Irimata’s gem helps Hawai’i hold off UC Santa Barbara in Big West quarterfinal

Irimata’s gem helps Hawai’i hold off UC Santa Barbara in Big West quarterfinal

May 7, 2026

Irimata’s gem helps Hawai’i hold off UC Santa Barbara in Big West quarterfinal

Hawaii Softball pitcher Taryn Irimata celebrates. | Photo by Michael Lasquero/HSRN

After waiting a day to get active in the 2026 Big West Softball Championship tournament, the No. 2-seeded University of Hawai’i softball team took care of business on Thursday with a 2-0 victory over No. 3 UC Santa Barbara at Anderson Family Field on the campus of Cal State Fullerton.

Sophomore RHP Taryn Irimata, named the 2026 Big West Pitcher of the Year on Tuesday after leading the conference in ERA, spun a complete-game shutout on the way to punching UH’s ticket into Friday’s tournament semifinal round against top-seeded Cal State Fullerton.

Thursday was the first time that UCSB’s offense was held completely off the board in over a month, last going scoreless on April 4 in the first game of a doubleheader in the islands against the Rainbow Wahine. The Gauchos saw Irimata twice during the regular season, tagging UH’s star pitcher for four earned runs each time while taking two out of three in the series against Hawai’i.

The postseason presented different results for both sides as Irimata masterfully worked around nine hits by UCSB throughout the seven frames, keeping the Gauchos without a single run as she racked up four strikeouts while improving her record to 13-8 overall on the year.

Irimata pointed to the support of her defense, specifically the communication with her infielders, for the change in results.

“They talked to me every pitch, just kept me in the game,” the sophomore said during a postgame interview with ESPN+ following the win. “I knew they were going to come up clutch for me and so that helped me get through the game.”

Hawai’i (30-18) provided the standout pitcher with the early run that she needed with a pair of doubles in the first inning, getting a leadoff two-bagger from 2B Carys Murakami before 1B Millie Fidge delivered an RBI double just inside the third baseline with two outs to put the Rainbow Wahine ahead, 1-0.

Murakami helped Hawai’i add an insurance run in the next frame after the Rainbow Wahine put some traffic on the base paths with two outs. After Rhea Furtado drew UH’s second walk of the 2nd inning, Murakami smacked an RBI single to center to make it a 2-0 advantage through two full stanzas.

UC Santa Barbara threatened to strike back in nearly every inning, putting a runner in scoring position in all but the first and sixth frames. The Gauchos brought the go-ahead run to the plate with two outs in the top of the seventh, but Irimata tallied her fourth and final strikeout of the afternoon to close out the victory for the Rainbow Wahine.

Hawai’i will take on top-seeded Cal State Fullerton on Friday, May 8 and 10 a.m. HT with the winner earning a spot in the Big West Championship with two chances to win once. The Rainbow Wahine went 1-2 during the regular season against the Titans, beating CSUF in the opener of the three-game set in the islands and dropping both ends of the weekend doubleheader in close finishes.

“I think if we just go out there with the same energy, have fun, play hard and do what we know how and play as a team … we’ll be just fine,” Irimata said ahead of the rematch with the regular season conference champions.

Clippers hold off Warriors late with Wagler’s clutch bucket

Clippers hold off Warriors late with Wagler’s clutch bucket

Oct 4, 2026

HONOLULU – Welcome back, NBA. After spending a week enjoying the Aloha Spirit and working through training camp, the Los Angeles Clippers kicked off their preseason slate with a 104-101 victory over the Golden State Warriors on Sunday afternoon in...

San Jose State hangs on late to deal devastating loss to Hawai’i

San Jose State hangs on late to deal devastating loss to Hawai’i

Oct 4, 2026

HONOLULU – No more magic in Mānoa. Despite posting a season-high 438 yards, the University of Hawai’i football team’s nightmare start to the season continued on Saturday night as they fell 20-16 against San Jose State (3-2, 1-0 Mountain West)...

