Hawaii Men’s Volleyball Begins Big West Tournament Against Familiar Foes

The Hawaii men’s volleyball team is gearing up to defend its Big West championship title as they face off against UC Santa Barbara in the first round of the tournament. The stakes are high as the winner will move on to face UC Irvine, a team with strong ties to Hawaii’s own roster.

Both UCSB and UCI feature starting setters who were once part of the Rainbow Warriors’ national championship teams in 2021 and 2022. Jack Walmer, now with UCSB, served the match-winning point in the 2022 championship game before transferring to the Gauchos. Brett Sheward, now with UCI, was a key player on both title-winning teams and leads the Big West in assists per game.

Despite facing challenges since losing All-America hitter Spyros Chakas to injury, Hawaii remains optimistic about their chances in the tournament. Coach Charlie Wade believes that the key to success lies in putting together three strong performances in a row, something the team has struggled with in recent matches.

With the NCAA Tournament on the line, Hawaii will need to win out in order to secure a spot. The team has a strong track record in the Big West tournament, having won three out of the five titles to date. As they prepare to face off against familiar foes in UCSB and potentially UCI, the Rainbow Warriors are focused on playing their best volleyball of the season.

Stay tuned for more updates on Hawaii’s journey through the Big West tournament and their quest for another championship title.