HONOLULU – The top-ranked University of Hawai'i men's volleyball team will open the 2022 season by playing host to No. 7 Loyola-Chicago for a two-match series, Wednesday, Jan. 5 and Friday, Jan. 7 at SimpliFi Arena at Stan Sheriff Center. The Rainbow Warriors (0-0) will also celebrate their 2021 NCAA Championship with a banner unveiling during pre-game of Wednesday's season-opener. The first 5,000 fans will receive a commemorative team photo while the first 2,500 will also receive a rally towel.
 

MATCHES #1 & #2
Who				#1 Hawai'i (0-0) vs. #7 Loyola-Chicago (0-0)
Date | Time				Wednesday, Jan. 5 (7:00 p.m.) and Friday, Jan. 7 (7:00 p.m.)
Location				Honolulu, O'ahu — SimpliFi Arena at Stan Sheriff Center
Television				Spectrum Sports. Kanoa Leahey (play-by-play), Ryan Kalei Tsuji (analyst-Wednesday) and James Anastassiades (analyst-Friday).
Live Stream				ESPN+ (blacked out in Hawai'i)
Radio				ESPN Honolulu (1420AM/92.7FM). Tiff Wells (play-by-play).
Streaming Audio				ESPNHonolulu.com; Sideline Hawaii app
Live Stats				HawaiiAthletics.com
Game Notes				Hawai'i | Loyola-Chicago
Social Media				@HawaiiMensVB  | #HawaiiMVB #WarriorBall22 | @HawaiiMVB  | Facebook

      
FIRST SERVE

• During pre-game of Wednesday's match, the 2021 NCAA Championship banner will be unveiled, the first official men's volleyball national championship banner to hang from the rafters.
• UH is 34-9 all-time in season-openers including an 10-2 mark under head coach Charlie Wade. The Warriors have won eight straight season-openers dating back to 2014.
• This season marks the third time that UH and Loyola-Chicago will play a two-match, season-opening series in Honolulu. The teams also played in 2000 (UH won both matches) and 2002 (teams split, LUC won the opener and UH won the rematch).
• UH has a 46-match win streak in the regular season against non-Big West/non-MPSF teams since 2013.
• This year marks the second time in three seasons that UH is the preseason No. 1 in the AVCA Coaches Poll and the fifth time overall that Hawai'i opens the season at the top-ranked team.
• UH returns three starters — S Jakob Thelle, OH Chaz Galloway, and MB Guilherme Voss — and 10 lettermen from last season's squad. Other key returnees include OH Spyros Chakas, L Brett Sheward, OH Kana'i Akana, and OPP Alaka'i Todd. OPP Dimitrios Mouchlias also returns after redshirting last year.

PROMOTIONSOutrigger is the sponsor of the OUTRIGGER Challenge and will award great prizes throughout the series. 

• On Wednesday the men's volleyball team will unveil its 2021 NCAA Championship banner prior to first serve. 
• The first 5,000 fans will receive a commemorative team photo while the first 2,500 will also receive a rally towel, which is designed after the national championship banner.
• Fans will have the opportunity to take photos with the National Championship Trophy on the concourse near Gate A from 5:30-7:00 p.m.
• 2021 All-American Colton Cowell will be in attendance for the unveiling of the banner. 
• Visit the sports marketing desk located at Gate A to register to participate in the promotions and win great prizes. 
• Free men's volleyball posters and schedule cards will be available at the sports marketing desk. 
• Roster sheets will be available via QR Code for mobile devices.