Hawai’i dispatches UCSB in 4 sets, advances to Big West semifinals

Hawai’i dispatches UCSB in 4 sets, advances to Big West semifinals

Apr 18, 2024

3rd-seeded Hawai’i huddles after scoring a point against 6th-seed UC Santa Barbara in the 2024 OUTRIGGER Big West Men’s Volleyball Championships, presented by The Hawaiian Islands. UH defeated UCSB in 4 sets. | Photo Credit: Michael Lasquero, HSRN

Hawai’i dispatches UCSB in 4 sets to advance to Big West semifinals

BY PAUL BRECHT | HONOLULU
PUBLISHED APRIL 18, 2024

HONOLULU – For the fourth consecutive season, Hawai’i men’s volleyball has played the role of “Grim Reaper” against UC Santa Barbara. 

Sure, this year started a bit differently, but the end result was still the same as Hawai’i (23-6) dispatched the sixth-seeded Gauchos (9-18) in four sets, 23-25, 25-20, 25-17, 25-23, to end the season for UCSB and keep the ‘Bows in the hunt for another berth to the NCAA Tournament.  

2024 marks the third consecutive season that ‘Bows stopped the ‘Chos in the Big West Championships and fourth straight in postseason matchups. 

(Note: Hawai’i defeated UCSB in the 2021 NCAA Tournament semifinals to also end the season for the Gauchos.) 

UH stumbled through a loaded Big West slate to a 5-5 record after the loss of senior floor captain and AVCA National Player of the Year candidate Spyros Chakas on March 10, late in the 5th set against national powerhouse UC Irvine in the OUTRIGGER Volleyball Invitational, the final non-conference match of the season for the ‘Bows. 2024 marked the first time since the Big West Championships in men’s volleyball began that the Rainbow Warriors finished the regular season without a top-2 seed heading into the conference tournament. 

Perhaps playing for their own at-large bid tournament chances, Kurt Nusterer got Hawai’i on the board after giving up first point on a net violation, hammering a kill to the floor to the delight of a loud crowd decked out in green for the Rainbow Warriors’ first appearance in the conference tournament’s quarterfinals. The Gauchos opened a multi-point lead with the next three points, keeping Hawai’i at a healthy distance for the following few rallies. 

A pair of service errors by the ‘Chos brought UH back within one before Nusterer registered an ace to knot the 1st set at 9-all. Following a net error caught via UCSB challenge, the Gauchos re-took the lead and carried that slim one-point advantage into the opening media timeout, 15-14. 

Following the stoppage, an extended rally finished off with an Alaka’i Todd kill tied the 1st set at 15 and Hawai’i finally inched in front for a moment, 18-17, after a Sam Collins attack sailed wide-right. The lead was short-lived for the ‘Bows as UCSB strung together a pair of points to jump back in front by one, but an acrobatic left-handed attack adjustment in air by Keoni Thiim evened the frame at 19. 

Again, two straight points from the Gauchos gave Hawai’i reason to sweat as head coach Charlie Wade called for his first timeout of the match with the ‘Bows trailing, 21-19. The break in the action didn’t help matters much as UCSB came to the cusp of victory with three of the next five points to force another timeout from Wade. 

After Hawai’i used the final timeout of the opening set, the ‘Bows staved off a couple of set points from the visitors before finally seeing Geste Bianchi finish the frame with his sixth kill to clinch a win in the night’s opening stanza for the Gauchos, 25-23. 

Despite 10 service errors from UCSB in the 1st set, the ‘Chos out-hit Hawai’i by a significant margin as the ‘Bows struggled to get into an offensive rhythm. 

The ‘Bows began the 2nd set far quicker than the opener, rattling off five of the first seven points to take the early lead. The ‘Chos responded with the help of some more sloppy play from Hawai’i, tying the frame at six after another Bianchi hammer. 

