When it was over, Hawaii men’s volleyball coach Charlie Wade chose to look back at the journey as a whole, not just the previous couple of hours. ADVERTISING When it was over, Hawaii men’s volleyball coach Charlie Wade chose to
When it was over, Hawaii men’s volleyball coach Charlie Wade chose to look back at the journey as a whole, not just the previous couple of hours.
Few would argue with his assertion that the season, which began Jan. 5, was a step forward for the program. That fact that it ended with three small, yet quick, steps backward did little to quell his pride.
Playing the defending national champion and tournament top seed on its home court Thursday, the Rainbow Warriors lost a close first set and then were overwhelmed by Ohio State, falling 25-23, 25-18, 25-19 in the NCAA semifinals in Columbus, Ohio.
“We played a really good team that played good at home,” Wade said.
The preseason pick to finish sixth in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation, the Rainbow Warriors (27-6) were trying to reach their third national title match, but they never seriously threatened after rallying to tie the first set 22-22.
The nation’s leader in blocking, the Warriors managed only one block, compared to 9.5 for the Buckeyes (31-2).
Wade pointed out afterward that Hawaii’s only losses this season came to the other three teams in the final four, all on their home court.
“We were undefeated at home and undefeated on a neutral court,” he said. “There is a lot to be proud of.”
“These guys love wearing the Hawaii flag on their uniform,” Wade said. “They take a lot of pride in representing Hawaii. We know we have an entire state behind us. We take that very seriously every time we step on the court and with everything we do in our lives.”
BYU upset second-seeded Long Beach State 25-20, 25-18, 25-23 in the other semifinal and will play Ohio State on Saturday in a rematch of last year’s title match.
The Buckeyes started to take control after winning the last two points of the first set, the final one on a kill by Nicolas Szerszen.
In the second set, Ohio State scored seven straight points — with four aces by Szerszen — for a 15-8 lead. Ohio State led by as many as seven points in the final set and Szerszen ended it with another kill.
Szerszen, a junior, finished with 10 kills and five aces.
Stijn van Tilburg led the way with 13 kills for the Rainbow Warriors. The sophomore opposite is slated to return, but this was the final match for Kupono Fey (nine kills, match-high eight digs), Jennings Franciskovic (match-high 32 assists) and Hendrik Mol, who returned from an ankle injury to post five kills.
When it was over, Fey, a senior from Honolulu, fought back tears when he talked about Hawaii’s volleyball community.
“Growing up as a local boy, you don’t really know what it means,” he said. “Just playing for UH means everything. It was a dream come true.
“You guys made me feel alive.”
