Match Notes

In the midst of its longest win streak in four years, the University of Hawai'i men's volleyball team continues its 11-day road trip with a pivotal two-match Mountain Pacific Sports Federation series against No. 3 Brigham Young, Thursday, March 24 and Friday, March 25 at Smith Fieldhouse in Provo, Utah. Thursday's match begins at 8:00 p.m. MT (4:00 p.m. HT) while Friday's match starts at 7:00 p.m. MT (3:00 p.m. HT).

 

The Warriors (12-9, 10-6 MPSF) and Cougars (14-7, 10-6) are tied for third place in the league standings with less than one month left in the regular season. UH, which moved up two spots to No. 8 in this week's AVCA Top 15 ranking, began its road trip with a two-match sweep of then-No. 5 Long Beach State while BYU, which dropped one spot to third, split a two matches at Cal State Northridge.

 

Hawai'i needed four sets to get past the 49ers on the first night while sweeping the Beach in the rematch. All-American opposite Jonas Umlauft tallied 22 kills each night while averaging 6.29 kills per set. Outside hitter Joshua Walker averaged 4.29 kills per set in the series while continuing his hot hitting at .355.

 

Unlike its previous road trip at UCLA and UC Irvine, the Warriors managed to win the crucial points when it mattered most. On the first night, UH closed out the match with identical 25-23 wins in Sets 3 & 4 while in the rematch, the Warriors took a two sets to none lead by taking Sets 1 & 2, 27-25 and 25-23, respectively.

 

The Cougars were swept in the first of two matches against CSUN despite 17 kills a piece by Robb Stowell and Taylor Sander. The following night, BYU's big block held the Matadors to .115 hitting while racking up 14.5 blocks in three sets. The Cougars hit an impressive .410 while middle blocker Futi Tavana had 11 kills on .625 hitting and six blocks.

 

Who: No. 8 Hawai'i (12-9, 10-6 MPSF) vs. No. 3 Brigham Young (14-7, 10-6 MPSF)

When: Thursday, March 24 and Friday, March 25

Time: 8:00 p.m. MT / 4:00 p.m. HT on Thursday and 7:00 p.m. MT / 3:00 p.m. HT on Friday

Where: Smith Fieldhouse; Provo, Utah

Television Coverage: BYUtv will televise both matches live with Jarom Jordan (play-by-play) and Steve Vail (color). Rebroadcast at 10 p.m. MT (6:00 p.m. HT) each night.

Streaming Video: Available online at byutv.org/live

Radio Coverage: ESPN 1420 AM will broadcast both match live with Blaine Kauwe calling the action.

Audio Webcast: Available at espn1420am.com

Live Stats: Available at BYUCougars.com

Series Information: BYU leads the overall series 27-17, however, UH swept the season series last year in Honolulu, snapping a six-match losing streak to the Cougars. In Provo, BYU holds a commanding 16-3 advantage, which includes a current six-match win streak. Last season, UH rallied for a five-set victory in the opener. The second match was supposed to be played at Maui's War Memorial Gym but a tsunami hit the islands the morning of the match and prevented the teams from flying to the Valley Island. The match was rescheduled two days later and the Warriors swept the Cougars.