“It was really just to hold (the score) for us, throw a couple of zeroes and if we got him the lead, it was going to be his game to win. We’re happy we left him out there. He just pushed through and he got us that win,” said Alejo.

Having graduated nine seniors, which included eight starters, for an ‘Aiea team that reached the OIA final, a lot of players for Na Ali’i stepped up to get the win over the Chargers.

Kamu Ohia-Pratt had a game-high four RBIs and Matthew Higa had a hit in his first plate appearance and scored two runs after only getting one at bat in 2024.

Aiea’s Brennan Tsue celebrates after driving in the go-ahead run in the bottom of the sixth inning. | Photo Credit: Brian Bautista

Brennan Tsue also drove in the go-ahead run to redeem himself after committing an error in the top of the sixth that allowed Pearl City to go ahead by two runs.

“We talked about the shoes being filled and they didn’t think too much of it, they really wanted their chance,” Alejo said. “It’s guys that could have played last year, it’s just we were senior heavy and we had a lot of depth they were waiting their turn and they got it and they made most of it.”

Jase Lorenzo was tagged with the loss for the Chargers, after being the third pitcher to take the mound in the bottom of the fourth inning when ‘Aiea took tied the game at 6-all.

Leading Pearl City at the plate was Ian Wicklund with a two-run homer in the top of the second and Jayson Au Hoy with three RBIs. Leadoff hitter Logan Honma also scored three runs despite not recording a hit as Na Ali’i gave him a base on balls on his first plate appearance before intentionally walking the USC-bound third baseman the next three times.

Hawaii Pacific stuns Azusa Pacific with 7th-inning comeback

Hawaii Pacific stuns Azusa Pacific with 7th-inning comeback

Mar 5, 2025

Hawaii Pacific 1B Tiari Hernandez stands in the box to take a swing during HPU’s 4-3 comeback win over Azusa Pacific on Tuesday. | Photo Credit: Michael Lasquero, HSRN

Hawaii Pacific stuns Azusa Pacific with 7th-inning comeback

BY PAUL BRECHT | HONOLULU
PUBLISHED MARCH 5, 2025

HONOLULU – Something about ladies and singing. 

The Hawaii Pacific University softball team stunned Azusa Pacific (10-9, 7-3 PacWest) on Tuesday, using three runs in the bottom of the 7th inning to come back and take the series rubber match over the Cougars, 4-3. First baseman Tiari Hernandez delivered the game-winning hit, smacking an RBI double to right field to score Alexis Oshiro from second base and cap off the 3-run frame for the Sharks.

It was the seventh time this season that HPU (10-14, 4-5 PacWest) erased a deficit to come back and win and the second straight day that the Sharks pulled out a win in a one-run game against the Cougars. The victory also matched HPU’s 2024 PacWest win total (4) while surpassing the total amount of wins from last season (9 in ‘24) through just 24 games. 

“[The team] understands the pressure is a little bit firmer when we drop the first [game of a series],” said HPU head coach Jarnett Lono after Tuesday’s win. “We’ve put ourselves in that situation in the first three series already, so hopefully they’ll turn through and think about capturing that first one.” 

The HPU softball team poses together after a 4-3 comeback win over Azusa Pacific. | Photo Credit: Michael Lasquero, HSRN

The Sharks had to show resilience for the second straight day after APU put up three runs in the 1st inning, tagging sophomore pitcher Layla Molina for four straight hits to begin the game. Once Molina got APU’s Bella Fraser to fly out on a sacrifice to left, the right-handed hurler settled in, tallying the next two outs shortly after to limit the damage through the first frame. 

Molina allowed one more hit through two more innings of work, recovering to turn in an overall nice outing before exiting in the top of the 4th inning with HPU still trailing, 3-0. Veteran pitcher Taylor Thompson entered for the Sharks, keeping the momentum from the sophomore going as she spun together four scoreless innings to keep the hosts within striking distance. 

HPU finally got on the board in the bottom of the 4th after Jewel Larson led off the inning with a base hit and moved to third after a sacrifice bunt and wild pitch. Center fielder Hoku Ching brought the Pearl City product home, poking an RBI single into the outfield to make it a 3-1 game with three more innings to work. 

They needed all three innings, waiting until there was one out in the bottom of the 7th before scoring again as Azusa Pacific starting pitcher Mia Castillo continued to stymie the Sharks’ offense. Looking for any type of spark, Lono used a pair of pinch hitters at the bottom of the lineup to try and get a runner aboard before the potent top of the lineup came up. 

Enter Neva Poulin. 

The senior outfielder smacked a pinch-hit, one-out double to give HPU new life as leadoff hitter Taryn Hirano stepped to the plate representing the tying run. Hirano quickly followed behind, lifting an RBI triple over the head of APU center fielder Hailey Burns to put the tying run for HPU just 60 feet away still with only one out. 

Alexis Oshiro tapped an RBI single up the middle to tie the game, 3-3, and then stole second to put herself in scoring position with Tiari Hernandez, the team leader in runs batted in on the season, at the plate. 

Then it was just up to Ari to do Ari things. 

The senior first baseman took a 3-2 offering from Castillo the other way to right field, driving in her 18th run of the year and scoring Oshiro from second to steal the game and the series from Azusa Pacific, 4-3. 

“This win was very needed,” Hernandez said immediately after the game. “I feel like we can carry this momentum into the next series. One of our team goals [this year] is to always win the series and this one really helps us [before] going on the road and going forward.” 

Taylor Thompson (5-5) was awarded the win for HPU after going 4.0 innings, striking out two and allowing two hits while keeping the potent APU lineup at bay. Mia Castillo (2-3) took the loss for the Cougars, going 6.1 innings and allowing four runs on nine hits while walking three HPU batters.  

Up next for the Sharks will be the first conference road trip to the continent in 2025, traveling to take on Concordia in a three-game set this weekend. The Golden Eagles currently lead the PacWest after a 15-2 overall start and a 6-0 record in conference play. 

“Big series this weekend,” said Lono of the upcoming road trip. “Hopefully, this is what they needed in order to get [ready to go] to Concordia.” 

HPU rally comes up short in series opener against Azusa Pacific, 10-5

HPU rally comes up short in series opener against Azusa Pacific, 10-5

Mar 3, 2025

HPU rally comes up short in series opener against Azusa Pacific, 10-5

BY HSRN STAFF
PUBLISHED MARCH 3, 2025

HONOLULU – Fought till the very end.

The Hawai’i Pacific University softball team could not crack the pitching of Maddy Debs as the Sharks dropped their series opener against Azusa Pacific University, 10-5, Monday afternoon in the first game of a doubleheader at Sand Island State Recreation Area.

It was HPU’s fourth straight loss in a row as it dropped to 8-14. The series against the Cougars will conclude Tuesday afternoon at 3 p.m.

Freshman shortstop Taryn Hirano was a bright spot for the Sharks, scoring HPU’s first run of the game in the bottom of the fifth after she turned a single into an inside-the-park home run thanks to a APU error. She also had an RBI triple in the bottom of the seventh to help HPU score four runs in the final inning of play.