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The University of Hawaii men's volleyball team won their third NCAA title by defeating UC Irvine. Fans celebrated the victory as the team came back after losing the first set.
Maybe Craig Hirasaki was the University of Hawaii menâs volleyball teamâs good luck charm on Monday â from more than 2,500 miles away.
Hirasaki arrived a little late to Murphyâs Bar &Grill in downtown Honolulu to watch all of the Warriorsâ national championship match. He was among thousands throughout the
islands who tuned into ESPN in the early afternoon to witness the Rainbow Warriors defeat
UC Irvine in Los Angeles.
Hirasaki missed some of the first set, which UH lost, before the team bounced back to win the next three sets in dominant fashion.
âHey, if thatâs what it takes, OK,â said Hirasaki, who was one of the loudest cheerers among a couple dozen UH fans watching at Murphyâs. âIâm just glad they came back to win it. They had a lot to overcome this season.â
Earlier-arriving friends, including Peter Castillo and Kurt Osaki, laughed at the notion of Hirasaki being the reason for UHâs turnaround.
âWe knew it from the beginning of the season,â Castillo said. âWe told the players, âYouâre gonna win it all this year.ââ
It was the Warriorsâ third
national championship in six years. And it never gets old for the fans, even those who didnât make the trip to UCLAâs Pauley Pavilion.
âSweeter every time,â said Castillo, who calls himself âhead chickenâ of Huli-Huli Chicken Company. âAs a fan and a UH alum, it gets better every time.â
Ironically, the UCLA
Bruins were one of the few teams this season to beat the Warriors, who finished with the most wins in program history (30-5).
But the same UC Irvine team that UH handled Monday to win the NCAA crown knocked off the top-seeded Bruins in a quarterfinal match May 2. The Anteaters beat Ball State on Saturday to earn their chance at the No. 2 seed Warriors. Hawaii beat USC at home May 2, and then beat rival Long Beach State in Saturdayâs semifinal.
Fans at Murphyâs agonized through the first set.
âOh, my goodness,â fretted one when the Anteaters went up 11-4.
âSmoked, theyâre getting smoked,â lamented another when UCI extended its lead to 14-5. Indeed, UH did in that first set, losing 25-15.
But, as coach Charlie Wade said afterward, itâs a good thing the score resets to zero after 25 in volleyball.
The Warriors regrouped and got out to a lead in the second set, and never lost momentum for long.
There were a few anxious moments early in the fourth set, as the Anteaters took a 6-4 lead. But then UHâs Louis Sakanoko took over, with defense, hitting and, especially, serving. His three aces in a row put the Warriors ahead 8-6 in what turned out to be the final set.
Sakanoko was named MVP of the championship tournament. In addition to the season-high three aces, he had 12 kills and made several spectacular defensive plays.
âLouie is such a great team player,â Hirasaki said. âHeâs great at everything.â
The University of Hawaii men's volleyball team has won three NCAA titles.
The Rainbow Warriors defeated UC Irvine to win the NCAA championship.
The specific score of the match is not provided, but Hawaii lost the first set and won the next three sets.
Fans watched the NCAA championship match at various locations, including Murphyâs Bar & Grill in downtown Honolulu.
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Hirasaki acknowledged that Wade is the common denominator in the programâs three championships since 2021.
âGreat coaching, great kids,â he said. âThey overcome obstacles and Charlie instills this.â
Scott Dennis cheered on the Warriors while watching from the bar.
âMy mother is a massive fan,â Dennis said. âShe wanted to watch it so badly she changed a doctorâs
appointment. Iâm sure this made her day.â
After the final point, the Murphyâs crowd chanted, âFree drinks, free drinks!â
Proprietor Don Murphy â a generous UH sports supporter for nearly 40 years â responded by ringing the bell at the bar, signaling a round on the house.
Many congratulatory messages appeared all afternoon on social media, including from UH womenâs volleyball coaching legend Dave Shoji, whose teams won four national championships. The Rainbow baseball coaches also posted kudos.
A former UH football player, coach and announcer texted the Honolulu Star-ÂAdvertiser: âNot unlike everyone else pure elation and respect for an incredible achievement!â
When asked for his reaction, Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi responded: âThis was not an easy road on the way to victory. They were challenged over and over again! Charlie Wade, his
assistant coaches, the team, administration, and the people of Hawaii deserved the rare treat of celebrating a National Championship!â
U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz of Hawaii sent his regards from Washington, D.C.: âCongratulations to the UH menâs volleyball team on an incredible championship win! Our team battled all season long, played with heart, and showed what Hawaii volleyball is all about. Weâre all proud of you. Go âBows!â
UH President Wendy
Hensel was on hand at Pauley Pavilion.
âIt was such an honor to witness this victory in person after spending so many wonderful nights cheering on this team at the Stan Sheriff Center this season,â Hensel posted on social media. âMahalo to our student-Âathletes, coaches, staff and the incredible fans who
support this program so passionately. I know the entire state of Hawaii will be celebrating for days to come.â
The party will continue until at least Wednesday,
as the public is invited to Bankoh Arena at Stan Sheriff Center for a bash that starts at 6 p.m.