Hawai’i middle blocker Guilherme Voss reignited an uneasy crowd with a powerful kill to put UH back up one, but back-to-back errors from the Rainbow Warriors gave UCSB its first lead of the 2nd set at 8-7. Kailua’s own Alaka’i Todd pushed his hometown ‘Bows back ahead by one with an ace, 10-9, and UH would take five of the next seven points to head into the 2nd set media timeout leading by four. 

After UC Santa Barbara pulled back within one and Wade called for a timeout, Hawai’i calmed down once again to open up a three-point cushion, 20-17. UH serving specialist Kai Taylor deposited an ace cross-court to put Hawai’i on the cusp of tying the match at a set apiece before a service error from former UH setter and current Gaucho Jack Walmer delivered the victory to his old school as his try sailed wide to end the frame, 25-20. 

Much like its predecessor, the night’s third frame began in Hawai’i’s favor as the Rainbow Warriors raced out to an 8-3 lead to force a timeout from the Gauchos. The break did not stop any UH momentum as Hawai’i increased the advantage to eight after another Nusterer ace, 13-5. 

While the ‘Chos tried to climb back, Hawai’i held UCSB at arms’ length for the remainder of the frame. Chaz Galloway, who entered the match off the bench to provide a spark for Hawai’i in the 2nd set, continued his impact when he combined with Nusterer for a block at the net to claim the third stanza convincingly for the ‘Bows, 25-17. 

“Super proud of Chaz coming off of the bench and really giving us a lift,” Hawai’i head coach Charlie Wade said of his senior’s performance. “[He had] some really nice blocks as well – obviously [UCSB] is a team that back-sets a lot – and I thought he did a really good job of slowing them down.” 

UCSB, not quite ready to bow their heads, jumped out to an early 4-2 lead in the 4th set as Geste Bianchi continued a highly productive night for the lower-seeded Gauchos before Hawai’i tied the frame up at four each. The sides continued to battle, trading points all the way to the media timeout as the ‘Chos went up, 15-14. 

Tread Rosenthal delivered Hawai’i back ahead, 17-16, with a beautiful ace that capped off a 3-1 run from UH after the break in the action and a block from Voss and Galloway made the lead two for the ‘Bows, sending the crowd of nearly 6,000 fans into a frenzy. 

“First off, I want to thank all of the fans who came out tonight,” said Todd when asked about the raucous crowd. “They’re a huge part of how we get out of these funks and how we play well. Just having their support and hearing them, all the aunties and uncles you see in the crowd – It’s a big deal here.” 

That same crowd quickly let their displeasure with the officials known a few points later when UCSB crept back in front, 20-19, after Alaka’i Todd was called for a questionable overreach at the net, forcing a timeout from Wade’s Rainbow Warriors. 

The break in the action and the cheering voices of the Hawai’i men’s volleyball faithful proved to be the lift needed for UH as the ‘Bows fought back in front when freshman setter Tread Rosenthal unleashed his first dunk over the net on the second hit to surprise UCSB, putting Hawai’i in front, 23-22.  

Galloway twirled an ace down to set up an Aloha Ball chance for Hawai’i on the very next play and after one failed chance, Rosenthal uncorked a second surprise kill in the final three points to finish off UC Santa Barbara in the 4th set, 25-23. 

“Thrilled to get the win,” Hawai’i’s Wade said to open his postgame comments. “It wasn’t too pretty all the time out there but [there were] two teams that were really fighting hard.” 

UC Santa Barbara southpaw Geste Bianchi led all players in the match with 24 kills on 51 swings while former UH setter Jack Walmer recorded 33 assists against his former school across the four-set loss for the Gauchos. 

Hawai’i was paced by Alaka’i Todd’s 13 kills on 26 swings, adding three digs and a pair of blocks in the win. Keoni Thiim chipped in eight kills on 16 swings while spinning three aces for the ‘Bows, helping push Hawai’i to the program’s 19th consecutive win over UC Santa Barbara. 