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Hawaii Men’s Volleyball outlasts USC in four sets to reach NCAA Final Four

Hawaii Men’s Volleyball outlasts USC in four sets to reach NCAA Final Four

May 2, 2026

Hawaii Men’s Volleyball outlasts USC in four sets to reach NCAA Final Four

Hawai’i outside hitter Louis Sakanoko smiles after the Rainbow Warriors defeated USC. | Photo: Daniel Fujita, HSRN

PRINTABLE VERSION

MANOA — See you in Los Angeles Rainbow Warrior fans.

The University of Hawai’i men’s volleyball team punched its ticket into NCAA Final Four with a 25-22, 24-26, 25-23, 32-30 victory over the University of Southern California in a quarterfinal regional before a record crowd of 10,300 at Bankoh Arena at Stan Sheriff Center Saturday night.

Hawai’i improved to 28-5 with the win as the Rainbow Warriors advanced to the final four for the 11th time in program history as they’ll continues their hunt for their first national championship since 2022 when they meet Long Beach State in the semifinals on May 9th at Pauley Pavilion.

Sophomore opposite Kristian Titriyski, who missed last year’s NCAA tournament due to injury, led the effort with a match-high 19 kills.

“It’s good winning at home, definitely so happy and we expected to win this game and advance to the next stage of the tournament,” said Titriyski.

“We were preparing well all week for this team. We were watching a lot of film and in the practice gym following their tendencies.”

Sophomore opposite Kristian Titriyski put down a match-high 19 kills in his first-ever NCAA tournament match. | Photo: Daniel Fujita, HSRN

After only seeing five ties and two lead changes in the first two sets, the final two frames saw a combined 37 ties and 15 lead changes that ultimately ended up in Hawai’i’s favor.

“These guys have played a lot of high level volleyball. There’s nothing out there that we haven’t seen before,” said Hawai’i coach Charlie Wade.

“Just keep battling, keep making plays and I thought they really embraced that tonight and that’s how we were able to win the close sets and ended up winning the match.”

Outside hitter Adrien Roure added 13 kills while hitting .458 and had a career-high seven aces — including a stretch of four consecutive points to give Hawai’i a 20-13 lead in the fourth set.

Louis Sakanoko also finished with double-digit kills as he shook off a slow start to put down 10 of his 12 kills in the final two stanzas. The junior outside hitter started the match 0-for-9 with two hitting errors before getting his next two swings to go down for kills in the second set.

Middle blocker Trevell Jordan added eight kills without any errors on 12 swings and had a hand in four blocks.

The Rainbow Warriors also saw the return of middle Justin Todd, who went down with an injury during the Big West tournament. He added six kills with three blocks.

“Justin is on such an ascendent kind of phase in his career,” Wade said of Todd. “He really is emerging into one of the dominant middle blockers in the U.S.”

Setter Tread Rosenthal, the Big West Player of the Year, had 56 assists to pilot the offense as Hawai’i hit .328 as a team to USC’s .294. Rosenthal also had a dominant serve to close out the pivotal third set to give the Rainbow Warriors’ an important 2-1 lead in the match.

Tread Rosenthal holds up the NCAA tournament board in celebration after defeating USC. | Photo: Daniel Fujita, HSRN

“He’s got the clutch gene and you know when the game is on the line, he’s going to give you a good effort,” Wade said of Rosenthal.

The Rainbow Warriors advance to play Long Beach State in the semifinals in what will be the two team’s fourth meeting this year. Hawai’i won the two regular season matchups, but lost in the conference tournament a weekend ago.

“Extremely motivated,” Titriyski said on the rematch against Long Beach. “We have a couple of days of rest now so we’ll clear the heads. Just try to rest as much as we can and we’ll get back to work.”

Hawai‘i NIL Bill SB 3263: Where Things Stand After Latest Legislative Movement

Hawai‘i NIL Bill SB 3263: Where Things Stand After Latest Legislative Movement

May 2, 2026

Hawai‘i NIL Bill SB 3263: Where Things Stand After Latest Legislative Movement

Hawai‘i’s debated Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) bill — SB 3263 — has reached its most advanced stage yet, with lawmakers moving closer to establishing a formal NIL framework for University of Hawai‘i student-athletes.

