BELMONT, N.C. – The fourth-ranked University of Hawai'i men's volleyball team swept defending Conference Carolinas champion Belmont Abbey, Thursday at Wheeler Center to open a four-match road trip. Set scores were 25-15, 25-15, 25-23.
The Rainbow Warriors (10-1) got back on the winning track after suffering their first loss of the season in their last contest two weeks ago against Stanford. UH used 11 players in the match and tinkered with different lineups in the last two sets.
Hawai'i matched a season-high, hitting .463 in the match with five aces and 8.5 blocks.
Louis Sakanoko reached double-figures in kills for the fourth consecutive match with a match-high 14 kills, hitting a career-high .579 with seven kills and three blocks.
Belmont Abbey (6-6) was led by Zach Puentes, who had team-highs of nine kills, five digs, and four blocks. The Crusaders hit .129 in the match.
Kainoa Wade came off the bench and added six kills, two aces, and three digs. His first two career aces occurred back-to-back late in Set 2 that gave the 'Bows a 23-14 lead.
Sakanoko recorded consecutive kills to start a 6-1 run to blow open Set 1. Sakanoko and Titriyski each had five kills as UH hit .556 in the set with 18 total kills.
Kurt Nusterer also had six kills along with three blocks.
UH easily won the first two sets but the Abbey pushed the Warriors to the limit in Set 3. BAC led 17-15 after a three-point run that included consecutive kills by Puentes. The Warriors regained the lead at 20-18 after kills by Sakanoko and Todd. Abbey tied it at 22 before consecutive kills by Sakanoko gave UH match point. Nusterer's kills completed the sweep.
The Warriors continue their road trip against Queens, Friday at 7:00 p.m. ET for the first of two matches against the Royals.
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