The win pushes the Rainbow Warriors into Friday night’s 2nd semifinal match against #2 seed UC Irvine, who the ‘Bows have already seen three separate times this season. Hawai’i holds a 2-1 advantage through the three meetings, but the teams have split the 12 total frames played with each side winning six sets apiece. 

“Kind of like [against UC Santa Barbara], [UC Irvine] has a bigtime left-handed guy they set a ton and it’ll be a load, for sure,” Wade said of the Rainbow Warriors’ semifinal matchup against the Anteaters. 

First serve for Friday’s semifinal match between #2 UC Irvine and #3 Hawai’i is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. HT / 10:00 p.m. PST, pending the result of the night’s first semifinal matchup between #1 Long Beach State and #5 CSUN. 

Hawai’i water polo dominant in Senior Night win, completes perfect Big West regular season

Hawai’i water polo dominant in Senior Night win, completes perfect Big West regular season

Apr 13, 2024

(From left to right) Hawai’i Rainbow Wahine water polo seniors Alba Bonamusa Boix, Lot Stertefeld, Emma Gurasich and Lucia Gomez de la Puente pose for a picture after UH’s 12-3 Senior Night victory over #16 UCSB. | Photo Credit: Michael Lasquero, HSRN

Hawai’i dominant in Senior Night win, completes perfect Big West regular season

BY PAUL BRECHT | HONOLULU
PUBLISHED APRIL 13, 2024

HONOLULU – Mo Goalz. 

The 2nd-ranked Hawai’i Rainbow Wahine water polo team capped off an immaculate run through the Big West conference schedule Saturday night, boat-racing 16th-ranked UC Santa Barbara (14-13, 1-5 Big West) on Senior Night with a 12-3 victory to send off four seniors and veteran head coach Maureen Cole with a dominant victory in their final appearance in the Duke Kahanamoku Aquatics Complex. 

Hawai’i recognized senior goalkeeper Emma Gurasich, attacker Alba Bonamusa Boix, utility Lot Stertefeld and attacker Lucia Gomez de la Puente after the match while honoring Cole in her final home match after 13 seasons as the head coach of the Rainbow Wahine water polo program. In all, Cole has been with the Hawai’i program for 18 seasons and picked up her 50th win in Big West competition on Saturday. 

A Senior Night full of smiles got started quickly as UH senior utility Lot Stertefeld helped the Rainbow Wahine (19-3, 7-0 Big West) on the board first with a goal just 39 seconds into the contest with a power play giving Hawai’i an advantage.  

UH junior center Bia Mantellato Dias put away her team-leading 56th goal with 3:54 left in the opening quarter to push Hawai’i’s lead to two midway through the first frame. The lead grew to a few as sophomore attacker Roni Perlman snuck in a quick score with seven seconds left in the first frame to give the Rainbow Wahine a 3-0 advantage after one quarter. 

After winning the opening sprint in the 2nd quarter, Hawai’i extended the lead with two more goals in three minutes as Agatha Weston and Morgan Rios got in on the fun for the Rainbow Wahine. Consistent pressure and mounting momentum for Hawai’i forced the hand of UC Santa Barbara as the Gauchos called for timeout with 4:09 remaining in the 1st half.  

The stoppage did not slow Hawai’i as Perlman deposited her second goal of the night 26 seconds after the UCSB timeout to make it 6-0 in favor of the ‘Bows. Hawai’i senior attacker Alba Bonamusa Boix became the second of the seniors to put away a goal at the 3:05 mark of the 2nd quarter to extend the UH lead to seven.  Two minutes later, fellow senior attacker Lucia Gomez de la Puente completed the trio of UH seniors that would score on the night with a goal to push it to 8-0. 

Hawai’i freshman Esmee Roijen made it 9-0 with a goal with 21 seconds left in the half, but UC Santa Barbara’s Leigh Lyter snuck a goal through with two seconds remaining to break the scoring drought and send the Gauchos into the break trailing, 9-1. 

