HONOLULU – The fourth-ranked University of Hawai'i men's volleyball team will open Big West play and a nine-match homestand with a pivotal series against No. 3 UC Irvine, Friday, Feb. 28 and Sunday, March 2 at SimpliFi Arena at Stan Sheriff Center. The Rainbow Warriors (13-1) are fresh off a four-match road trip to the state of North Carolina where they defeated Belmont Abbey, Catawba, and Queens (twice). The Anteaters (10-2) suffered their first two losses of the season last week to then-No. 3 UCLA.

PROMOTIONS & GIVEAWAY:
Friday, February 28 - Dig Pink Night
First Hawaiian Bank presents "Dig Pink" Night and will be distributing 500 pink bandanas (Gate A)

• February is National Cancer Prevention Month, and we're proud to team up with the UH Cancer Center to spread awareness, promote early detection, and support cancer research and patients. Let's turn the arena PINK—so be sure to rep your pink gear
• We're once again joining forces with Lt. Governor Sylvia Luke's office and the Hawai'i Food Bank for the annual State Employees' Food Drive. Don't forget to bring non-perishable food items for donation!
• The men's volleyball team will be sporting their exclusive White Tapa Jerseys, which will be auctioned off to support the future of our amazing student-athletes. The auction opens on Thursday, February 27, and closes on Monday, March 3. Stay tuned for more information about the auction.

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Sunday, March 2 - Youth Volleyball / Family Night
Proudly Sponsored by HMSA who will be passing out one of a kind rally towels.
It's a night dedicated to family, fun, and future volleyball stars!

• Calling all youth volleyball teams! Show off your team spirit by wearing your jerseys. The first 20 teams will get the chance to send one player to compete in a serving contest at intermission! (Participants must be intermediate grade or younger.) Teams attending the match will also have the chance to have UH volleyball players visit their practice—a once-in-a-lifetime experience!
• Family Fun Zone! Bring the whole family and enjoy interactive Spirit Stations on the concourse, featuring: Face painting,  Balloon making, and temporary tattoos

 
Ticket Promotions: Family Pack and Super Fan

• "Family Pack" Promotion:
  A "Family Pack" promotion is available for men's volleyball regular-season home matches. With the purchase of two adult tickets, fans will receive one free youth ticket (ages 4–high school) for every youth ticket purchased (maximum of two free tickets). "Family Pack" tickets can be purchased at the SimpliFi Arena at Stan Sheriff Center Box Office in advance or on game day.

• "Super Fan" Promotion (UH Baseball vs. Northeastern & UH Men's Volleyball vs. UC Irvine):
  When there are multiple ticketed UH regular-season events occurring on the same day, ticket holders of one event may receive 50% off upper-level adult tickets for the other event.
  • "Super Fan" tickets are available starting one (1) hour before the event at the event site ticket office.
  • Offer is valid for ticketed UHAD-sponsored regular-season home games occurring on the same day at SimpliFi Arena at Stan Sheriff Center or Les Murakami Stadium.
  • Offer is not valid for postseason events.
  • Seats are in select upper-level sections and are based on availability.
  • The discount applies to regular-priced adult tickets.
  • Tickets for the same-day event must be presented to receive an equal number of discounted tickets.
  • Other restrictions may apply.

  

MATCHES #15-16
Who				#4 Hawai'i (13-1) vs. #3 UC Irvine (10-2)
Date | Time				Friday, Feb. 28, 7:00 p.m. and Sunday, March 2, 5:00 p.m.
Location				Honolulu, O'ahu — SimpliFi 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 | UC Irvine | Big West
Digital Program				Click Here
Social Media				@HawaiiMensVB  | #HawaiiMVB #WarriorBall25 | @HawaiiMVB  | Facebook

SERIES INFORMATION

Overall: UH leads 50-24
            In Honolulu: UH leads 26-10
            In Irvine: UH leads 23-14
            Neutral: UH leads 1-0
Postseason: Tied 3-3
Last Meeting: 4/19/24, UCI 3-0
Streak: UCI, 1

FIRST SERVE

• Hawai'i leads the all-time series with UC Irvine, 50-24, including a 26-10 advantage in Honolulu.
• UH saw several win streaks in the series snapped last season — 15-match overall wins dating back to 2018, seven-match home wins dating back to 2019, and nine-match road wins dating back to 2015.
• The teams went 2-2 last season, which included a two-match Big West series split in Irvine, Calif. UH defeated the Anteaters in the championship match of the OUTRIGGER Invitational while UCI won a Big West Championship tournament semifinal match-up in Honolulu.
• Head coach Charlie Wade has a 24-14 record against UCI.
• Since the inception of the Big West in 2018, UH has a 45-15 (.750) all-time conference record in regular season play — 26-4 at home and 19-11 on the road.
• UH opens Big West play against UCI for the third time (also in 2018 & '19).
• Hawai'i is 3-3 in Big West openers and have lost its last three.
• Hawai'i is 7-1 at home this season. The Warriors lost their last home contest against Stanford, Feb. 7. UH has not lost two consecutive home games since 2016.
• UH's Louis Sakanoko was teammates with UCI's Hilir Henno on France's national team program from 2017-23, including the European Championships in 2019. In last season's four match-ups between UH and UCI, Sakanoko averaged 3.08 kills per set while Henno averaged 6.20 kills per set, hitting .397.
• UH is 13-1 through the first 14 matches of the season for the sixth time in the last seven seasons.
• Beginning this week, eight of UH's nine remaining opponents are nationally ranked, including four in the Top 10 — Long Beach State (#1), UC Irvine (#3), USC (#5), and Ball State (#8).
• The last time UH returned from an East Coast trip and played at home the following week was in 2019. After a similar North Carolina trip, Hawai'i won both of its matches against Lincoln Memorial.