After months of amendments across both chambers, the bill has now advanced as Conference Draft 1 (CD1), signaling that the House and Senate have reached a negotiated agreement on the final version.

 

What Passed on Friday (CD1 Explained)

The version that moved forward Friday is the conference committee draft, which is typically the final step before a bill is sent to the Governor.

At this stage:

  • Both the House and Senate must vote to adopt the conference committee report (CCR)
  • No further amendments are allowed
  • If adopted, the bill is enrolled and sent to the Governor for signature or veto

In short: SB 3263 is essentially at the finish line.

 

Screenshot of House & Senate conference on Friday, May 1 streamed on the Senate YouTube Channel

From Concept to CD1: How the Bill Evolved

SB 3263 didn’t follow a straight path to this point.

Throughout the session, two different approaches to NIL emerged at the Legislature.

On the House side, HB 2384 emphasized building a broad NIL framework while proposing $5 million in more immediate funding to help the University of Hawai‘i stay competitive in a rapidly changing landscape.

The Senate’s version of SB 3263 took a different approach — focusing on a structured system built around an endowment, with detailed reporting requirements and long-term financial planning.

By the time the bill reached conference committee, the goal was no longer choosing one approach over the other. It was finding a way to combine them.

The result is CD1, a hybrid model that blends immediate support with a longer-term funding strategy.

 

The Headline Number — and the Reality Behind It

At the center of the bill is what’s been widely described as a $10 million NIL fund for UH athletics.

But that number needs context.

The endowment is built from three primary sources:

  • $4 million transferred from UH tuition and fees special funds
  • $2.5 million appropriated by the State
  • $5 million in private matching funds to be raised

On paper, that totals $10 million. In practice, it operates very differently from a traditional spending pool.

 

What UH Can Actually Use Right Away

The most immediate funding comes from the state appropriation — but even that is partially restricted.

Of the $2.5 million from the State:

  • $1 million must remain in the endowment as protected principal
  • The remaining $1.5 million is not locked in the same way

That $1.5 million becomes the primary pool UH can use in the short term for NIL-related support.

This is a key distinction. While the bill is often framed around a $10 million figure, UH’s immediate flexibility is much closer to that $1.5 million number.

 

The Rest Is Built for the Long Term

The remaining funds — including the $4 million from UH and the anticipated $5 million in private contributions — are intended to build the core of the endowment.

Those dollars are not meant to be spent outright. Instead, they function as a long-term financial base.

The bill sets a threshold before UH can begin tapping into the fund more broadly:

  • Once the endowment reaches at least $7.5 million
  • And maintains that level for three consecutive years

UH can begin using investment earnings, rather than the principal itself, to support NIL compensation and related benefits.

This structure is designed to prevent the fund from being depleted quickly, while creating a more sustainable model over time.

The Bottom Line

SB 3263 has come a long way — not because it started as a simple NIL permission bill, but because the final version reflects a merging of two very different approaches from earlier in the session.

The House-side version, through HB 2384, focused more heavily on creating a broad NIL framework while giving UH $5 million in more immediate funding to help compete in the new athlete compensation landscape.

The Senate’s original SB 3263, meanwhile, leaned more toward a long-term endowment model, with detailed reporting requirements, transparency measures, and a more structured approach to how NIL activity would be tracked and administered.

The CD1 version now appears to blend both philosophies.

It gives UH some short-term flexibility — most notably the roughly $1.5 million that can be used sooner — while still building toward a protected NIL endowment intended to support athlete compensation over time.

So while the $10 million figure is the headline, the real story is how lawmakers settled on a compromise: not a fully immediate spending pool, and not only a long-term endowment, but a hybrid model designed to help UH now while attempting to create something sustainable for the future.

If the final votes go through, Hawai‘i will officially enter a new era of college athletics — with UH positioned to directly support student-athletes in a way the program has never done before.

 

Beyond the Funding: What Else CD1 Does

While the financial structure is the centerpiece, CD1 also formalizes how NIL activity will operate at UH.

The bill allows the university to enter into institutional NIL agreements, meaning UH can directly compensate student-athletes — a significant shift from past models that relied heavily on third-party deals.

