The University of Hawai`i men’s volleyball team will try to serve up a three-peat this weekend at the NCAA championship tournament in Virginia. Beloved by so many, it’s been quite the trip for the VolleyBows and local fans watching this team of local, national, and international studs ply its trade on the hardwood (or Taraflex).
For many folks, UH volleyball has been COVID relief, as we’ve witnessed this squad winning back-to-back national titles during the relative lockdown, by 3-0 set scores over arch-rival Long Beach State (2022) and Hawai`i’s long-time sports nemesis, BYU (2021). Oh, and the 2020 squad was 15-1 before the coronavirus ended the season for everyone in mid-March.
UH has won 90% of its matches over the past three years (72-8!) against the best college competition around. It heads into this season’s final weekend having just won the Big West Conference tourney on April 22. It is peaking once again, undoubtedly a scary sight for tired opponents.
With all of the starters back from last year’s team, the performance of these volley-brawlers perhaps comes as no surprise, yet think of how many teams in how many sports have difficulty repeating their successes annually. One of the great things about sports- it’s real-life drama unfolding live in person or as reality TV on our screens of choice (and please, do not confuse this showcase with the contrived, edited melodrama of so-called “reality” shows; ugh…).
This volleyball team not only displays a seamless blending of cultures and creativity, but also features an easy-to-be seen aloha that UH players share for one another, local fans, and their coaches. Hawai`i averaged over 6,600 fans at each home match this year- many schools would gladly take that 6,600 attendance figure over the course of their entire home season!
Win or lose, triumph or trauma this weekend, UH’s elite leapers have proven to be incredible ambassadors of volleyball and our islands. Their infectious perseverance, choreographed antics on the sidelines, and knowing smiles with fans (UH adorers and opposition fans) enhance this volleyball phenomenon.
College coaches nationwide acknowledge what a thrill it is to play in Hawai`i or to play anywhere against Hawai`i. For this long-running show, now occurring annually in Mānoa, we should be thankful, appreciative, and grateful. So, here’s to UH Coach Charlie Wade, his terrific, talented team, and everyone else associated with this class act. Go Warriors!
Think about it…