The University of Hawaii men’s volleyball team beat Long Beach State in the NCAA national semifinals Saturday night, sending the Rainbow Warriors into Monday night’s championship match against UC Irvine.
For Kainoa Wade, the moment was exactly what the team had chased all season. “Obviously, there’s no taking the foot off the pedal here,” he said. “We got the national championship Monday night.” He called it something the players had dreamed about since they were “little kids,” adding, “This is why we play volleyball” and “We’re going to rise to the occasion.”
The win set up a final against a Big West rival that UH knows well, and Wade said the team expects to keep pressing after advancing one day before the title match. He said the outside support was “awesome” and a “great honor” to be part of, with fans following the team far beyond the islands.
About 3,000 people were outside Pauley Pavilion cheering for UH on Saturday, part of a crowd that included fans traveling from Hawaii and other parts of the continental U.S. Jamie and Wendy Hobean came from Arizona after attending UH Manoa, and Wendy said their 16-year-old follows the program closely. UH super fan Kealii Torco was also there, saying, “This team deserves it,” and, “We’re representing not only a school but a state and our people.”
The championship matchup also carries a familiar edge. UH and UC Irvine played in March, but Finn Kearney said this year’s UH team is different from last year’s group and better prepared now. “We’re a lot better, and we’re ready to go,” he said, adding that UC Irvine “is playing a lot better” and that “Adding Brink into the lineup has really kind of rounded them out.” He also said UH was playing better against Irvine than it had in March.
Charlie Wade said setter Trent Rosenthal injured his leg during the semifinal after falling on a play, but continued through the pain. “I mean, he’s moving around pretty good,” Wade said. “Tough guy and a serious competitor, so I think he’ll be ready to go.” With a title on the line Monday night, UH heads into the final with momentum, a traveling fan base and the burden that comes with being one win from a national championship.