It also requires athletes to disclose NIL agreements valued at $600 or more, giving the university visibility for compliance purposes.

At the same time, athletes are not required to hire agents or professional representation. They may choose to do so, but can also manage their own deals or work with trusted advisors.

The bill includes additional protections, including a 10-day window to rescind contracts, and requires UH to provide education on financial literacy, contracts, and taxes.

Because public funds are involved, it also mandates annual reporting to the Legislature and requires NIL activity to be administered in a manner consistent with Title IX.

 

What Happens Next

With CD1 approved in conference committee Friday, the process now moves to final votes in both chambers.

If the House and Senate adopt the conference committee report, SB 3263 will be sent to the Governor, who can sign it into law, veto it, or allow it to become law without a signature.

USA Volleyball Hall of Famer Robyn Ah Mow steps down after nine years with Hawai’i

USA Volleyball Hall of Famer Robyn Ah Mow steps down after nine years with Hawai’i

Apr 29, 2026

USA Volleyball Hall of Famer Robyn Ah Mow steps down after nine years with Hawai’i

HONOLULU – It’s always hard being the coach after the coach, but it’s even harder to ask for anything more than what Robyn Ah Mow gave the University of Hawai’i Rainbow Wahine volleyball program.

After nine years and eight seasons at the helm of one of the most notable women’s volleyball programs in the country, Ah Mow announced that she would be stepping down from the head coaching role at her alma mater on Wednesday.

“This decision was not easy,” Ah Mow said in a press release sent out by UH. “It came after a great deal of reflection and soul searching, but the time has come to focus on my family who have sacrificed so much time with me so I could fulfill my dream of being the head coach of this storied program.”

The Rainbow Wahine went 165-72 under the watch of Ah Mow, dominating Big West play to the tune of a 114-28 record since 2017. Hawai’i made the NCAA Tournament in seven of her eight campaigns leading the program, missing out on the national tournament last season after going 12-17 and 8-10 in conference play.

Ah Mow took over as the program’s third-ever head coach after legendary coach Dave Shoji’s retirement following the 2016 season. In 42 years under his watch, Hawai’i won four national titles and racked up four other national runner-up finishes while finishing with 20-plus victories in 38 of the 42 campaigns.

Shoji finished his career with a record of 1,202-204-1, the second-most wins of any coach in the history of collegiate women’s volleyball at the time of his retirement. Ah Mow was a two-time AVCA 1st-team All-American setter for Shoji, going 66-4 and finishing as the national runners-up once in their four years together.

Ah Mow went on to compete in three different Olympic Games for the U.S. Women’s National team, serving as a team captain in 2008 and helping guide the Stars and Stripes to a silver medal. At the time, it was the third-ever medal that the USA women’s volleyball team had earned and matched the 1984 group for the best finish in the nation’s history.

She was inducted into the University of Hawaii Sports Circle of Honor in 2005 and joined fellow Rainbow Wahine great Heather Bown as part of USA Volleyball’s Hall of Fame Class of 2024.

“Robyn Ah Mow is the epitome of what it means to be a Rainbow Wahine,” Hawaii’s director of athletics Matt Elliott said in a statement released by the school. “She is a fierce competitor, a dedicated mentor, and an undeniable legend in the state of Hawai’i and the global volleyball community. We are incredibly grateful for the dedication and passion she poured into this program over the last nine years as the lead of Wahine Volleyball, and more than 30 years since she first stepped on campus. We will all miss her dearly as our head coach and wish her the absolute best in her next chapter.”

After her playing career concluded, Ah Mow joined the Rainbow Wahine coaching staff under Shoji and spent four seasons as an assistant from 2011 to 2015. She was officially tabbed as Shoji’s successor in 2017, becoming the first female head coach in the program’s illustrious history.

Her coaching career saw more success in the islands as she was named Big West Coach of the Year on three separate occasions (’19, ’21, ’22) while helping pilot the Rainbow Wahine to tournament appearances in all but one season.

