University of Hawai'i at Manoa Athletics

2023 HAWAI‘I MEN'S VOLLEYBALL

SEASON HIGHLIGHTS

• Hawai‘i (29-3) appeared in its fourth consecutive NCAA title match, becoming the first school since UCLA, who made six straight appearances from 1993-98. UH’s bid for a third consecutive NCAA title fell short with a four-set loss to UCLA.

• UH’s 29 wins this season were the most in program history while its 26 regular season win which was also a program-high.

• Setter Jakob Thelle was named the AVCA Player of the Year, becoming the school’s fifth-ever recipient and second in the last three seasons. He also repeated as Big West Player of the Year, marking the fourth straight year a Rainbow Warrior received the award.

• UH captured its second consecutive Big West Championship tournament title and third overall with a four-set win over UC Irvine in Irvine, Calif. Thelle was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player for the second straight year. UH also tied for first in the Big West regular season for the second time in the last three seasons.

• A program-record six Rainbow Warriors were named to the AVCA All-America team, including three on the first team—Thelle, OPP Dimitrios Mouchlias, and MB Guilherme Voss. OH Spyros Chakas was picked to the second team while OH Chaz Galloway and LIB Brett Sheward were honorable mentions.

• Head coach Charlie Wade earned his second straight Big West Coach of the Year award while associate coach Milan Zarkovic was named AVCA National Assistant Coach of the Year for the second time in his career.

• Six of the team’s seven starters were named to the All-Big West first team—Thelle, Chakas, Galloway, Mouchlias, Voss, and Sheward. MB Kurt Nusterer was named to the all-freshman team.

• Thelle became the UH’s all-time leader in service aces with 122. The Tonsberg, Norway native led the nation in assists per set (10.67) and finished his career with 2,948 assists which ranks No. 7 all-time in program history.

• Hawai‘i led the nation in kills per set (13.33) and ranked No. 2 in hitting percentage (.367) and assists per set (12.56) and No. 4 in blocks per set (2.56).

• Thelle was the recipient of the Jack Bonhan Award, given to UH’s top senior student-athlete.

• UH held the No. 1 ranking in the NVA/AVCA Top 15 Coaches Poll for all but one week during the regular season.

• UH led the nation in attendance with its highest season average (6,652) since 1998. Hawai‘i drew two sellout crowds (10,300) at SimpliFi Arena, the 12th and 13th all-time in program history.

AWARDS & HONORS

MILESTONE MOMENTS

Jakob Thelle set a new all-time program record with 122 aces.

CLASS OF 2023

Jakob Thelle, Dimitrios Mouchlias, Devin Johnson, Cole Hogland, Filip Humler, and Kana'i Akana

BEST IN THE WEST

UH captured its second consecutive and third overall Big West Championship tournament title in their victory against UC Irvine. Jakob Thelle was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player for the second year in a row.

CHASING HISTORY

The defending national champion Rainbow Warriors made their fourth straight appearance in the NCAA Tournament, entering as the #2 seed. They would play Penn St., who they lost to earlier in the season in four sets. The 'bows would get redemption this time around as they won in five sets to advance to their third straight NCAA Championship match.

'BOWS FALL SHORT

In their fourth straight championship game, UH attempts to go for three straight against UCLA but fall short in 4 sets, ending an astounding and unforgettable season.

FEELING THE ALOHA SPIRIT 

From the sell out games to traveling with the team, Hawai'i has the best volleyball fans in the world and no one comes close.

PICTURE PERFECT

Some of the top shots over the last season.