HONOLULU – The top-ranked University of Hawai'i men's volleyball team will close out its season-opening homestand by hosting Saint Francis in a two-match series, Wednesday, Jan. 18 and Friday, Jan. 20 at SimpliFi Arena at Stan Sheriff Center. First serve is 7:00 p.m. both nights. The Rainbow Warriors (2-0) successfully opened the season with a pair of four-set wins over No. 6 Ball State last week.
Prior to the start of Friday's match, an alumni vs. alumni match will be held beginning at 4:00 p.m.
| MATCHES #3-4 |
| Who |
#1 Hawai'i (2-0) vs. Saint Francis (0-2) |
| Date | Time |
Wednesday, Jan. 18, 7:00 p.m. and Friday, Jan. 20, 7:00 p.m. |
| Location |
Honolulu, O'ahu — SimpliFi Arena at Stan Sheriff Center |
| Television |
Spectrum Sports. Kanoa Leahey (play-by-play) and Chris McLachlin (analyst) on Wednesday. Scott Robbs (play-by-play) and Ryan Tsuji (analyst) on 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 | SFU | Big West |
| Digital Program |
Click here |
| Social Media |
@HawaiiMensVB  | #HawaiiMVB #WarriorBall23 | @HawaiiMVB  | Facebook  |
FIRST SERVE
- UH leads the series 1-0. The teams' only previous meeting occurred during the 2019 season at a neutral site in Charlotte, N.C. UH won 25-15, 25-20, 25-12
- UH enters the series with a 2-0 mark after sweeping a two-match season-opening series with No. 6 Ball State last week. Outside hitter Spyros Chakas led the Rainbow Warriors in kills both nights and finished with a 5.13 per set average, hitting .485.
- SFU is 0-2 after dropping a pair of matches at Stanford, Jan. 6-7. Nathan Zini had a team-high 26 kills in the series (2.89 kps).
- SFU begins its first season as a member of the Northeast Conference (NEC), which will crown a men's volleyball champion for the first time in 2023. Also competing in the conference are Fairleigh Dickinson, Long Island University, Merrimack, Sacred Heart, St. Francis Brooklyn, Daemen, and D'Youville. The NEC and the Big West are the only two multi-sport NCAA Division I conferences to sponsor men's volleyball competition.
- SFU competed in the Eastern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association for more than four decades from 1977-2022 before moving to the NEC.
- UH is 5-0 against current members of the NEC which also includes a 3-0 mark against Long Island. Hawai'i and LIU will meet in a two-match series in Honolulu, Feb. 22 & 24. UH also has a 1-0 mark against Fairleigh Dickinson.
- UH boasts a current 11-match win streak dating back to last season. In addition, the Warriors own an 20-match home win streak dating back to 2021 and a 25-match regular season home win streak also since 2021.
- SFU head coach Michael Rumbaugh begins his 25th season as head coach of the Red Flash with a 282-357 career record. He guided SFU to a 15-13 mark in 2022.
- Outside hitter Spyros Chakas was named Off the Block's National Outside Attacker of the Week after averaging 5.13 kills per set and hitting .485 in the Ball State series.
PROMOTIONS
- Raising Cane's is the sponsor on Wednesday and will distribute 500 Koozies prior to the match at Gate A, and award great prizes throughout the match.
- Fantastic Sams is the sponsor of Friday's "Alumni Appreciation" match.
- Prior to the match, former men's volleyball players will compete in a Alumni vs. Alumni game from 4:00-6:00pm, doors open at 3:30pm.
- All University of Hawaii Alumni will receive 50% off upper level adult tickets (maximum of eight) through etickethawaii.com. Use the promo code UHALUM22.
- There will be an autograph session with the men's volleyball team following the match at Gate B.
- Visit the sports marketing table (located at Gate A) to participate in the promotions and win great prizes.
- "Family Pack" Promotion: A "Family Pack" promotion is available for men's volleyball regular season home matches. With the purchase of two adult tickets, fans will receive one youth (ages 4-high school) ticket free for every youth ticket purchased (maximum of two free tickets). "Family Pack" tickets for men's volleyball can be purchased at the SimpliFi Arena at Stan Sheriff Center Box Office in advance and or on game day.
- Group Rate Packages: Groups of 24 or more qualify for group rate pricing. Group tickets are available for purchase online at www.etickethawaii.com.
#HawaiiMVB
