LOS ANGELES – The University of Hawai'i men's volleyball team successfully defended its 2021 national title with a three-set sweep over Long Beach State Saturday in the NCAA Championship match at Pauley Pavilion. Set scores were 25-22, 25-21, 25-20.
The Rainbow Warriors (27-5) became the fifth straight team to repeat as national champions and did it over its most heated rival. The Beach (21-6) defeated UH twice earlier in the regular season. But the Warriors won when it mattered the most. Two weeks after sweeping LBSU for the Big West Tournament title, the Warriors did it again, this time on the biggest stage.
Tournament MVP
Spyros Chakas led UH with 14 kills on a .333 hitting. Fellow all-tournament team selection and outside hitter
Dimitrios Mouchlias added 11 kills while hitting a blistering .500. Meanwhile All-American
Jakob Thelle put together another flawless performance. The Norway native, who was also named to the all-tournament team, applied his signature pressure from the service line and finished with 31 assists in directing a potent UH offense that finished at a .434 hitting clip.
National Player of the Year Alex Nikolov put down a match-high 20 kills and hit .405 to lead LBSU. But it wasn't enough for the Beach, who were also out-blocked by the Warriors, 8-1, including five blocks by
Guilherme Voss.
The first set was a back-and-forth affair until UH gained separation late. The Warriors were clinging to a 18-17 lead, but UH scored the next three points, including an ace by Thelle. The gave the 'Bows a four-point cushion and UH would seal the first set on a Chakas kill.
The Beach burst of the gates in the second set and built a 10-5 lead. But the Warriors wouldn't fold and answered with five straight points to knot things up. And once again UH would make a key run late . With LBSU leading 20-18, UH reeled off five straight points and ultimately scored seven of the final eight points of the set to take a 2-0 lead in the match.
Th third set saw a similar ending with UH surging late. LBSU held a 16-15 lead but the Warriors scored six of the next seven points to take a commanding 21-17 lead. Once Long Beach State committed a net violation on the final point, the celebration was on as UH took the final set by a 25-20 count.
The Warriors concluded the season with nine straight wins en route to their second straight national title. UH's 2021 title-clinching win over BYU was also via a sweep.
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