The fourth senior, goalkeeper Emma Gurasich, began the 2nd half in the net for Hawai’i as all four players that would be honored recorded statistics in the box sheet. While Gurasich recorded a pair of saves, Dias added her 57th goal of the year and second of the night at the 4:53 mark of the 3rd quarter to make it 10-1 in UH’s favor. 

Hawai’i junior attacker Bernadette Doyle made it a 10-goal lead for the ‘Bows with her first goal of the night coming at the 3:57 mark of the 4th quarter. UCSB responded with a pair of goals within 70 seconds of each other, but UH freshman attacker Allegra Childs’ goal with 2:07 left to play sent the good vibes into the end of the night as Hawai’i cruised to a 12-3 victory. 

Gurasich and UH starting keeper Daisy Logtens combined for 10 saves as the senior Gurasich allowed a pair of goals in her 16 minutes of action. Freshman keeper Daisy Logtens allowed one score just before exiting as the Hawai’i defense flexed all evening. 

The Rainbow Wahine scored on nearly half of their shot attempts, taking 28 shots to score 12 goals on the night while the defense tied a season-low in goals allowed with just three UCSB scores coming from 22 shots. 

Hawai’i won three of the night’s four sprints, failing to capture possession to begin a quarter in just the third period. In all, nine different Rainbow Wahine scored on the night while UH totaled 17 points to just three from UCSB.  

Hawai’i secured an outright claim to the Big West regular season title with the win, completing the third perfect run through the conference schedule since joining the Big West in 2013 and the second unbeaten conference record for UH in three seasons. Hawai’i outscored conference opponents 100-39 in 2024 and never trailed throughout seven matches in Big West play.  

The Rainbow Wahine will now wait two weeks before returning to the pool for a match on Friday, April 26 in the opening round of the Big West Championships. Hawai’i will take on the 8th seed in the tournament after securing the top seed with the match scheduled for 7 a.m. HT.  

Rough 2nd inning dooms Hawai’i in Friday opener at UC Santa Barbara

Rough 2nd inning dooms Hawai’i in Friday opener at UC Santa Barbara

Apr 12, 2024

Hawai’i RHP Randy Abshier delivers a pitch during a home game for the Rainbow Warriors. The left-handed starter was charged with a loss in the ‘Bows 8-2 loss at UC Santa Barbara on April 12. | Photo Credit: Michael Lasquero, HSRN

Rough 2nd inning dooms Hawai’i in Friday opener at UC Santa Barbara

BY PAUL BRECHT | HONOLULU
PUBLISHED APRIL 12, 2024

Second inning sorrows. 

A six-run 2nd inning by UC Santa Barbara, aided by whirling winds in short left field, helped the Gauchos down Hawai’i (19-12, 4-6 Big West) in Friday’s series-opener, 8-2. UH LHP Randy Abshier (1-3) went 5.1 innings, allowing six runs on seven hits, racking up four strikeouts, hitting three batters and walking another while being charged with the loss. 

Abshier retired the Gauchos’ first three hitters in order before allowing six of his seven hits in the bottom of the 2nd inning, seeing eight consecutive batters reach for UCSB before Hawai’i recorded their first out in the inning.  

High pop-ups and swirling winds helped continue the nightmare inning, seeing back-to-back hits find no-man’s land in left field to load the bases and bring home another run. Nick Oakley brought the Gauchos’ lead to 6-0 with a sacrifice fly in his second at-bat of the inning before the second frame mercifully ended with a Jonah Sebring ground-out. 

Hawai’i crept closer with Matt Miura’s first career home run to lead off the 4th inning and Jake Tsukada’s RBI single to right in the 5th inning, seeing Abshier settling back in with back-to-back 1-2-3 innings to make it a 6-2 deficit for UH. 

A pair of insurance runs in the bottom of the 7th for UC Santa Barbara halted any further momentum for visiting Hawai’i as the Gauchos took the first of three weekend matchups with the ‘Bows, 8-2. 

UCSB starting pitcher Ryan Gallagher earned his third win of the year, spinning seven innings, striking out 12 Rainbow Warriors while allowing eight hits and two runs across 29 batters faced.  

