TIFF’S TAKEAWAYS FOR #WARRIORBALL26 - WEEK 9
By Tiff Wells
1. One To Remember. The one venue where UH hadn’t seen recent success was the one where they would open up conference play here in 2026. 11 consecutive losses in Long Beach over the last 11 years, the Rainbow Warriors hadn’t won in The Pyramid since February 28th, 2015. Some were sweeps, others were 5-set marathons. Add in the 2017 MPSF Tournament Championship defeat, the 2018 BWC Tournament Championship setback and the 2019 loss in the NCAA National Championship match, this venue had been a house of horrors for the Rainbow Warriors. The four-time defending regular season conference champions (LBSU) against the defending conference tournament champions (UH) for a pair of matches had the volleyball community on notice. Two ticketed issued sellouts set the stage for the mid-March epic series. Each of the first two sets were won by the minimum two points (26-24, 23-25) and that match result gave the impression it would be that close of a match…and series. Despite a red card issued to Louis Sakanoko in Set 3 who would then exit and not return due to cramps, the Bows took the match lead back. The Beach would win Set 4 to force a 5th set, something Hawai`i had not played in all season long. Trailing 8-7 at the side change, a huge 3-0 Kristian Titriyski service run gave Hawai`i the cushion they needed. After Titriyski slammed home the match-winning kill, he looked up and took a deep breath. A two hour, 53-minute 5-Set marathon match ended 11 years of frustration and that 11-match losing streak. Finally, the Rainbow Warriors got their win in Long Beach and at worst, would head home with the series split.
2. So Nice, Did It Twice. Sweep at home and split on the road. Do that and you’re in the conversation to be near the top of the conference standings at the end of the regular season. Coming back for match two less than 24 hours after winning the series opener, UH was playing with house money. At worst, you got the split. But why be satisfied with one when the opportunity was there to sweep the regular season with Long Beach State, something that hadn’t been done since 2015. A 6-all opening set quickly became an 18-10 Hawai`i lead and the Bows ran away with the set. Siding out at 83% (15-of-18) off first-ball contact, UH hit .500 and controlled the frame. A tight second set saw Long Beach State take a 22-21 lead before Kainoa Wade came in off the bench as a service sub. Ice water in his veins, his tough serving got The Beach out of system and his 4-0 serving run closed out the set and gave UH the huge 2-0 lead. Carrying that momentum into the third, Hawai`i broke open a close start to the set, taking a 12-10 lead. At 20-14, LBSU made one final push to close the gap (19-21) but would get no closer. A service error to end meeting 105 in the series gave the Bows their first regular season sweep of Long Beach State since 2015 and now UH has won the last four against The Beach. Statement made after week 1 of conference play has the Rainbow Warriors atop the conference standings at 2-0. And for the first time since March 28, 2016, Long Beach State was swept at home. To paraphrase what Adrien Roure said during the week, we love playing at home in front of our fans, but to get a chance to come on the road in a hostile environment and quiet the crowd, we love those opportunities. Two matches played and both times Beach fans left disappointed while hearing the Hawai`i fans cheer well into the night.
3. The Cramp Match. MJ had the flu game. Meeting 1 of the 2026 season on March 20th between UH and Long Beach will go down as the cramp match. The weather outside had been in the 90s all week long and the conditions didn’t change throughout the series. It also became hot and stuffy in the building with a crowd close to 3700 (ticketed issued sellout of 4200). What started out with the first two sets decided by the minimum two points, it had the makings of becoming a long match. While it was a long match (2 hours, 53 minutes), the length was also due in part to multiple stoppages because of cramping. It all began in Set 3 with both setters (Tread Rosenthal and Jake Pazanti) going down with cramps, each at separate times. The cramping got so bad for Louis Sakanoko that he had to leave the match at 13-9 in Set 3. “I can’t go” was what we could see mouthed from No. 23 as Finn Kearney replaced him for the rest of the match. Long Beach State opposite Wojciech Gajek also suffered cramps in Set 4 and was subbed out, only to then come back and start the fifth set (which he finished). Both setters gutted it out to finish the match, but not before a few more stoppages on both sides were needed. Whatever was done in between matches worked because there were any real significant cramping issues on Saturday. Keep on hydrating throughout the week.