“I gave everything I had to this team, pouring into each and every player with the goal of helping them become not only the best volleyball players they could be, but strong, successful women in life,” Ah Mow’s statement continued. “Playing for the ‘H’ was a privilege. Coaching this program has been an incredible honor.”

Photo Credit: HSRN

The consistent changes in collegiate athletics have accelerated the expiration date on a plethora of big-name coaches over the past half-decade with transfer portal madness, Name, Image and Likeness bidding wars and conference realignment as a few of the biggest reasons for early retirements and surprise new life ventures for coaches becoming more common.

Laura Beeman, who spent the previous 14 seasons leading the UH women’s basketball team to bundles of success in the Big West, stunned the local sports world as she announced her retirement from coaching at the end of March.

Bob Coolen, the winningest coach in UH softball history, called it a career last spring after 34 years as the head coach of the Rainbow Wahine.

Now, Ah Mow becomes the latest of the bunch to say “aloha” to the college coaching ranks as she focuses on spending time with her family.

“To the people of Hawai’i, thank you for your unwavering support and aloha throughout my time as both a player and a coach,” Ah Mow’s statement from UH closed with. “Mahalo and Aloha.”

Associate head coach Kaleo Baxter will serve as the interim head coach for UH, though a national search for a permanent head coach is set to begin immediately.

Hawai‘i Football Continues to Build as Fall Camp Progresses

Hawai‘i Football Continues to Build as Fall Camp Progresses

Aug 13, 2026

MĀNOA - The University of Hawai‘i football team continues to work its way through fall camp with head coach Timmy Chang encouraged by the progress he’s seeing across the roster. With the season opener drawing closer, the Rainbow Warriors remain...

Walker, Rainbow Wahine Building Identity Ahead of First Exhibitions

Walker, Rainbow Wahine Building Identity Ahead of First Exhibitions

Aug 12, 2026

Nearly two weeks into preseason camp, first-year University of Hawai‘i women’s volleyball head coach Joshua Walker likes what he’s seeing from the Rainbow Wahine. Walker joined Hawai‘i Sports Radio Network ahead of the team’s first exhibitions of...

Tracking the Hawaii men’s basketball 2026-27 schedule

Tracking the Hawaii men’s basketball 2026-27 schedule

Aug 12, 2026

HONOLULU – A new season on the hardwood is right around the corner, fit with fresh new conference memberships and tournament bracket designs. The University of Hawai’i men’s basketball team embarks on its first season in the Mountain West in...

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Hawai’i gains commitment of former Davidson fan favorite wing Manie Joses

Hawai’i gains commitment of former Davidson fan favorite wing Manie Joses

Apr 28, 2026

Hawai’i gains commitment of former Davidson fan favorite wing Manie Joses

Davidson F Manie Joses (0) looks on during a game. | Photo Credit: Tim Cowie, DavidsonPhotos.com

HONOLULU – The NBA Global Academy to islands pipeline is alive and well.

Former Davidson forward Manie Joses became the latest player to announce their commitment to the University of Hawai’i on Tuesday, joining the Rainbow Warriors after spending the past two seasons with the Wildcats.

A 6-foot-7 wing with pogo-stick athleticism and a motor that would make a Bugatti jealous, Joses appeared in 54 games (6 starts) in his time at Davidson and quickly made himself a fan favorite after showing off a tendency for big blocks and dunks. He shot 53% from the floor and grabbed 14.3% of the total rebounds while he was on the court for the Wildcats.

His defensive profile projects to be an impact level with a chance to continue developing with more time, averaging 3.6 steals and 3.6 blocks per 100 possessions last year at Davidson. Dre Bullock led all qualified Rainbow Warriors with 3.4 steals per 100 possessions last year while Isaac Johnson’s 2.7 blocks per 100 possessions paced Hawai’i.

Originally from London, England, Joses moved to Australia to gain more exposure to Division I college programs while developing his game at the NBA Global Academy in Canberra with coach Marty Clarke. He was rated as a three-star recruit by 247Sports, checking in as the 79th-best small forward prospect in the Class of 2024.

