VIDEO: 2014 Hype Video

HONOLULU – The University of Hawai'i men's volleyball team will open its 2014 season with a two-match exhibition series against Thompson Rivers of Canada, Thursday, Jan. 2 and Saturday, Jan. 4 at the Stan Sheriff Center. Match times are 7:00 p.m.
 
Thompson Rivers (8-4) competes in the Canadian Interuniversity Sport's Canada West conference and is currently ranked No. 6 nationally.
 
The Rainbow Warriors (0-0) return five starters and 10 lettermen from a team which qualified for the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Tournament for the third time under head coach Charlie Wade. UH finished last year ranked No. 13 nationally and opens this season No. 13 in the preseason AVCA Coaches poll. Hawai'i was also picked to finish ninth in the MPSF Preseason Poll.
 
Among the team's notable returnees are its top two hitters – Brook Sedore and Sinisa Zarkovic, top three middle blockers – Taylor Averill, Davis Holt, and Nick West, and starting setter – Joby Ramos. UH also welcomes new assistant coach Milan Zarkovic, the father of Sinisa Zarkovic, and a veteran European head coach who has more than a decade of national team coaching experience in his native Serbia and most recently Balarus.
 
The Warriors officially open the season by hosting the Outrigger Hotels and Resorts Invitational, which celebrates its 20^th year. Joining UH are regular participants UCLA, Penn State and Ohio State, who have combined to win 16 Outrigger titles.

Promotions: Fans can win great prizes throughout the matches by participating in the various Corporate Partner promotional activities.