The ‘Bows drop to 3-6 in series-opening contests this season, continuing to see struggles in Friday games. Rich Hill’s squad performs in series remarkably similar to games, turning up the heat later to come back for wins. Hawai’i has gone on to lose just two series after dropping the opening game, coming in the second series of the year against national power NC State and in a sweep at the bats of nationally-ranked UC Irvine. 

Hawai’i and UC Santa Barbara will play two more times, pending weather, during the weekend. First pitch on Saturday is scheduled for 12:05 p.m. HT and can be found on ESPN+. 

Hawai’i survives 5-set thriller with UC Santa Barbara on Senior Night

Hawai’i survives 5-set thriller with UC Santa Barbara on Senior Night

Mar 30, 2024

(Left to right) Hawai’i men’s volleyball seniors Kevin Kauling, Guilherme Voss, Alaka’i Todd, Spyros Chakas, Chaz Galloway and Austin Buchanan pose after the Senior Night ceremony for photos. | Photo Credit: Michael Lasquero, HSRN

Hawai’i survives 5-set thriller with UC Santa Barbara on Senior Night 

BY PAUL BRECHT | HONOLULU
PUBLISHED MAR 30, 2024

HONOLULU – Nobody does it like Hawai’i. 

The 5th-ranked University of Hawai’i men’s volleyball team survived a five-set thriller against 20th-ranked UC Santa Barbara (7-16, 0-7 Big West) on Saturday night, turning in a heart-pounding Senior Night win that had just a bit of everything for nearly 9,000 fans in attendance, (25-21, 26-24, 23-25, 21-25, 15-12). 

Despite UCSB southpaw Geste Bianchi’s match-best 32 kills, the ‘Bows were able to hold off a feisty Gauchos unit for the 18th straight win against the Big West foe. 

Hawai’i French freshman phenom Louis Sakanoko continued his progression with a team-leading 15 kills while putting his fingerprints all over the defense with seven digs and six total blocks in the third Big West win of the season for the ‘Bows. UH posted a season-best 18.5 blocks as a unit, led by middle blocker Kurt Nusterer’s career-best 10 turnaways.

The victory pushed Charlie Wade’s squad to .500 in conference play for the first time this season. After dropping three of their first four Big West matches, Hawai’i was able to clinch the program’s third straight season of 20 wins or more with the victory against the Gauchos.  

The injured Spyros Chakas made his highly anticipated return inside Stan Sheriff Center after suffering a non-contact leg injury in the championship match of the 2024 Outrigger Volleyball Invitational, receiving an ear-splitting cheer from the crowd on hand as he was announced as a “starter” as the team’s 2nd libero. 

With emotions running high, the Rainbow Warriors (20-4, 3-3 Big West) started slowly, allowing UCSB to take the opening two points before a service error put Hawai’i on the board for the first time. UH settled in a little to take a 4-3 lead behind Alaka’i Todd’s first kill of Saturday evening, but four of the next five balls resulted in points for the Gauchos for a multi-score lead, 7-5. 

Hawai’i continued to sleepwalk through a sloppy first portion of the opening set, trailing 15-12 at first media timeout as the offense had a negative hitting percentage and UCSB outside Geste Bianchi ran wild to lift the ‘Chos. 

The break in the action played to Hawai’i’s advantage as the Rainbow Warriors came out of the timeout and rattled off four straight points to take lead,16-15, and force UCSB timeout. 

The ‘Bows continued mounting momentum as Galloway went to his own altitude for a kill after the break for UH’s first multi-point lead of the night. The Gauchos worked to tie it again at 19 before a Patrick Kane attacking error off the left pin gave Hawai’i the needed advantage once again. With three of the next four points going to the Rainbow Warriors, UC Santa Barbara called for timeout to try and stave off a 1st set loss for the second night in a row. 

