Hawai’i secures outright title with special Senior Night against CSUN

Hawai’i secures outright title with special Senior Night against CSUN

Apr 18, 2026

Hawai’i secures outright title with special Senior Night against CSUN

Hawai’i men’s volleyball poses after winning the outright 2026 regular season Big West title on Senior Night. | Photo Credit: Michael Lasquero, HSRN

HONOLULU – Charlie Wade had decided weeks prior, but Saturday’s regular season finale for the University of Hawai’i men’s volleyball team presented a rare opportunity for the veteran head coach to change course from his usual choices.

In the midst of another season on the national championship chase, the 17th-year UH coach chose to make a switch from one of the most notable names in the starting lineup for a player that appeared in just a handful of matches in his entire Rainbow Warrior career.

Senior setter Vladimir Kubr, a two-year player at Hawai’i after transferring in from Pepperdine, had seen action in just three matches during the 2026 campaign entering the final weekend of the regular season.

That wasn’t unexpected for Kubr, who knew he was joining a Rainbow Warrior squad with a national player of the year candidate at his position in Tread Rosenthal. For the 6-foot-3 senior, just being a part of the best program and environment in men’s college volleyball was enough to fulfill a dream.

But Wade had different ideas.

The veteran head coach let Rosenthal know of a plan to start Kubr in his place for the April 18 match against No. 18 Cal State Northridge (12-14, 0-10 Big West), something met with excitement from the star junior.

Despite a lack of playing time, Kubr cemented himself as a beloved member and key leader for the young Rainbow Warrior group. Just the third single-member senior class in program history, Kubr took his role as a veteran voice seriously and provided an important sounding board for teammates as Hawai’i tied a program record with 26 regular season victories.

It still didn’t mean he expected to start his own Senior Night.

“I did not know Charlie was going to do that,” Kubr chuckled after the win. “It made everything better. It’s more than I even asked for.”

Senior Vlad Kubr shares a hug with head coach Charlie Wade. | Photo Credit: Daniel Fujita, HSRN

The senior received a massive ovation from the 8,223 fans in attendance as he trotted out of the tunnel as a starter for the first time in his career on Saturday night.

The rest of the evening was smooth sailing for Kubr and Hawai’i, who took the match in four sets inside Bankoh Arena at Stan Sheriff Center, (25-15, 21-25, 25-14, 25-16).

Confident as ever, the senior knew he could play freely to open the night and ended up setting the tone for a celebration.

“Honestly, it’s weird because I didn’t feel any nerves,” said Kubr after helping Hawai’i get out to a 10-3 lead in the opening set. “I knew if I played bad, my brother Tread [would] come in.”

The Rainbow Warriors rolled to an easy 25-15 decision over the Matadors in the first set, holding the visitors to a negative mark in the hitting category while UH’s balanced attack saw multiple arms record putdowns at an efficient rate.

CSUN responded in the follow-up frame with 10 kills from star opposite Jalen Phillips, seeing a sloppy stanza by UH help the visitors even the match at one set apiece.

“Thank god that volleyball resets at 25 points every time,” Wade said postgame. “We were dominant in the sense that we did win, but when you make 12 errors … it’s a good reminder that if you’re going to make 10-12 errors, it’s game on against any team in the country.”

Hawai’i spent little time messing around afterwards, hitting .545 in the third set and dealing out a pair of aces to take the swing frame and a 2-1 lead over the Matadors after the mediocre second stanza. Adrien Roure moved over double figures in kills for just the second time in Big West play, leading UH with 13 kills after three sets.

Roure and the Rainbow Warriors smashed CSUN in the fourth frame as well, taking a 25-16 decision over the visitors while allowing Kubr to play out the final five points of the win for Hawai’i.

Kubr finished the night with a career-high five assists and did not commit a single error in his two sets of action. Tread Rosenthal dealt out 36 assists and had seven digs and six blocks in the victory for Hawai’i.

Adrien Roure produced a season-high 17 kills on 33 swings while adding a pair of aces and six digs for the Rainbow Warriors. Kainoa Wade, starting for Kristian Titriyski for the second straight night while the Bulgarian opposite deals with some discomfort, tacked on 13 kills on 19 attempts with six more of UH’s 31 digs.

Hawai’i clinched the outright Big West regular season crown with the victory, the second time in program history that the Rainbow Warriors have stood alone atop the juggernaut conference heading into the postseason.

UH will receive a first-round bye during next week’s Big West Championship tournament, awaiting the winner of UC San Diego-UC Santa Barbara quarterfinal matchup. Hawai’i’s semifinal match is scheduled for Friday, April 24 at 2 p.m. HT in Irvine.