With recruitment led by assistant coach Gibson Johnson, Joses gravitated towards Hawai’i thanks to trust that the staff had built up with his circle previously. After some of his own digging, Joses found UH head coach Eran Ganot had a strong relationship with Clarke which allowed trust to be built quicker between the springy wing and Rainbow Warrior staff.

“Playing for such a decorated staff that is so similar to what I came from at the NBA Academy and knowing I’ll be in an environment that will push me every day so I can develop is exciting,” Joses said in an interview with HSRN.

UC Davis, Western Michigan, UIC and Bucknell were some of the other schools that Joses considered before landing on the islands for his next home. Along with the coaching staff, the sophomore wing said the level of competition and type of community in Hawai’i helped make his decision easier.

“The sense of community is very important to me, and I feel like Hawai’i has it in abundance,” Joses said. “Playing at such a level as the Mountain West excites me [too].”

Joses becomes the eighth player out of the portal to join Hawai’i along with Marcus Adams Jr., Jaden Matingou, Zack Davidson, Houran Dan, Chance Trujillo, Kellen Hampton and Bol Dengdit, who is also an alum of the NBA Global Academy in Australia.

Hawai’i also returns Tanner Cuff and Isaiah Kerr from last year’s Big West champions while prep standouts Tiger Cuff and Scotty Belnap prepare for the freshman seasons.

Clippers hold off Warriors late with Wagler’s clutch bucket

Clippers hold off Warriors late with Wagler’s clutch bucket

Oct 4, 2026

HONOLULU – Welcome back, NBA. After spending a week enjoying the Aloha Spirit and working through training camp, the Los Angeles Clippers kicked off their preseason slate with a 104-101 victory over the Golden State Warriors on Sunday afternoon in...

San Jose State hangs on late to deal devastating loss to Hawai’i

San Jose State hangs on late to deal devastating loss to Hawai’i

Oct 4, 2026

HONOLULU – No more magic in Mānoa. Despite posting a season-high 438 yards, the University of Hawai’i football team’s nightmare start to the season continued on Saturday night as they fell 20-16 against San Jose State (3-2, 1-0 Mountain West)...

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Long Beach State stuns Hawai’i late to take 2026 Big West Championship crown

Long Beach State stuns Hawai’i late to take 2026 Big West Championship crown

Apr 25, 2026

Long Beach State stuns Hawai’i late to take 2026 Big West Championship crown

Photo Credit: Brock Jones (@brockhawaii)

 

They don’t say it’s hard to beat a team three times for no reason.

The top-seeded University of Hawai’i men’s volleyball team learned that saying the hard way on Saturday night in the 2026 OUTRIGGER Big West Men’s Volleyball Championship, falling inside the Bren Events Center in Irvine, Calif., against No. 2-seeded Long Beach State (24-4, 8-2 Big West) in a five-set marathon, (25-20, 25-27, 25-22, 28-30, 15-11).

Freshman opposite Wojciech Gajek racked up a career-best 27 kills on 45 swings to help lead the Beach to the program’s third-ever Big West tournament crown. The 6-foot-6 product of Poland also added three of LBSU’s seven service aces along with five digs and six blocks on the way to earning tournament Most Valuable Player honors.

Hawai’i (27-5, 9-1 Big West) saw their repeat bid denied despite a 20-kill, 7-dig, 5-block performance out of standout sophomore Kristian Titriyski, who missed UH’s postseason run last season while dealing with an injury.

“Certainly the match was entertaining, could’ve gone either way,” head coach Charlie Wade said after his Rainbow Warriors dropped a five-setter for the first time this season. “We had a chance, I thought, if we win the second [set], things probably go a little different and in the fourth … we had a chance to close it out, but you’ve got to give credit.”

UH took the night’s opening stanza behind big showings from Titriyski and sophomore middle blocker Ofeck Hazan, who got the start in place of injured middle blocker Justin Todd. Titriyski tallied six of his 20 kills in the first frame while Hazan got hands on four blocks and added a pair of kills for good measure.

“Ofeck is the consummate professional,” Wade said of his reserve sophomore middle blocker. “He’s a guy that’s always ready to go when called upon and he just battles … we’re just thrilled he’s on our team.”

