HONOLULU – The fourth-ranked University of Hawai'i men's volleyball team overcame a pesky McKendree squad for four-set victory Friday in its 2025 season opener at SimpliFi Arena at Stan Sheriff Center. Set scores were 25-20, 20-25, 25-22, 25-22.
 
The Rainbow Warriors (1-0) extended their win streak in season-openers to 12 dating back to 2014 with the win that lasted two hours and 32 minutes. UH improved to 3-0 all-time against the Bearcats, who compete in the Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association.
 
UH hit .362 for the match and was led by freshman Adrien Roure, who finished with a match-high 17 kills, hitting .345 with two aces and five digs. Clay Wieter added 14 kills, four digs, three blocks, and an ace, while hitting at a .429 clip.
 
Freshman Finn Kearney and redshirt freshman Justin Todd came off the bench to spark the Rainbow Warriors. The duo started Set 3 and finished the match – Kearney posting seven kills, five digs, and two blocks and Todd adding four kills in six errorless attempts and a team-high five blocks. Setter Tread Rosenthal dished out 54 assists, four shy of his career-high.
 
Kevin Schuele had 15 kills to lead the Bearcats (0-1) while Sam Hoskin added 13 kills. D'Aaron McCraney had a match-high seven blocks as McKendree out-blocked Hawai'i, 8.5 to 7.5.

Catching fire 🔥🔥🔥#WarriorBall25 x #GoBows pic.twitter.com/FmeyuivSxC

— Hawaii Men's Volleyball (@HawaiiMensVB) January 4, 2025

 
UH took the tightly-contested opening set, using a 4-0 run late for a 23-18 lead. Kristian Titriyski had a kill and his third ace of the set during the run. Hawai'i hit .400 in the set and sided-out at 85 percent.
 
The Bearcats returned the favor in Set 2, surging ahead 10-5 after a 5-0 run. McKendree held its lead throughout the set and the Warriors only got within two as the Bearcats hit .500 in the frame and sided-out at 85 percent.
 
With momentum on its side, McKendree jumped out a 10-6 lead in Set 3 after scoring five unanswered that included a pair of aces by Rolen Lively. UH answered back and took the lead at 15-14 after three straight blocks. UH led 23-20 after a five-point spurt.
 
In Set 4, Todd sparked a 7-1 Hawai'i run to take a 10-4 lead with a kill and two blocks. The Bearcats pulled within two at 12-10 and tied it at 16. However, the Warriors scored four of the next five points for a 20-17 lead. McKendree got within one at 22-21 but Hawai'i closed out the match scoring three of the final four points, culminating with Kearney's seventh kill.
 
The teams play again Sunday at 5:00 p.m., at SimpliFi Arena.