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Hawai’i clinches share of Big West title after domination of CSUN

Hawai’i clinches share of Big West title after domination of CSUN

Apr 17, 2026

Hawai’i clinches share of Big West title after domination of CSUN

Louis Sakanoko (23) and Adrien Roure (7) signal for a touch during Hawai’i’s straight set sweep of No. 18 CSUN. | Photo Credit: Riley Guillermo, HSRN

HONOLULU – Championship charge.

The No. 2-ranked University of Hawai’i men’s volleyball team claimed at least a share of the 2026 Big West regular season title on Friday, cruising through a sweep of No. 18 Cal State Northridge (12-13, 0-9 Big West) inside Bankoh Arena at Stan Sheriff Center, (25-20, 25-16, 25-16).

Sophomore Kainoa Wade, starting in the place of a banged-up Kristian Titriyski, led Hawai’i (25-4, 8-1 Big West) with 10 kills on 19 swings. The 6-foot-10 opposite also matched Louis Sakanoko and Tread Rosenthal with a team-high six digs as the Rainbow Warriors kept the Matadors off the mat for the majority of the night.

The flying French duo of Sakanoko and Adrien Roure also combined for five of the eight service aces by Hawai’i throughout the match. Justin Todd, Tread Rosenthal and Kainoa Wade each dealt out one ace as the Rainbow Warriors racked up eight or more service scores in a single match for the ninth time this year.

Coming off the first conference loss of the year, Hawai’i wasted little time showing last Saturday was an abnormality as Charlie Wade’s crew took nine of the first 12 rallies for an early six-point lead. The advantage grew as large as 10 in the opening frame for UH, ultimately delivering a 1-0 set lead over the Matadors.

The uber-efficient Rainbow Warriors continued gliding back towards the win column in the second frame, hitting .750 through the first half of the set to take a 15-8 advantage by the media timeout.

The “Mānoa Roofing Company” opened back up for business for the rest of the second set, racking up 5.5 blocks as a team in the stanza on the way to a calm 25-16 victory in the frame.

Hawai’i turned up the heat from the service line in the third and final frame, dealing five aces out of the deck to close out another commanding victory despite hitting a match-low .261 in the set.

Tread Rosenthal had 27 assists and seven blocks to go along with his six digs and two kills for the Rainbow Warriors. Louis Sakanoko had five kills and four attack errors on 15 swings but made up for the up-and-down offensive night with his three aces, six assists and three blocks with his six digs.

Adrien Roure had nine kills and four attack errors as well, dealing out a pair of aces and racking up a couple of blocks in the win for Hawai’i.

The victory clinched at least a share of the 2026 regular season conference title for Hawai’i, the third time in program history that the Rainbow Warriors reigned supreme in the Big West during the marathon before the postseason push.

“You win the Big West regular season [title], you absolutely are in the running to win a national championship,” Charlie Wade said after his team clinched a share of the conference crown on Friday night. “That’s certainly our goal every year. Winning league championships in [the Big West] is hard to do, no question.”

The veteran head coach emphasized that a conference title was one of the boxes to check off on the way to a much bigger goal, but that the team would appreciate what they’d accomplished in earning the No. 1 seed in the Big West Championships along with an improving resume.

Hawai’i will celebrate its singular senior on Saturday night, saying aloha to Vladimir Kubr after two seasons with the program. The 6-foot-3 setter spent the first two years of his college career at Pepperdine before spending 2025 and 2026 in the islands.

Senior Vladimir Kubr shows appreciation to the home crowd after a loud ovation. | Photo Credit: Riley Guillermo, HSRN

It will be just UH’s third time only honoring one senior on Senior Night as Kubr will join Wally Hall in 1985 and Matthew Cheape in 2013 as the smallest graduating classes in program history.

Kubr has appeared in four matches in his Hawai’i career, including in two sets on Friday night to the delight of the Rainbow Warrior fans in attendance.

Hawai’i and Cal State Northridge will go for Round 2 on Saturday night as the Rainbow Warriors look to claim the outright regular season Big West title before celebrating Kubr after the match. First serve is scheduled for 7 p.m. HT.

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Chargers Rally on Senior Day, Hold Off Kaiser 13-10

Chargers Rally on Senior Day, Hold Off Kaiser 13-10

Apr 17, 2026

Chargers Rally on Senior Day, Hold Off Kaiser 13-10

Senior Day at Pearl City delivered exactly the kind of energy you’d expect — emotion, big swings, and a little late-game drama — as the Chargers outlasted Kaiser, 13-10, in a back-and-forth battle.

