Hawai‘i Secures Big West Regular Season Championship Behind Kubr’s Senior Night Start

Apr 19

By Kennedy Choo

Senior setter Vladimir Kubr had never stepped onto the Stan Sheriff Center floor in his two years at the University of Hawai‘i. The lone senior spent most of his career supporting from the bench, lifting up younger teammates in their pursuit of a Big West title.

But on this night, Kubr got his moment—earning the start at the net and putting a fitting cap on his Hawai‘i career.

“It’s more than I’ve ever asked for,” Kubr said. “I feel like I played pretty good tonight.”

In the first and third sets, Kubr tallied five assists, helping set up key kills for sophomore outside hitters Adrien Roure and Kainoa Wade, who finished with 17 and 13, respectively.

“This might be the best thing that will ever happen in my life,” Kubr said.

It was a fitting sentiment on a memorable senior night for Hawai‘i. The Rainbow Warriors defeated Cal State Northridge in four sets (25-15, 21-25, 25-14, 25-16), clinching the Big West regular-season title and securing the No. 1 seed in the conference tournament.

Hawai‘i set the tone early, shutting down the Matadors’ attack and tallying six blocks in the opening set.

After a service error in set one by junior opposite hitter Louis Sakanoko, junior setter Tread Rosenthal responded with a solo block, keeping the ball on Northridge’s side to extend the lead to 14-6.

The Matadors (12-14, 0-10 Big West) bounced back in set two, capitalizing on Hawai‘i’s miscues to even the match.

But Hawai‘i (26-4, 9-1 Big West) answered emphatically, holding Northridge to just 14 points in a dominant third-set win.

“We had a little hiccup in set two,” head coach Charlie Wade said. “Thank God volleyball resets at 25, because we dominated the sets we won.”

In set four, already leading 17-8, Roure finished a Rosenthal set with a powerful kill from the outside to push the advantage to 18-8.

Hawai‘i closed out the match in the fourth set, securing the win as Kubr was honored with a standing ovation and draped in lei to cap his career in Mānoa.

Next, Hawai‘i heads to Irvine for the Big West Tournament, looking to strengthen its case for a top-four seed in the NCAA Tournament and the opportunity to host a regional.

Video: Krista Peterson