The attempt proved futile as Voss crushed his first kill of the night to set up a set point chance for the ‘Bows and a Kurt Nusterer-Chaz Galloway combined block loudly ended the opening frame in favor of the home team, 25-21. 

Galloway and Voss continued the fun for Hawai’i with two of the first three points in the 2nd set, but UCSB would again tighten the contest with a constant stream of traded points to a 13-13 deadlock before snagging the next two points to push into the media timeout leading the hosts, 15-13. 

After dropping behind, Hawai’i fought back once again following the stoppage to tie things before USCB pushed close to evening the match at a set each, 24-22. Led by Kurt Nusterer at the service line, UH flipped the script with a 4-0 run to take a two-sets-to-none lead over the Gauchos with a 26-24 win. 

Hawai’i had another sloppy start to the night’s third stanza, falling behind 4-1 off the rip. Steadying back to down just a pair, the Rainbow Warriors tied the set at 13 with back-to-back kills between Sakanoko and Todd from the left and right sides, respectively. USCB sent the match to the frame’s media timeout with the next two points behind the powerful left arm of Bianchi, 15-13. The Gauchos continued their hot third set after the break, forcing two timeouts from Hawai’i while taking a commanding five-point lead, 22-17. 

While it looked like the ‘Bows might repeat the 2nd set’s script with a late comeback try, USCB successfully pushed the match to a 4th round after getting swept Friday night as a Louis Sakanoko serve sailed long to clinch a 25-23 win for the ‘Chos. 

The momentum continued to flow for the foes from Santa Barbara, using a 10-1 run in the 4th set to take control of the frame and head into another media timeout leading, 15-12. This time, the stoppage in action did not aid the ‘Bows as UCSB rolled to a 25-21 win to send the match to a critical 5th set. 

Much like their other matches this season that have gone the distance, Hawai’i tabbed Keoni Thiim as the opener to serve. The local boy and service specialist played a good ball in, but USCB would take the first point of the final frame behind Bianchi’s 29th kill of the evening. 

Sakanoko grabbed the point right back with his 13th putdown of the night and tied the set at two with #14 two rallies later. The flying Frenchman collected his 15th and final kill a few moments following to give Hawai’i the lead and sizzled an ace next for the first multi-point lead of the do-or-die 5th set.  

Then, it was Thiim Time. 

UH’s fiery flyer let the emotions fly as he powered Hawai’i to a 9-5 lead with a pair of scorchers set up by Tread Rosenthal, picking up a yellow card in the process. Rosenthal extended the ‘Bows into double-digits, 10-7, with a dunk on two before UCSB drew within one to force Wade into a timeout. 

Kurt Nusterer helped spark the electricity back into SimpliFi Arena with a massive triple block with Sakanoko and Rosenthal to make it a two-point Rainbow Warrior lead again. Traded service errors maintained the gap for Hawai’i, but a curious ruling on an Alaka’i Todd attack called an error awarded a point to the Gauchos to make it 12-11, Hawai’i. 

Another service error gave a multi-point lead to the ‘Bows and Thiim smashed his third kill of the crucial 5th set to deliver Hawai’i to the doorstep of a Senior Night victory. A red card given to Charlie Wade by the tower official gave a point and the serve to UCSB, providing one last gasp for the Gauchos in efforts for that elusive Big West win. 

Once again, it was Keoni Thiim standing in the way as he crushed his fourth kill on eight total swings to close the door on the ‘Chos, 15-13. 

Seniors Alaka’i Todd and Guilherme Voss each added 12 kills in their final regular season home game inside the Stan Sheriff Center with Todd grabbing his first career double-double by getting down and dirty with a team-high 10 digs. 

Hawai’i totaled 50 digs on the night as a unit with three different players reaching 10 digs as Rosenthal and ‘Eleu Choy put in an inspired effort for the Hawai’i faithful by getting into double-figures along with Todd.  

With business taken care of, the party could begin. 