Pearl City jumped early and built just enough cushion to survive a late Kaiser surge, improving to 7-6-0 behind a strong offensive showing led by Fun Factory VIP of the Game Kaiya Fujishige.

First-Inning Fireworks

The Chargers wasted no time setting the tone, erupting for four runs in the opening frame. That early punch carried into the second and third innings, where Pearl City added nine more combined runs to take a commanding 13-2 lead after three.

Fujishige anchored the offense with a huge day at the plate, going 3-for-4 with four RBIs and multiple extra-base hits. Samantha Nakamatsu added a home run and two RBIs, while Aleia-Lyn Tonaki-Sagucio scored three runs to keep the lineup rolling.

Kaiser Battles Back

Despite the early deficit, Kaiser didn’t fold. The Cougars chipped away steadily, scoring in five different innings and putting together a late push that made things interesting.

Paisley Kuba led Kaiser with a 4-hit performance and two RBIs, while Mylah Burgess-Heely delivered a big day with four hits, five RBIs, and a home run. Madeline Nelson also contributed two runs and a triple as Kaiser piled up 16 hits as a team.

Holding the Line

Pearl City’s pitching staff had to weather that offensive pressure. Lilyanni Mata earned the win, allowing just two runs over three innings, while Haley Shinjo closed things out despite Kaiser’s late surge.

The Chargers’ defense also came up with key plays when it mattered most, committing just one error compared to Kaiser’s three — a difference that proved crucial in a tight finish.

Fun Factory VIP of the Game: Kaiya Fujishige

Fujishige’s all-around performance set the tone, earning her Fun Factory VIP of the Game honors. She consistently delivered in key spots, helping Pearl City build the early lead that ultimately held up.

PHOTOS BY DANIEL FUJITA

Nanakuli Outlasts Radford in Undefeated Showdown, 9-8

Nanakuli Outlasts Radford in Undefeated Showdown, 9-8

Apr 16, 2026

Nanakuli Outlasts Radford in Undefeated Showdown, 9-8

In a long-awaited clash between two of the OIA Division II’s top teams, Nanakuli finally got its shot at Radford—and made it count. The Golden Hawks edged the Rams 9-8 on Wednesday afternoon, handing Radford its first loss of the season in a game that lived up to the hype after a March 17 postponement due to weather.

Early Fireworks Set the Tone

Both teams wasted no time getting on the board, trading punches in a high-scoring first inning. Nanakuli plated three runs to open the game, only for Radford to answer with three of its own, immediately signaling this would be a back-and-forth battle.

Naehu Powers the Offense

Nanakuli leaned on a standout performance from Kailey Naehu, who delivered a massive day at the plate. Naehu went 3-for-4 with five RBIs, including a home run, driving in more than half of the Golden Hawks’ runs. Her production proved to be the difference in a one-run game.

Jaisha Barrozo and Sadie Manabat also contributed multi-hit efforts, helping Nanakuli build and maintain offensive pressure throughout the contest.

Radford Responds, But Comes Up Short

Radford stayed within striking distance all game, fueled by a strong showing from Siitia Baughn, who went 3-for-4 with two RBIs and a triple. Meghan Castro added four hits and two RBIs, leading a Rams lineup that out-hit Nanakuli 11-9.

The Rams mounted a late push, scoring five runs across the fifth and sixth innings to take an 8-5 lead, putting Nanakuli on its heels.

Seventh-Inning Surge Seals It

With their undefeated record on the line, Nanakuli delivered in the clutch. The Golden Hawks erupted for four runs in the top of the seventh inning, flipping a three-run deficit into a 9-8 lead.

From there, Naehu—who also went the distance in the circle—closed the door despite a heavy workload. She allowed eight runs (three earned) on 11 hits while striking out eight to earn the win.

Fun Factory VIP of the Game: Kailey Naehu

There was no question who stood out in this one. Kailey Naehu earns Fun Factory VIP of the Game honors after a dominant all-around performance. At the plate, she drove in five runs and delivered a key home run, while in the circle, she battled through seven innings against a tough Radford lineup to secure the win. In a game filled with big moments, Naehu delivered the biggest ones when Nanakuli needed them most.

