HONOLULU – The No. 4 University of Hawai'i men's volleyball team kicks off the 2025 season with a pair of non-conference matches against 20th-ranked McKendree, Friday, Jan. 3 and Sunday, Jan. 5 at SimpliFi Arena at Stan Sheriff Center. The Rainbow Warriors (0-0) have won their last 11 season-openers dating back to 2014. The series marks the first meeting between the teams in Honolulu.

PROMOTIONS & GIVEAWAY:

• Join us Friday as we kick off the New Year and the new Warrior Volleyball season with the thrilling New Year's Celebration Match! To ring in the new year, the 2,025th fan through the gate will receive an exclusive gift, courtesy of the Men's Volleyball Team! 
• Bring the 'Ohana out on Sunday as we're offering the "Family Pack" 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.
• Don't forget to swing by the Sports Marketing Table at Gate A to join in the fun, participate in exciting promotions, and score some amazing prizes.   

 

MATCHES #1-2
Who				No. 4 Hawai'i (0-0) vs. No. 20 McKendree (0-0)
Date | Time				Friday, Jan. 3, 7:00 p.m. and Sunday, Jan. 5, 5:00 p.m.
Location				Honolulu, O'ahu — SimpliFi Arena at Stan Sheriff Center
Television				Spectrum Sports. Kanoa Leahey (play-by-play) and Ryan Tsuji (analyst); FRI only
Live Stream				ESPN+ (blacked out in Hawai'i); FRI only
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 | McKendree | Big West
Digital Program				Click Here
Social Media				@HawaiiMensVB  | #HawaiiMVB #WarriorBall25 | @HawaiiMVB  | Facebook

SERIES INFORMATION

Overall: UH leads 2-0
            In Honolulu: None
            In Lebanon, Ill.: UH leads 1-0
            Neutral: UH leads 1-0
Postseason: None
Last Meeting: March 21, 2019, UH 3-0 (Provo, UT)
Streak: UH, 2

FIRST SERVE

• UH is 37-9 all-time in season-openers including a 13-2 mark under head coach Charlie Wade. Hawai'i has won 11 straight season-openers dating back to 2014.
• UH leads the all-time series 2-0 with a straight-set victory in Lebanon, Ill., in 2017 and a 3-0 win in Provo, Utah as part of the BYU Invitational in 2019.
• This year marks the fourth straight season that UH is opening at home against a team from the MIVA. The Warriors played a pair of two-match series against Loyola-Chicago in 2022 and 2024 and hosted a two-match series with Ball State in 2023.
• UH is scheduled to play seven matches against MIVA teams this season. Hawai'i will also host a two-match series against Lindenwood (March 5 & 7) while travelling to Queens for a pair of matches in Charlotte, N.C. (Feb. 21 & 22). UH will play Ball State in the OUTRIGGER Resorts Invitational in Honolulu (March 13).
• UH has a 66-13 combined record against current members of the MIVA. Quincy is the only current MIVA team which UH has not played.
• McKendree tied for fifth in the MIVA last season and finished with a 14-12 overall record. The Bearcats were picked fifth in the MIVA Preseason Poll while senior OH Kevin Schuele was selected to the all-MIVA Preseason Team. Last season, Schuele earned AVCA All-American Honorable Mention and First Team all-MIVA honors. Junior LIB Yadiel Diaz and MB D'Aaron McCraney were second-team all-MIVA.
• Hawai'i returns three starters — S Tread Rosenthal, MB Kurt Nusterer, and LIB 'Eleu Choy — and eight overall returnees from last year's squad that finished 23-7 and were ranked No. 5 in the final AVCA poll.
• UH has a 113-11 (.911) record at SimpliFi Arena since the start of the 2017 season.
• UH's Jan. 3rd season-opener is tied for the earliest start in program history along with Jan. 3, 2008 (vs. Penn State), Jan. 3, 2015 (vs. Stevens IT), Jan. 3, 2020 (vs. Charleston), and last season — Jan. 3, 2024 (vs. Loyola-Chicago).
• Head coach Charlie Wade begins his 16th season as the helm of the Rainbow Warriors. Wade is the second winningest coach in program history with 292 wins.