4. Pass & Defend. Coming into Long Beach week, the Rainbow Warriors knew just how good the serving was for The Beach. Long Beach State led the nation in both aces and aces per set ratio. LBSU also features the top two servers by aces per set (Alex Kandev and Skyler Varga). Add in Jackson Cryst and Wojciech Gajek, that’s four servers in the top twenty nationally in aces per set. After the Bows gave up 15 aces in their last two matches against UCLA and Lewis, Hawai`i knew they had to win the pass battle. Over the course of the eight sets played in the UH/LBSU series, the Rainbow Warriors gave up just nine aces. A little more than one per set average and well below LBSU’s 2.7 aces per set average. Libero Quintin Greenidge went 44-of-45 in reception during the series with many of those first passes being good or excellent. Because of how well UH passed, it also forced Long Beach to really try and amp up their serving. In the two matches, The Beach totaled 40 service errors. Long Beach State also came in as one of the best blocking teams the nation. A 2.8 block per set average for LBSU saw them get out-blocked both nights (12.5 to 7.5 and 8.5 to 7). With the dig numbers almost even (LBSU led 52-51), the Hawai`i defense frustrated The Beach hitters all series long. While Gajek had 22 kills on night one and 16 in night two, he did hit over .350 both nights. But the others, Skyler Varga (15 kills, .163; 7 kills, .267) and Alex Kandev 11 kills, .143; 6 kills, .188) weren’t as efficient. The hitting percentages for LBSU were their second (.218) and third (.259) lowest on the season. Win the serve and pass battle, chances are good you win the match. UH won serve and pass both nights and…won both matches.
5. Bankoh East. It is well known just how well Hawai`i fans travel to support their teams. The support is felt and seen in Southern California, most notably when UH visits Long Beach State and UC Irvine. No surprise here that it was announced ahead of the first UH/LBSU match that the both matches were ticketed issued sellouts. In person and on tv, you could see a lot of green and white. You also could hear the support before, during and after each match as well. “Let’s Go Bows” cheers outweighed the “Let’s Go Beach” cheers. Not very often does the road crowd go toe-to-toe noise level wise with the home team. But the UH fanbase is built different. Fueled by their support system, UH played freely and with joy en route to the 2-0 series sweep. With how loud it was and just the sustained amount of noise as well, one could say that LBS Financial Credit Union Pyramid became Bankoh East over the weekend. Well done you Road Warriors!
6. The Opposite Revolving Door. Arguably the deepest position for UH is at Opposite. Between Kristian Titriyski, Kainoa Wade and Finn Kearney, it can be a hard decision for Head Coach Charlie Wade. Especially in this day and age of NIL and the transfer portal, one could leave for greener pastures for a variety of reasons. The season is a marathon, not a sprint and the staff knows they will need all three healthy and available in this back half of the regular season.. Titriyski was cleared ahead of The Outrigger Volleyball Invitational last week and it felt good for him to get his legs back ahead of conference play. With him coming off the bench in all three matches, he had ten or more kills in two of them en route to Big West Conference Offensive Player of the Week honors. The debate coming into Long Beach week was who would start at opposite. Titriyski got the nod and night one was a mixed bag (13 kills, one ace that was huge in the 5th set, five digs and four blocks, but also: nine hitting errors, five service errors and hitting .114). But it was also understandable as it was his first full match played in nearly two months. He also physically matched up well with Long Beach State with his brute force winning numerous points. It allowed Wade to come in off the bench as a service sub but also gave the chance for Kearney to sub in for the injured Louis Sakanoko. The Bulgarian made the adjustments during night two: 11 kills and hit .400, one aces, two digs and a block. Kearney got all four of his serves in, added an assist and a dig. Kainoa Wade had the GSTL (Great Service Turn Late) to win Set 2 on night two as his 4-0 run closed the frame to give UH the stranglehold in the match score. While he didn’t record an ace, his constant pressure had LBSU running their offense off the net. Keeping everyone happy is one thing but winning cures all. Team success over individual accolades has different roles for everyone but for this group, they are celebrating and playing for one another.