LONG BEACH, Calif. >> It’s one game for which Hawaii cannot prepare.
The waiting game.
Do the Rainbow Warriors (26-5) get an at-large bid into the NCAA men’s volleyball tournament, as happened two years ago?
And, if so, does Hawaii get senior middle Hendrik Mol back in time for that play-in match whenever and wherever it takes place?
Much is up in the air today with the Warriors flying back to Honolulu during the time the selection show is streamed online (7 a.m., ncaa.com).
“Maybe I can get the pilot to check and tell me,” Hawaii coach Charlie Wade said, his flight expected to land around noon today. “For us not to be in, the NCAA has to make a catastrophic mistake. If for some reason we’re left out, it’s something that no one else sees coming.
“We lost to two teams, BYU, who’s No. 1 in the RPI, and Long Beach State, who’s No. 1 in the poll. All were road losses. I think we’re in.”
That’s the feeling many had about a crucial call late in Set 4 during Saturday night’s Mountain Pacific Sports Federation tournament championship match against top-seeded Long Beach State. At 20-20, sophomore Stijn van Tilburg’s serve was ruled out when it appeared to land about 6 inches in. What would have been a 21-20 Hawaii lead turned into 21-20 for the 49ers, a lead that was extended to 22-20 on Josh Tuaniga’s ace.
Those two points were the margin of victory in Set 4 as Long Beach State earned its first MPSF tournament title with a 17-25, 25-20, 25-13, 25-23 win over Hawaii. The top-seeded 49ers (27-4), getting 15 kills from sophomore opposite Kyle Ensing and 12 from sophomore hitter TJ DeFalco, earned the MPSF’s automatic berth, finishing 16-0 at the Walter Pyramid.
Also advancing with automatic bids are defending national champion Ohio State (MIVA), Penn State (EIVA) and Barton (Conference Carolinas). The two at-large bids are expected to be MPSF teams Hawaii and BYU (24-4). The Cougars, who shared first place with the 49ers in the MPSF regular season, were swept by the Warriors in Thursday’s semifinal.
Long Beach State coach Alan Knipe agreed.
“The committee wants to put together the best field possible,” he said. “Those would be the teams.”
Hawaii’s match with Long Beach State lasted 121 minutes. It looked like it might be much shorter after Mol went down with a right ankle injury with the 49ers leading 19-15 in Set 2. There was no replay available, but it appeared that DeFalco crossed under the centerline after an attack and stepped on Mol’s foot.
With Mol on the bench, his ankle wrapped and iced, the Warriors struggled to regroup.
Hawaii was in a 5-0 hole to start Set 3 and it kept getting deeper … 12-4 … 21-9 … as Wade tried various combinations to find a rhythm.
It started happening in the tight Set 4, which was tied 17 times, that last at the aforementioned 20-20. Hawaii didn’t help itself, committing five service errors.
“I think guys started pressing on their serves, tried to get two points,” Wade said. “It speaks to how badly they wanted it. I’m proud of the way they battled back in Set 4.
“We got out of rhythm, but by the end of the match we were playing really good. Let’s hope that this team has a chance to continue to show that.”
Senior hitter Kupono Fey finished with a team-high 14 kills and van Tilburg 12. Both were named to the all-tournament team, as were Long Beach State’s Kyle Ensing (15 kills) and DeFalco (12), the latter chosen most outstanding player. Also on the team were BYU’s Leo Durkin and UC Irvine’s Scott Stadick.
“I give a huge compliment to Hawaii,” Knipe said. “They jumped on us right out of the gate and then had the unfortunate injury. I think we gave the crowd (2,828) a good match to watch.”
Mol will be re-evaluated today. “It doesn’t appear catastrophic,” Wade said. “But we are interested in when we play next. Obviously (May 2) would be better than Saturday.”
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