Warriors grateful for UH fans after dirt flies at UCLA

For every action there is a reaction.

Hawaii’s response to the negativity experienced at UCLA last week is one of positives as the Rainbow Warriors prepared for Saturday’s playoff match with Pepperdine.

“It just shines a light on how amazing our fans are,” Hawaii senior setter Jennings Franciskovic said. “We have people here who cheer for both teams because they love volleyball. People here aren’t going to tear you down for what you believe in or the way you look.

“You don’t get that experience anywhere else in the world.”

At Friday’s Mountain Pacific Sports Federation volleyball matches, flyers were passed out at the Wooden Center, the rosters on one side and a “newsletter” from the Bruin spirit group called “The Den.”

“The Dirt” included disparaging remarks about the Rainbow Warrior nickname, the state of Hawaii and Warrior coach Charlie Wade. It has since led to the student group being banned from distributing its newsletters for the rest of the spring quarter, a review of the group by the UCLA athletic department, and a formal apology from Bruin athletic director Dan Guerrero to his counterpart at Hawaii, Dave Matlin.

“It was a vivid reminder of how great our fans are,” Wade said. “It would never dawn on anyone to do something like this.

“Making fun of Hawaii, the rainbow and all it represents, the aloha spirit. Obviously, making fun of people, where they live, how they look … they just don’t get it.”

What Hawaii fans did get from Wade when tickets went on sale Monday was doughnuts. The coach handed out several dozen to those first in line at the Stan Sheriff Center.

(As of Wednesday afternoon some 4,300 tickets had been sold).

Wade also purchased 200 tickets for UH students, something that now-retired Rainbow Wahine coach Dave Shoji did for the 2013 NCAA tournament subregional. (UH students receive free admission for all arena sports during the regular season).

The Warrior volleyball program had hoped to do several other promotions — including game jersey giveaway after the match — but those have been nixed by the MPSF, part of its postseason protocol. It also includes a ban on merchandise and alcohol sales, as well as discontinuing the video replay challenge system.

Third-seeded Hawaii puts its 21-match home winning streak that dates to last year on the line Saturday against sixth-seeded Pepperdine. The teams have met five times in the MPSF tournament, including twice in the quarterfinal round where the Warriors won both at the Stan Sheriff Center (1996 and 2010).

Wade, in his eighth season, is 9-0 in Honolulu against the Waves. Hawaii has defeated Pepperdine at the Sheriff Center nine consecutive matches dating back to 2010, including two sweeps this past February.