A hoarse-voiced Charlie Wade took to the PA microphone to personally thank the thousands of fans still in attendance for sticking with the team and supporting them through the most adversity they have faced in years. In all, the special senior class could not have been so special without the fans. 

It was time for the fans to show their aloha one final time in the regular season for their volleyball heroes, giving frenzied cheers and extended standing ovations to a special six seniors that have helped deliver some of the greatest memories in the program’s storied history. 

Opening with Austin Buchanan, who has trooped his way through injuries and adversities, the fans showed how special it is to be a senior for any Hawai’i program. It continued showing to the ‘Bows newest senior, Kevin Kauling, who had transferred to the program from Lewis after multiple AVCA All-America selections to be a part of the Rainbow Warrior ‘ohana. 

The volume reached another level when it was Punahou alum and Kailua native Alaka’i Todd’s turn to take centerstage as Hawai’i showed their incredible love to their own product that proved to be the definition of working hard paying off. An all-time program great in middle blocker Guilherme Voss came next, a force in the middle that still ranks in the top 10 of blocks per set for three years running that fans could recognize as a steady advantage on national champion teams.  

Chaz “Air” Galloway, the high-flying AVCA All-American outside hitter from San Diego, California, and five-year program veteran, certainly was shown the “Aloha Spirit” in his final regular season appearance at the Stan and “felt the love” following the ceremony when interacting with supporters that stayed deep into the evening.  

Finally, the place erupted for Spyros Chakas one more time as the Greek captain crutched his way around the loop to his parents who flew in from Greece for the night, stacked with lei. The all-time program great will leave the program (along with his peers) as a two-time national champion, appearing in three consecutive NCAA title matches and an incredible 108-14 record since the beginning of the 2020 season. 

Hawai’i men’s volleyball’s senior class of 2024 left imprints all over the hearts of UH fans and wrote in ink in multiple record books. With a positive end to the home slate of the regular season, the ‘Bows will now turn their attention to a pair of important road trips against UC Irvine and UC San Diego before the Big West Championships bring them back to Mānoa. 

Hawai’i slowly finding way again, takes down UCSB in three sets

Hawai’i slowly finding way again, takes down UCSB in three sets

Mar 29, 2024

Chaz Galloway stares across the court in a match for Hawai’i; the senior led the Rainbow Warriors with 10 kills in a sweep against #20 UC Santa Barbara on March 29, 2024. | Photo Credit: Michael Lasquero, HSRN

Hawai’i slowly finding way again, takes down UCSB in three sets

BY PAUL BRECHT | HONOLULU
PUBLISHED MAR 29, 2024

HONOLULU – Play that sweet, sweep music. 

The 5th-ranked Hawai’i Rainbow Warriors (19-4, 2-3 Big West) took down the 20th-ranked UC Santa Barbara Gauchos (7-15, 0-6 Big West) in straight sets Friday night in front of more than 6,000 people – (25-23, 25-21, 26-24). 

“We’re still a work-in-progress, there’s no doubt. We’re seeing glimpses of it and we are just going to keep grinding,” Hawai’i’s Charlie Wade said following the win.

Earlier in the week, Hawai’i dropped outside of the top 4 in the AVCA rankings poll for the first time since the final poll of the 2018 season following their weekend split with CSUN. After 91 consecutive weeks of men’s volleyball seasons passing with Hawai’i as one of the sport’s top quartet of competitors, Friday marked new waters for many Rainbow Warriors. 

The Gauchos looked to become the next program to snap a long losing streak against the ‘Bows as the teams traded the first 18 points of the night to a 9-9 score before Hawai’i finally was able to gain a multi-point lead with Guilherme Voss steady at the service line, 11-9. The visitors returned fire with three straight points – capped off by an ace from former UH setter Jack Walmer – to slither ahead, 12-11.  

The set returned to original form, trading points into the media timeout as Hawai’i led 15-14 after a triple block from Kurt Nusterer, Tread Rosenthal and Louis Sakanoko. The ‘Bows flew out of the timeout with back-to-back kills from Rosenthal and Alaka’i Todd for a three-point lead, but UCSB’s Geste Bianchi brought the Gauchos back within one with a mini-run of his own. 

