LONG BEACH, Calif. – The University of Hawai'i men's volleyball team saw its losing streak at the Walter Pyramid continue with another four-set loss to No. 2 Long Beach State Saturday. Set scores were 25-23, 25-20, 21-25, 25-19.
 
One night after the teams played a tight four-set match decided by a combined three points, the Beach (16-3, 5-1 BWC) extended their win streak over the Rainbow Warriors at the Pyramid to nine matches dating back to 2017 and in the process, took over sole possession of first place in the Big West standings.
 
UH struggled offensively committing a season-high 28 attack errors on .174 hitting. The Beach posted 16.5 team blocks compared to only 8.5 for the nation's top blocking team. UH, who also entered the series as the top serving team, tallied seven service aces after finishing with only one on Friday. LBSU hit .350 for the match.
 
Outside hitter Spyros Chakas and middle blocker Guilherme Voss each had 11 kills to lead the Rainbow Warriors. Voss hit .588 while fellow middle Cole Hogland had a team-high four blocks with five kills.
 
Setter Jakob Thelle dished out 43 assists while recording four of the team's seven aces with two coming in the third set, which UH avoided the sweep. Libero Brett Sheward had a career-high 16 digs.
 
The Beach were led by Alex Nikolov's 18 kills, hitting .484. Spencer Olivier and Clarke Godbold each added 12 kills as the trio combined for 42 of the team's 50 kills. Middle blocker Simon Torwie had a match-high eight blocks.
 
The teams traded points and leads throughout Set 1 that featured 18 ties and nine lead changes. A kill by Chakas put UH back on top and a Filip Humler ace gave the Warriors a two-point lead at 22-20. With Hawai'i leading 23-21, the Beach scored the final four points with three straight blocks and an ace by Nikolov.
 
In Set 2, the Beach scored three straight for a 10-7 lead. UH tied it at 11 during a 4-1 run which included a pair of kills by Voss. After the teams traded side-outs, the Beach scored three straight including back-to-back aces by Simon Torwie for a 19-16 lead. The Beach hung on to take the set and take a 2-0 lead in the match.
 
Hawai'i was down early in Set 3 but responded with three unanswered points capped by an ace by Thelle for a 12-11 lead. After a Beach point, UH scored four straight for a 16-12 advantage. The Warriors maintained the lead and a dig kill by Sheward followed by an ace by Thelle and a Beach hitting error gave Hawai'i set point at 24-20. An LBSU service error sent the match a fourth set.
 
UH scored the first five points of Set 4 off the tough serving by Thelle. The lead was 9-4 before the Beach tied it at 10-10 after a 6-1 run. The Beach took the lead at 13-11 after a kill by Nikolov and never looked back. At 15-14, LBSU went on a 6-1 run, including three kills by Nikolov, to put the game away
 
The Rainbow Warriors will next host UC Santa Barbara, April 8-9 at SimpliFi Arena at Stan Sheriff Center.