Match Notes

HONOLULU - The University of Hawai'i men's volleyball team returns to the Stan Sheriff Center this week for the first time in 26 days to play a pair of Mountain Pacific Sports Federation matches against No. 7 Stanford, Thursday, Feb. 26, and Saturday, Feb. 28. First serve for both matches is 7:00 p.m.

The No. 11 Warriors (3-8, 2-6 MPSF) are coming off a week-long break after being swept in their latest series at Long Beach State. UH fell to the 49ers in three sets in the first match, and four in the second match, and were out-hit .332 to .209 in the series.

The Cardinal (9-7, 5-6 MPSF) are 2-4 in their last six matches, most recently beating UC Santa Barbara in a five sets last Saturday. One night earlier, Stanford fell to Cal State Northridge in four sets, a team that UH swept in a two-match series just three weeks ago.

Overall, the Warriors lead the series between the teams, 34-26. Although Stanford swept two matches last season, the Warriors are 15-2 against the Cardinal in the last 10 seasons with nine of those wins occurring at the Stan Sheriff Center.

What: No. 11 Hawai'i (3-8, 2-6 MPSF) vs. No. 7 Stanford (9-7, 5-6 MPSF)

When: Thursday, Feb. 26, and Saturday, Feb. 28

Time: 7:00 p.m. HST each night

Where: Stan Sheriff Center; Honolulu, HI

Television Coverage: KFVE-TV (Ch. 5) will televise both matches live with Jim Leahey (play-by-play) and Chris McLachlin (color). Rebroadcast at 10:30 p.m. each night.

Streaming Video: Live video streaming is available on uhstreaming.oceanic.com.

Radio Coverage: ESPN 1420 is broadcasting all UH matches live with Scott Robbs calling the action.

Audio Webcast: Live audio streaming on espn1420am.com

Live Stats: Live stats of both matches are available on HawaiiAthletics.com

Promotions: “Faculty & Staff Night.” Members of the UH faculty and staff will receive 50% off tickets (maximum of eight). A valid UH identification card is required when purchasing tickets at the Stan Sheriff Center Box Office or on game night. Advance purchases are encouraged. Tickets are in special sections and supplies are limited. Other restrictions may apply.

Tickets: Lower-level $11; Upper-level adult $8, Upper-level senior citizen $7; Upper-level youth tickets (high school and under) $3. All UH system students with valid ID are FREE.

Series History: UH leads 34-26. Stanford swept the two-match series last season in Stanford, Calif. UH has won the last four matches in the series at the Stan Sheriff Center.

 

UH needs one more win to reach No. 500 in its 31st season of intercollegiate play. Hawai'i has compiled a 499-273 (.647) all-time record since 1979.

Freshman Gus Tuaniga provided instant offense for the Warriors in the team's two-match series at Long Beach State two weeks ago. The Hemet, Calif., native had his most productive series averaging 5.00 kills while hitting at a .385 clip. In the first match, he had 12 kills and hit .529 in the three-set loss and tallied 18 kills and six digs in the rematch. On the year, Tuaniga is averaging 2.77 kills and 1.70 digs per set while hitting .261, second highest among the UH regulars.

Sophomore Brennon Dyer has provided a boost off the bench for the Warriors at the outside hitter position. Dyer has hit in double figures three times including twice during UH's series sweep of then-No. 2 Cal State Northridge. Dyer started both matches and tallied 32 kills (3.56 kps), 19 digs (2.11 dps), and 11 blocks (1.22 bps). He had a team-high 18 kills in the team's five-set win and 14 kills in the rematch. On the year, Dyer is averaging 2.64 kills, 1.40 digs, and 0.68 blocks per set.

Sophomore outside hitter Joshua Walker has been in and out of the starting lineup throughout the season. The Virginia Beach, Va., native averaged a team-best 3.67 kills per set in the Cal State Northridge series but only 2.00 kills per set in spot duty during the Long Beach State series, which resulted in two UH losses. Still Walker ranks second on the team with a 3.61 kill average.

Statistically, the Warriors' most consistent player this season is freshman Steven Hunt. The Toronto, Ontario native is averaging 3.72 kills, 1.62 digs, and 0.38 blocks per set . Hunt has double figure kill totals in seven of the 11 matches and is passing at 96 percent. He had a career-high 24 kills in a four-set loss to Pepperdine.

Despite a 3-8 record, Hawai'i is ranked in the AVCA Top 15 poll due in part to its strength of schedule. All 11 of the Warriors' opponents were ranked in the Top 10 at the time of the match, including top-ranked Penn State, then-No. 2 Cal State Northridge and then-No. 3 Pepperdine. This week's opponent, Stanford, is ranked No. 7 while the Warriors are No. 11 in the AVCA Coaches poll.

After substituting as an outside hitter for parts of last season, Sean Carney returned to his natural position - setter - for the start of this season. Carney appeared in four matches as a hitter last season, including the regular season series finale at Pepperdine. The senior has started all 11 matches this season at setter and is averaging 11.39 assists per set and leads the team in digs with 103 (2.51). He also ranks second on the team in blocks with 32 (0.78).

Hawai'i holds a 216-111 (.661) all-time record in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation since the 1993 season, all under head coach Mike Wilton. UH posted one perfect season of 19-0 during the 1996 campaign and made 14-straight MPSF playoffs, until ending that streak last season when the Warriors finished below .500 in conference play for the first time under Wilton. 

The Warriors were picked 13th in the preseason Bison/AVCA Division I-II poll and ninth in the preseason Mountain Pacific Sports Federation poll. Defending NCAA champion Penn State heads the Top 15 national poll with 14 first place votes and 236 points. UCLA and Pepperdine were tied for the top spot in the MPSF coaches poll with 104 votes.

The Warriors have called the Stan Sheriff Center home since 1994 and it has provided a dominant home court advantage. UH has led the nation in attendance all 14 years and hold a 181-83 (.686) record including an impressive 109-38 (.741) mark in MPSF play.

Former Warrior Clay Stanley, who led the United States men's volleyball team to Olympic gold at the 2008 Games in Beijing, China, was one of four inductees in the UH Sports Circle of Honor. Stanley, a two-time Olympian, was selected as the tournament's Most Valuable Player as well as best scorer and best server. He was inducted in the Class of 2008 along with Olympian Heather Bown, former athletics director Ray Nagel, and multi-sport legend Jack Johnson.