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BARBARA PERENIC / SPECIAL TO THE STAR-ADVERTISER
Hendrik Mol and Stijn van Tilburg of Hawaii were down after dropping the first two sets to Ohio State during their NCAA men’s volleyball semifinal.
COLUMBUS, Ohio >> Sophomore All-America opposite Stijn van Tilburg put down a match-high 13 kills, but it was not enough, as fourth-seeded Hawaii was swept out of the NCAA men’s volleyball championship tournament semifinal tonight by top-seeded Ohio State, 25-23, 25-18, 25-19 at St. John Arena.
The host Buckeyes (31-2) will face third-seeded Brigham Young (26-5) on Saturday for the title. The Cougars upset second seed Long Beach State in tonight’s first match, 25-20, 25-18, 25-23.
The Rainbow Warriors finish the season at 27-6, tying the school record for wins set by the 1996 NCAA runner-up. Hawaii, the top blocking team in the country, was outblocked. 11-1.
Junior hitter Nicolas Szerszen, who leads the country in aces, had five to raise his total to 68. Szerszen, last season’s national player of the year, led the Buckeyes with 10 kills, including the match-ender
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