PROVO, Utah – For the first time in program history, the fourth-ranked University of Hawai'i men's volleyball team swept a season series with BYU in Provo with a four-set victory, Saturday at Smith Fieldhouse. Set scores were 25-18, 25-22, 22-25, 25-22.
 
The Rainbow Warriors (8-0) remained perfect on the season, marking the fifth time since 2019 that UH started the season with an 8-0 record. UH, which entered the week 4-25 all-time in Provo, have now won three straight over the Cougars in Smith Fieldhouse.
 
Kristian Titriyski led the way once again with a match-high 17 kills along with career-highs of seven digs and seven blocks. For the second straight night, the Sofia, Bulgaria native came up big down the stretch for the 'Bows, recording two kills that gave UH its 22^nd and 23^rd points of set four.
 
Hawai'i took the opening two sets before the Cougars extended the match with a Set 3 win. In Set 4, the Cougars led 20-18 but the Warriors scored seven of the final nine points. Louis Sakanoko's kill gave UH aloha ball and BYU hit wide to end it.
 
Sakanoko made his first start of the season and finished with 13 kills, hitting .296 with eight digs and two blocks. The Paris, France native, who also had an ace, recorded eight of his kills in Set 2 that put helped put UH two sets to none in the match.
 
Setter Tread Rosenthal had two aces in the match but his service turn late in Set 3 nearly propelled UH to an improbable comeback. Down 24-14, the Austin, Texas native helped the Warriors erase eight set points to pull within two at 24-22 before Keoni Thiim's kill closed out the frame.
 
Thiim shared team-high kill honors for BYU (6-4) along with Lucas Torres with 14 but was primarily held in check for most the night. The Honolulu native and former Rainbow Warrior committed nine attack errors and hit .152 for the match.
 
UH's big block set the tone in the match with a gaudy 10 blocks in the opening frame, including seven by Kurt Nusterer. The Warriors finished the night with 14 team blocks and held the Cougars to .147 hitting for the match. Nusterer finished with 10 blocks for the second straight night.
 
The Warriors return to Honolulu for a two-match series against Stanford, Wednesday, Feb. 5 and Friday, Feb. 7 at SimpliFi Arena at Stan Sheriff Center.