The University of Hawaii men's volleyball team secured another milestone last Friday, defeating UC Santa Barbara in four sets. According to Spectrum Local News, head coach Charlie Wade achieved his 316th victory with the Rainbow Warriors, tying the program's all-time record set by Mike Wilton. The win, achieved without primary hitters Kristian Titriyski and Louis Sakanoko, reflected the University of Hawaii team's current depth and lineup adjustments. The team now holds a 24-4 overall record and is 7-2 in Big West play.
Despite changes to the lineup, with Kainoa Wade starting at opposite and Finn Kearney stepping in at outside hitter, the Rainbow Warriors extended their winning streak against the Gauchos to 20 matches, a run that dates back to 2017. According to Hawaii Athletics, freshmen Adrien Roure and Finn Kearney made key contributions in place of the team's injured starters, with Roure coming close to recording a double-double.
The No. 3-ranked Rainbow Warriors were tested by the No. 18 Gauchos throughout the match, responding to a strong second set from UC Santa Barbara with key service runs by Tread Rosenthal and contributions from returnee Clay Wieter. According to Spectrum Local News, Adrien Roure recorded 16 kills and Finn Kearney added 11. Their efforts contributed to Hawaii’s performance during the final phases of the sets.