Hawai’i put themselves in the driver seat midway through the second set, using Louis Sakanoko’s sixth kill of the match to take a 15-13 lead at the media break. The regular season champion Rainbow Warriors remained in front until the final few turns of the encore frame, seeing the Beach rally to take a late advantage and finish off the set with back-to-back putdowns from Gajek and Ben Braun.

Tempers began to flare as the two sides chirped between the net from the start of the third set, trading massive rejections and putdowns at the net. Hawai’i reached 15 first again, but LBSU countered with five of the next seven points to lead ahead, 19-17.

UH was able to even the scales at 20, setting up a race to five with a win-by-two stipulation.

Louis Sakanoko knotted the swing frame at 22, putting the ball into the hands of Tread Rosenthal for a set-ending run behind the service line. The junior setter crushed three consecutive serves, capped off by one of his two aces on the night, to put the Rainbow Warriors in the driver’s seat with a 2-1 set lead.

Long Beach State refused to lose.

Hawai’i rallied from a three-point deficit late in the fourth to knot the set at 22 and had five different chances at championship point, but the Beach fought off all five before Jackson Cryst changed the fortunes of the No. 2 seed with back-to-back aces to deliver the fourth frame to LBSU and set up a winner-take-all fifth stanza between the Beach and ‘Bows for the second time this season.

LBSU would get vengeance for the first time when Hawai’i held them off in the Pyramid back during the regular season, racing out to a 12-5 advantage before holding off one last push from the Rainbow Warriors for a 15-11 decision and first Big West title since 2024.

Skylar Varga added 16 kills, nine digs and six blocks for LBSU while Jackson Cryst tacked on eight kills, nine blocks and three momentum-changing aces.

Hawai’i got 17 kills from Louis Sakanoko and 15 kills from Adrien Roure, but the two combined for 13 hitting miscues and 11 of the 19 serving errors by UH.

The middle blocker duo of Ofeck Hazan and Trevell Jordan provided a lift on a night Hawai’i needed all hands on deck, seeing Hazan’s spot start result in six kills, no attacking errors and a team-high nine blocks while Jordan had three kills (one attack error) and three blocks in the loss for UH.

Tread Rosenthal racked up 54 assists, four kills, four digs, four blocks and two aces, continuing his ascent up the UH career leader chart in service scorers with his 114th ace helping tie him for fifth in program history with Rado Parapunov.

Long Beach State receives the Big West’s automatic qualifier berth to the NCAA Tournament while Hawai’i is expected to receive one of the at-large bids to the new 12-team bracket pool.

Asked about his belief of where Hawai’i should be playing next weekend in the regional round of the national tournament, head coach Charlie Wade held firm on the Rainbow Warriors deserving to be one of the host sites.

“Stan Sheriff Center,” the veteran head coach flatly stated.

The official bracket for the national tournament will be revealed at 10 a.m. HT on Sunday, April 26 on NCAA.com.

Hawai‘i Football Continues to Build as Fall Camp Progresses

Hawai‘i Football Continues to Build as Fall Camp Progresses

Aug 13, 2026

MĀNOA - The University of Hawai‘i football team continues to work its way through fall camp with head coach Timmy Chang encouraged by the progress he’s seeing across the roster. With the season opener drawing closer, the Rainbow Warriors remain...

Walker, Rainbow Wahine Building Identity Ahead of First Exhibitions

Walker, Rainbow Wahine Building Identity Ahead of First Exhibitions

Aug 12, 2026

Nearly two weeks into preseason camp, first-year University of Hawai‘i women’s volleyball head coach Joshua Walker likes what he’s seeing from the Rainbow Wahine. Walker joined Hawai‘i Sports Radio Network ahead of the team’s first exhibitions of...

Tracking the Hawaii men’s basketball 2026-27 schedule

Tracking the Hawaii men’s basketball 2026-27 schedule

Aug 12, 2026

HONOLULU – A new season on the hardwood is right around the corner, fit with fresh new conference memberships and tournament bracket designs. The University of Hawai’i men’s basketball team embarks on its first season in the Mountain West in...

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