STANFORD, Calif. – The top-ranked University of Hawai'i men's volleyball faced its toughest test of the 2023 season against No. 8 Stanford Friday in the first of two non-conference matches at The Farm. The Rainbow Warriors managed to pull off the sweep, 25-22, 25-19, 26-24 at Maples Pavilion, extending their nation's-best win streak to 17 matches.
 
UH (8-0) also defeated the Cardinal for the eighth consecutive time in the series while extending its set win streak to 21 straight. The teams play again on Saturday at 6:00 p.m. PT (4:00 p.m. HT) at Burnham Pavilion.
 
Setter Jakob Thelle returned to the line-up after missing the last three matches and guided the Rainbow Warriors to a season-best .440 attack percentage. Greek sensations Dimitrios Mouchlias (12 kills, 5 blocks) and Spyros Chakas (11 kills, 6 digs) led the way. Thelle served two aces, including on UH's third match point.
 
Will Rottman led the Cardinal (7-3) with 13 kills while Theo Snoey added nine kills and three aces.
 

Aloha Friday Ace!!! 🌈#NCAAMVB #WarriorBall23 pic.twitter.com/mLGvY3KHXU

— Hawaii Men's Volleyball (@HawaiiMensVB) February 11, 2023

 
UH fell behind by three in the middle of Set 1 after a Rottman kill. Thelle's first ace pulled the Warriors to within one and UH took the lead at 20-19 after a Chakas ace. On the very next point, Guilherme Voss team with Mouchlias on a double block which capped a 6-1 run. With the Warriors leading 23-21, a Mouchlias serve was initially called wide but head coach Charlie Wade challenged and the point was overturned giving UH set point.
 
In Set 2, Stanford took the lead at 11-10 after a three-point spurt before the Warriors answered with three straight of their own, including an ace by Voss. After the Cardinal pulled to within one, the Warriors scored back-to-back points for a 20-17 lead and moments later scored the final four points including a block by Cole Hogland on set point. Hawai'i hit .696 in the frame with no errors in 23 kill attempts.
 
The Cardinal jumped out to a 13-9 lead in Set 3. UH tied it at 17-17 with three unanswered points and took a 21-20 lead after a Hogland kill. The teams traded points until UH scored back-to-back points, including another successful challenge, for its first match point at 24-22. The Cardinal erased both before Voss set up UH's third serve for the match. Thelle's 103^rd career ace ended it.