Hawai’i came to the doorstep of a set one victory, 24-20, after Todd and Sakanoko pushed home a pair of kills, but the Gauchos made things interesting by staving off the first loss with three points in a row. The Rainbow Warriors escaped the opening set with a win on their fourth set point try as Chaz Galloway smashed his fourth kill of the evening. 

The ‘Bows, looking to build off their opening set win, grabbed the first two points of the 2nd set and continued building to a 7-4 lead with Todd and Nusterer continuing to keep “Mānoa Roofing Company” open on Good Friday, forcing a timeout from UC Santa Barbara.  

The lead grew to four after Rosenthal dunked one down on the second hit and Voss (after a review) won a joust at the net to give Hawai’i the 12-to-8 advantage. The ‘Bows would carry that same four-point margin into the media timeout after Galloway floated his seventh kill of the evening over a Gauchos’ block attempt.

With the help of some Hawai’i miscommunications and more service aces, UCSB tied the 2nd set at 16-16 and forced a timeout from head coach Charlie Wade. The break in the action did wonders for the ‘Bows as UH rattled off four of the next five points to take a 20-17 lead and flip the tide to force a timeout from the visiting Gauchos. 

Hawai’i powered through the final five points it needed, capped by a Nusterer punch, to take a commanding two sets to none lead over the Gauchos taking the frame, 25-21. 

The Rainbow Warriors raced out to a quick three-point lead in the 3rd set with four of the first five points, hoping to send the six thousand screaming fans home pleased and early on a Friday. They continued that dream by maintaining a healthy distance with UCSB before heading into the media timeout with a 15-13 lead. 

The 5th-ranked team in the nation continued to roll, pushing the advantage to five with more steady play after the stoppage, 20-15. The Gauchos used back-to-back aces from Owen Loncar to pull back within two and force a timeout from Hawai’i and rode the wave of momentum to knot things at 24 and send the 3rd set into a very brief pair of overtime points. 

Hawai’i took care of business after a service error from the Gauchos set up match point for the Rainbow Warriors and a Sakanoko second-chance kill finished the night on a high note as UH swept the ‘Chos in straight sets. 

“You know, I thought it was good, not great [tonight],” UH head coach Charlie Wade said postgame, referencing the number of self-inflicted errors the ‘Bows continue to allow. “We make nine errors in the first set – which is under where we had ballooned up to – and then we end up with [33 errors] in three sets so you’re still back to [11 errors averaged per set] and I think we’re better than that.”

UC Santa Barbara standout Geste Bianchi led all participants with a match-high 17 kills on 39 swings for the Gauchos. Ben Coordt and Patrick Kane added seven kills apiece for the visitors as they dropped their 17th consecutive meeting with Hawai’i in men’s volleyball. 

Chaz Galloway recorded his 25th career double-digit kill match, posting 10 kills to lead UH while adding four digs in his second-to-last regular season home appearance. Sakanoko and Voss each chipped in nine kills each and were particularly vicious at the net throughout the night. 

Four different ‘Bows had six or more digs on the night as well as Hawai’i’s hustle defense helped them get back on track after a rather stunning loss to CSUN last Saturday. While it was not a normal Alaka’i Todd game for kills, the 6th-year senior made sure to make his presence felt all night anyway with six kills, seven digs and a block to push UH back on the line of .500 in Big West play.

“[Alaka’i] has, for this team and in this moment in time, evolved into a veteran guy that we need a good performance from every night,” Wade said of his outside hitter’s all-around contributions.

The teams meet again Saturday evening for Hawai’i’s “Senior Night” as the ‘Bows honor six players in the team’s final home match of the regular season. First serve is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. with senior night proceedings following the contest. With a win, Hawai’i would clinch the program’s third straight 20-plus win season and 13th in program history while keeping the Gauchos winless in conference action this season.