LOS ANGELES — When it mattered most, the Hawaii men’s volleyball team played its best.
The second-seeded Rainbow Warriors came back from getting blown out in the opening set to claim their third national championship with a 15-25, 25-18, 25-18, 25-20 win over UC Irvine today in the final of the National Collegiate Men’s Volleyball Championship at Pauley Pavilion.
MAKE ROOM FOR BANNER NUMBER 3. wins the national championship. 18-25, 25-18, 25-18, 25-20 over UC Irvine.
— Billy Hull (@billyhull)
Kristian Titriyski finished with a match-high 16 kills, including the game-winner, to lead a balanced Hawaii offense that hit .410 for the match.
Adrien Roure finished with 15 kills and seven digs, and Louis Sakanoko had 12 kills, six digs, three blocks and three consecutive aces in the fourth set to help put the match away.
Sakanoko was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player.
Middle blockers Justin Todd and Trevell Jordan combined for 12 kills in 17 swings and Hawaii controlled the rest of the match after the Anteaters dominated the opening set, hitting .562 with only one error.
Hawaii hit .452 or better in each of the next three sets, including .538 in the fourth.
Hawaii finishes with its first 30-win season in program history at 30-5, earning six of those wins against Big West rivals Long Beach State and UC Irvine, all either on the road or at a neutral site.
Freshman Andrej Jovanoic had 13 kills to lead the Anteaters (21-9).
The victory gives Hawaii nine team NCAA championships across all sports.