PHOTOS BY DANIEL FUJITA

Hawai‘i Class of 2026 Student-Athletes Celebrate NLI Signing Day at Elks Lodge

Hawai‘i Class of 2026 Student-Athletes Celebrate NLI Signing Day at Elks Lodge

Apr 15, 2026

Hawai‘i Class of 2026 Student-Athletes Celebrate NLI Signing Day at Elks Lodge

Honolulu’s oceanfront served as the backdrop for a special milestone moment on Wednesday morning, as over 50 of Hawai‘i’s high school student-athletes from the Class of 2026 officially signed their National Letters of Intent (NLI) to continue their athletic and academic careers at the collegiate level.

Hosted at the Honolulu Elks Lodge 616 in Waikiki, the annual signing day event brought together athletes, families, coaches, and supporters in celebration of years of hard work paying off. The program, which began shortly after sunrise, highlighted the achievements of local athletes across a wide range of sports, from baseball and volleyball to soccer, flag football, and track and field.

Continuing a Hawai‘i Tradition

The event is part of a long-standing tradition in the islands, with Hawai‘i State National Letter of Intent Signing Day tracing its roots back more than two decades. Originally established in 2001 by Doris Sullivan and the Pacific Islands Athletic Alliance (PIAA), the initiative has helped hundreds of student-athletes pursue opportunities at the collegiate level.

Since 2017, the event has been organized under the Hawai‘i State National Letter of Intent Signing Day organization, continuing its mission to support and promote student-athletes across the state.

From early morning check-ins to the formal signing ceremony, the atmosphere reflected both pride and gratitude — a celebration not just of individual accomplishments, but of the broader community that supports Hawai‘i’s athletes.

Below is the full list of student-athletes and their collegiate commitments:

Student-Athlete — High School — College signed with — Sport

Leleanne Ah Kuoi – Waipahu High School → Pacific Lutheran University (Tacoma, WA) – Track and Field

Blaze Bailey – Punahou School → California Lutheran University (Thousand Oaks, CA) – Soccer

Brooklyn Barrett – Le Jardin Academy → Whitman College (Walla Walla, WA) – Basketball

Liliana Brandt – Punahou School → Amherst College – Volleyball

Maile Burnett – Mililani High School → San Francisco State University – Soccer

Ka’eo Bush – Roosevelt High School → Pacific Lutheran University (Tacoma, WA) – Football

Leah Camello – Waipahu High School → Columbia Basin College (Pasco, WA) – Women’s Volleyball

Rylie Doon – James Campbell High School → Saint Martin’s University (Lacey, WA) – Women’s Soccer

Layna Faria – Kalani High School → Eastern Arizona College (Thatcher, AZ) – Softball

Kona Flanagan – Punahou School → California Baptist University (Riverside, CA) – Swimming

Natalyn Fujikane – Mililani High School → Cal Poly Pomona – Soccer

Emma Fujino – Kalani High School → Union Commonwealth University (Barbourville, KY) – Softball

Jake Fujita – Punahou School → Santa Barbara City College – Baseball

Lia Hamamura – Kaiser High School → University of Hawai‘i at Hilo – Softball

Caleb Hamasaki – Kaiser High School → William Jessup University (Rocklin, CA) – Baseball

Pacey Hatanaka – Kalani High School → Linn-Benton Community College – Baseball

Kate Iida – Hawai‘i Baptist Academy → Pacific Lutheran University (Parkland, WA) – Softball

Priya Jackson – Moanalua High School → Alverno College (Milwaukee, WI) – Women’s Soccer

Laʻakea Kamahele – Le Jardin Academy → Long Island University – Men’s Volleyball

Paisley Kuba – Kaiser High School → Willamette University – Softball

Dylan Kunz – Kailua High School → University of Providence (Great Falls, MT) – Men’s Basketball

Autumn Lagafuaina – Mililani High School → University of Redlands – Basketball

Sienna Lamblack – Hawai‘i Baptist Academy → Chaminade University – Women’s Basketball

Brady Lau – Punahou School → Jessup University (Rocklin, CA) – Men’s Soccer

Brennin Lee – Punahou School → Pitzer College (Claremont, CA) – Baseball

Delancey Lee – Mililani High School → Adrian College (Adrian, MI) – Men’s Volleyball

Gunnar Lee – Moanalua High School → Linfield University (McMinnville, OR) – Golf

Logan Lee – Mid-Pacific Institute → Soka University of America (Aliso Viejo, CA) – Women’s Soccer

Isabella Leguizamon – Mililani High School → Arizona Christian University (Glendale, AZ) – STUNT

Aiden Leong – Kaiser High School → Pacific Lutheran University (Tacoma, WA) – Football

