Titriyski’s Career Night Lifts No. 2 Hawai‘i Over No. 8 UC Santa Barbara

Mar 28

By Kennedy Choo

After a statement sweep over conference rival Long Beach State men's volleyball, the No. 2-ranked Hawai‘i Rainbow Warriors men's volleyball kept rolling in Big West play, defeating No. 8 UC Santa Barbara Gauchos men's volleyball in four sets (25-23, 25-18, 19-25, 25-22) at home.

Sophomore outside hitter Kristian Titriyski turned in a career night on the taraflex, recording a season-high 18 kills, adding four blocks and a career-best 12 digs for his first double-double of the year.

“I was standing where I needed to stand,” Titriyski said. “The ball was coming at me. I think it’s a lesson for the next games.”

Set one flipped late. Trailing 23-21, sophomore middle blocker Justin Todd stepped to the service line and delivered a rocket that ricocheted off the Santa Barbara libero to tie the score at 23. Todd stayed aggressive, firing off two more aces to cap a three-point run and seal the opening set.

“Coach Wade has been giving me a lot of trust back there,” Todd said. “I’ve been proving myself in those moments.”

Todd wasn’t alone from the service line. Outside hitters Adrien Roure and Louis Sakanoko added three aces apiece, helping Hawai‘i rack up nine total on the night.

“Our setting really bailed us out,” head coach Charlie Wade said. “Todd put it in play, that’s his job.”

The Rainbow Warriors controlled the second set but couldn’t complete the sweep, as the Gauchos responded with a 25-19 win in the third.

“We were clean in the first two sets, only six errors,” Wade said. “Then ten in the third set; very uncharacteristic.”

Hawai‘i regained control in the fourth. After an attacking error trimmed the lead to 16-15, Sakanoko responded with a thunderous kill off a set from junior setter Tread Rosenthal to make it 17-15. He followed with an ace to push the lead to 18-15, helping the Rainbow Warriors maintain separation down the stretch.

Hawai‘i closed out the fourth set 25-22, using its service pressure and balanced attack to secure the match.

The Rainbow Warriors (20-3, 3-0 Big West) face UC Santa Barbara (11-8, 2-2 BW) tonight at 7 p.m. at the Stan Sheriff Center.