IRVINE, Calif. – In a highly anticipated season-opener, the second-ranked University of Hawai'i men's volleyball team rallied for a four-set win over No. 8 UC Irvine, 22-25, 25-16, 25-13, 25-17 Sunday afternoon at the Bren Center.
 
After a shaky first set, the Rainbow Warriors (1-0) showed why they're national championship contenders, dominating the Anteaters in the final three sets for their eighth consecutive season-opening victory. UH served up all 10 aces in the final three stanzas and held UCI to .132 hitting after Set 1.

All-Americans Rado Parapunov and Colton Cowell led the way with 13 kills each. Parapunov hit .391 and added eight digs and two blocks while Cowell had a career-high five aces, including two each in Sets 2 & 3. Middle blocker Patrick Gasman hit .571 on nine kills along with two aces and outside hitter Chaz Galloway had eight kills, hitting .538.
 
Joel Schneidmiller had a match-high 17 kills for the Anteaters (0-1).
 

8️⃣ straight season-opening wins for #HawaiiMVB!!!#WarriorBall21 🌈🏐 pic.twitter.com/pikR8Yfmht

— Hawaii Men's Volleyball (@HawaiiMensVB) February 22, 2021

 
The Warriors got off to a slow start in Set 1, trailing 5-1 before Cowell came alive. His fourth kill tied the score at 8-8. With Parapunov at the service line, UH went on a 5-0 run to take a 15-13 lead. Back-to-back kills by the Anteaters gave UCI a 20-18 lead. The teams traded side outs and Cowell was blocked to end it.
 
UH scored the first three points of Set 2 and moments later, two aces by Cowell during a 5-0 run gave the Warriors an 8-1 lead. Parapunov had a kill and block on consecutive plays for a 16-10 lead and the Anteaters never threatened as Hawai'i rolled to a 25-16 victory to even the match.
 
Cowell was at it again at the service line as a pair of aces put UH on top 5-1 to start Set 3. The Warriors stuffed the Anteaters on consecutive plays for an 8-2 lead and an ace by Galloway gave UH a 13-4 advantage. It was never close as UH hit .500 with four aces and two blocks in the game.
 
It was Gasman's turn in Set 4 with back-to-back aces – UH's 9^th and 10^th of the match – which gave the Warriors an 11-5 lead.  Hawai'i strung together four more points and saw the lead balloon to 14-6. Head coach Charlie Wade, who picked up career win No. 197, emptied the bench as 11 players saw action for the Warriors.
 
The teams play again Monday at 7:00 p.m. PT at the Bren Center. Parapunov needs one more kill to reach 1,000 for his career.