Maille Malone – Mililani High School → Niagara University (Lewiston, NY) – Women’s Volleyball

Makenna Mello – Punahou School → Menlo College – Volleyball

Sava Miočinović – Mid-Pacific Institute → Sacred Heart University (Fairfield, CT) – Volleyball

Kacie Miyahira – Hawai‘i Technology Academy → Fisk University (Nashville, TN) – Indoor Volleyball

Bri-Ela Nakagawa – Punahou School → Saint Martin’s University (Lacey, WA) – Women’s Golf

Samantha Nakamatsu – Pearl City High School → Lewis & Clark College (Portland, OR) – Softball

Colt Nakamura – Punahou School → Willamette University – Baseball

Mayah Nakasato – University Laboratory School → Hawai‘i Pacific University – Women’s Volleyball

Brennan Nakayama – Le Jardin Academy → Arizona Christian University – Volleyball

Madeline Nelson – Kaiser High School → Pacific University (OR) – Softball

Kira-May Nosse – Kalani High School → Bates College (Lewiston, ME) – Soccer

Harley Ota – Pearl City High School → Whitworth University (Spokane, WA) – Women’s Soccer

Tori Lynn Passos – Radford High School → Pacific University (OR) – Volleyball

Cameron Porter – Punahou School → UC San Diego – Men’s Volleyball

Synnove Robinson – Punahou School → Harvard University – Water Polo

Neyo Simon – Punahou School → Soka University of America – Soccer

Jae Siu – Kaiser High School → Diablo Valley College (Pleasant Hill, CA) – Baseball

Jai’Lyn Smith – Moanalua High School → Grand Canyon University (Phoenix, AZ) – Flag Football

Zaira Sugui – Moanalua High School → Menlo College (Atherton, CA) – Wrestling

Jordan Takai – Punahou School → Dartmouth College – Golf

True Takemoto – Punahou School → University of San Francisco – Volleyball

Kelsie Taketa – Kalani High School → Olympic College (Bremerton, WA) – Softball

Kwynn Tanita – University Laboratory School → Mohave College (Bullhead City, AZ) – Women’s Soccer

Treysen Taoka – Punahou School → George Fox University (Newberg, OR) – Baseball

Jake Tripp – Punahou School → Cerritos College (Cerritos, CA) – Baseball

Anthony Uehara – Punahou School → Saint Martin’s University – Golf

Camila Valdivia – Kalaheo High School → Menlo College – Soccer

Eden Waqainabete – Le Jardin Academy → Biola University – Swimming

Ellana Watson – Mililani High School → Graceland University (Lamoni, IA) – Soccer

Alisa Yamamoto – University Laboratory School → Concordia University Irvine – STUNT

Rylee Yamasaki – Kaiser High School → Chaminade University – Softball

Waipahu Pulls Away Late to Defeat Radford, 12-7

Waipahu Pulls Away Late to Defeat Radford, 12-7

Apr 15, 2026

Waipahu Pulls Away Late to Defeat Radford, 12-7

Waipahu used a big late-inning surge to break open a tight game and defeat Radford 12-7 on Tuesday afternoon, improving to 11-2 on the season. In a contest that remained competitive through the middle innings, the Marauders capitalized on timely hitting and key mistakes to pull away down the stretch.

Back-and-Forth Through the Middle Innings

After Waipahu struck first in the opening inning, Radford responded with a strong third inning to take a brief lead. The two teams continued to trade runs, with Waipahu reclaiming momentum behind a steady offensive approach that kept pressure on the Rams’ pitching staff.

Radford showed flashes offensively, tallying 10 hits on the day. Zyon Telles-Kuwahara led the way with a multi-hit performance, while Maximus Davis and Damian Lujan each contributed RBIs to keep the Rams within striking distance.

Sixth-Inning Surge Breaks It Open

The turning point came in the bottom of the sixth, when Waipahu erupted for six runs to turn a close game into a comfortable lead. Taking advantage of defensive miscues and timely hits, the Marauders created separation they would not relinquish.

Waipahu finished with 11 hits, with multiple players contributing across the lineup in a balanced offensive effort.

Fun Factory VIP of the Game: Maddox Oasay

Maddox Oasay earns Fun Factory VIP of the Game honors after delivering a strong all-around performance. At the plate, Oasay went 2-for-3 with two RBIs and a walk, helping spark Waipahu’s offense. On the mound, he earned the win with four innings of work, allowing just four hits and keeping Radford’s lineup in check during key stretches of the game.

PHOTOS BY DANIEL FUJITA