HONOLULU – The No. 2 University of Hawai'i men's volleyball team opens the 2026 season with a pair of non-conference matches against NJIT, Friday, Jan. 2 and Sunday, Jan. 4 at Bankoh Arena at Stan Sheriff Center. The matches begin a eight-match season-opening homestand for the Rainbow Warriors (0-0), who have won their last 12 season-openers dating back to 2014.

PROMOTIONS & GIVEAWAYS:
Friday, January 2
Join us Friday as we kick off the New Year and the new Warrior Volleyball season with the thrilling New Year's Celebration Match! Brought to you by HMSA, to ring in the new year, the 2,026th fan through the gate will receive an exclusive gift, courtesy of the Men's Volleyball Team!  
 
Ticket Promotion:
UH Alumni Appreciation Discount  
All University of Hawai'i Alumni will receive 50% off upper level adult tickets (maximum of eight). Tickets are in special sections. Supplies are limited and other restrictions may apply. Get your alumni tickets to select UH events at  https://hawaiiathletics.evenue.net/promotions/UHALUM2526

Sunday, January 4
Sunday is "Champions Night" celebration presented by Hawaii State Federal Credit Union. Following Sunday's match, the Rainbow Warriors will receive their Big West Championship rings during a special ring ceremony. 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				#2 Hawai'i (0-0) vs. NJIT (0-0)
Date | Time				Friday, Jan. 2 | 7:00 p.m. and Sunday, Jan. 4 | 5:00 p.m.
Location				Honolulu, O'ahu — Bankoh Arena at Stan Sheriff Center
Television				Spectrum Sports. Kanoa Leahey (play-by-play) and Chris McLachlin (analyst)
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
Digital Program				Click Here (coming soon)
Social Media				@HawaiiMensVB  | #HawaiiMVB #WarriorBall26 | @HawaiiMVB  | Facebook

SERIES INFORMATION

Overall: UH leads 3-0
            In Honolulu: UH leads 3-0
            In Newark: None
            Neutral: None
Postseason: None
Last Meeting: Jan. 10, 2019, UH 3-0
Streak: UH, 3

FIRST SERVE

• UH is 38-9 all-time in season-openers including a 14-2 mark under head coach Charlie Wade. Hawai'i has won 12 straight season-openers dating back to 2014.
• The Jan. 2nd season-opener is the earliest start in program history.
• UH leads the all-time series 3-0 which includes a two-match series sweep in 2009 and a season-opening win in 2019 as part of the Hawaiian Airlines Rainbow Warrior Classic. All three matches were in Honolulu and were won by the Warriors in straight sets.
• UH last opened the season against an EIVA opponent in 2020, when it swept a two-match series against Charleston in Honolulu.
• UH has a combined record of 38-10 against the current EIVA members. Hawai'i has played all seven current members including a 19-10 mark versus Penn State. UH has a combined 19-0 record against the six other teams.
• NJIT finished 14-13 last season and tied for second in the EIVA standings with an 8-4 mark. The Highlanders are picked second in this year's preseason poll behind favorite Penn State.
• UH begins the season ranked No. 2 in the AVCA Top 20 poll, marking the ninth consecutive year it earned a top 5 preseason ranking. The Warriors are also picked No. 2 in the preseason Big West Coaches Poll while Tread Rosenthal, Adrien Roure, Kristian Titriyski were named to the preseason team.
• Hawai'i returns five starters — Rosenthal, Roure, Titriyski, Justin Todd, and Louis Sakanoko — among its 12 returning lettermen from last year's squad that finished 27-6 and advanced to the NCAA Championship semifinals.
• The Warriors return 85.4 percent of its point-scoring production (kills-aces-blocks) including its leader in kills (Roure-344) and service aces (Rosenthal-38).
• UH has a 131-14 (.903) record at Bankoh Arena since 2017.
• Head coach Charlie Wade begins his 17th season at the helm of the Rainbow Warriors and last year became the winningest coach in program history, surpassing Mike Wilton. Wade has a 319-131 career record.