Match Stats
- #5 Hawaii def. #11 UCSB 3-0 (25-22, 30-28, 25-23)
- Hawaii moves to 9-2 (2-2 MPSF); UCSB falls to 6-4 (3-4 MPSF)
- Stan Sheriff Center, Honolulu, Hawaii
- Attendance: 3,109
- Box Score
In the first of a two-game weekend swing, the 5th-ranked Hawaii Warriors topped UCSB 3-0 on Friday. After losing their first two conference games two weeks ago, Hawaii has rebounded to win 4-straight, which includes evening their MPSF record at 2-2.
While the result was a 3-set sweep, UCSB pushed the Warriors in each set – including an epic 30-28 slug-fest in 2. Back to back kills by Stijn van Tilburg. part of a game-high 15, led the way for Hawaii. He was the only player in double figures for Hawaii as head coach Charlie Wade continues to tinker with his very young roster to find the best combination heading toward March.
UCSB’s top hitter was Jacob Delson, who had 14 ills and 7 errors for a .206 total hitting percentage. Corey Chavers joined him in double-figures with 10 kills.
Connor Drake had the best game for UCSB, with an errorless 5 kills on only 7 swings (.714 percentage), plus 6 block assists.
The two teams will play again on Saturday at 7PM Hawaii Time (midnight Eastern Time).
Videos
ICYMI: Stijn was in #BeastMode per usual tonight ?????? Hope to see you at the SSC tomorrow for the Hana Hou! #herecomestheBOOM #HawaiiMVB pic.twitter.com/OdZBiy6krt
— Oceanic Sports (@OCSportsTV) February 4, 2017
Hamajang Aaaaace! ??? #HawaiiMVB leads Set 3, 23-20. #GoBows pic.twitter.com/ThYlCfi3Ci
— #WarriorBall ?? (@HawaiiMensVB) February 4, 2017
You can forget about that one coming back ???? #HawaiiMVB leading Set 3, 19-18. #GoBows pic.twitter.com/XguAAWnyPg
— #WarriorBall ?? (@HawaiiMensVB) February 4, 2017
Sheesh, that only had one destination…??? #HawaiiMVB leads Set 3, 12-11. #GoBows pic.twitter.com/NV301mpvbA
— #WarriorBall ?? (@HawaiiMensVB) February 4, 2017
??? ??? #HawaiiMVB leads Set 3, 4-3. #GoBows pic.twitter.com/6lVTwrzlWU
— #WarriorBall ?? (@HawaiiMensVB) February 4, 2017
Block ????Party!! #HawaiiMVB ?????? #GoBows @HawaiiMensVB @HawaiiAthletics pic.twitter.com/iwIDQyBEyq
— Oceanic Sports (@OCSportsTV) February 4, 2017
Press Releases
Courtesy Hawaii Athletics:
HONOLULU – The University of Hawai’i men’s volleyball team were pushed to the limit in all three sets of a straight-set win over No. 11 UC Santa Barbara, Friday in the first of two Mountain Pacific Sports Federation matches at the Stan Sheriff Center. Set scores were 25-22, 30-28, 25-23.
The fifth-ranked Rainbow Warriors (9-2, 2-2 MPSF) extended their home win streak to 12 straight dating back to last season and have won three straight over the Gauchos (6-4, 3-4) in Honolulu.
The teams play again on Saturday at 7:00 p.m.
UH opposite Stijn van Tilburg had a match-high 15 kills, hitting .300 and was the only Warrior in double digits. Middle blocker Hendrik Mol tallied six of the team’s 12 blocks. Senior outside hitter Kupono Fey added six kills while sophomore Brett Rosenmeier came off the bench and steadied the UH passing game and finished with three kills, four digs, and three blocks.
UCSB’s Jacob Delson had 14 kills while Corey Chavers added 10 kills and five digs.
Off the serve of Patrick Gasman, the Warriors reeled off six straight points for a 14-13 lead in Set 1. UH regained the lead at 21-18 before the Gauchos tied it at 22. From the there, Hawai’i’s block came alive with back-to-back solo stuffs by Mol and setter Jennings Franciskovic to close it out as the Warriors scored the final three points to take the set.
UH trailed for much of Set 2 before taking a 16-15 lead with a 5-1 run. The teams then traded leads with the Gauchos surging ahead 21-20 with a block of van Tilburg. But van Tilburg answered back, helping Hawai’i regain the lead after a solo stuff and again on his 10th. His 11th kill gave UH set point but UCSB stuffed him again to tie it at 24. Hawai’i had four more set points but the Gauchos erased each one until UH’s seventh try when van Tilburg put away his 13th kill.
In Set 3, Hawai’i took a three-point lead at 9-6 and maintained that cushion until the Gauchos blocked Kupono Fey to tie it at 16. UH took a 20-18 lead after a triple block and Rosenmeier’s ace trickled off the tape for a 23-20 advantage. Initially, Denson hit long on match point but UCSB challenged the play and was reversed in the Gauchos favor. However, after a UH timeout, Hayden Boehle served into the net ending the match.
Courtesy UCSB Athletics:
HONOLULU – No. 11 UC Santa Barbara started off a four-match road trip on a less than desirable note, falling in three sets at No. 5 Hawaii, 25-22, 30-28, 25-23.
Sophomore opposite Stijn Van Tilburg led the Rainbow Warriors (9-2, 2-2 MPSF) with a match-high 15 kills, while setter Jennings Franciskovic had 32 assists and directed the team to a .301 hitting percentage.
Senior outside hitter Jacob Delson (14 kills) and sophomore opposite Corey Chavers (10 kills on 22 swings) did the heavy lifting for the UCSB (6-4, 3-4) offense, while sophomore middle blocker Connor Drake (five kills on seven swings, team-high six blocks) also had a strong night.
The two teams see-sawed back and forth with lengthy service runs in the first set, and UCSB was the first to pull ahead with a 4-0 run behind Keenan Sanders’ serving that made it 4-2. The Rainbow Warriors would battle back to tie it at 13 apiece on a double block from Hendrik Mol and Franciskovic. Things stayed tight from there until 18-18, when UH reeled off three straight points before UCSB responded with a 4-1 run to make it 22-all. Unfortunately for the Gauchos, Hawaii would win three straight points to close out the set, including solo blocks on the final two.
Like in the first, things went down to the wire in a dramatic second game. Neither team was able to take a commanding lead, resulting in a 22-22 tie late. The Rainbow Warriors looked to have it wrapped up with two quick points that set up game point, but UCSB fought back to make it 24-24 and force extra points. The Gauchos went on to fend off another four game points from UH, but ultimately Van Tilburg broke through with consecutive kills to end it at 30-28.
The middle set was the second time this season a UCSB set required 30 points.
The Gauchos put up another tough fight in the final set, shaking off a pair of match points at 24-21 to force a timeout from the home team. However, UH went on to clinch the match after the break off a UCSB serving error.
UCSB and Hawai’i will play another match at the Sheriff Center on Saturday night at 9:00 p.m. PT. The Gauchos wrap up their road trip next week with contests at Pepperdine and Stanford.
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