UH volleyball foe has local ties

Academy United’s match against No. 3 Hawaii is listed as one that doesn’t count in the records, but it is anything but an exhibition where the team in the fledgling National Volleyball Association is concerned.

“We’re coming to win,” former USC and Punahou School setter Riley McKibbin said. “Growing up in Hawaii, watching the men and Wahine play and then getting to play (for the Trojans) in the (Stan Sheriff Center) … it’s always special.

“I think UH will have the advantage in that they’ve been playing together and training every day. They have a really good team. But we have put together a good team of pretty experienced guys. I wouldn’t want to come home and be embarrassed.”

Of significance is getting the word out on the NVA, an eight-team league with franchises in five states. The active roster for San Francisco-based Academy United has three Hawaii-born players, but only McKibbin will compete in this week’s inaugural Waikiki Beachcomber by Outrigger Classic. Punahou alumni Taylor Crabb and Spencer McLachlin had prior commitments.

(Academy United was a late replacement for Sacred Heart. The Pioneers’ new athletic director pulled funding for all nonconference travel.)

Among those joining McKibbin are his younger brother Maddison, who also played at USC, and former Rainbow Warriors Nemanja “Nemo” Komar (2008). Other names familiar to local volleyball fans include All-America opposite Miles Johnson, who helped Ohio State win the past two NCAA championships; former Stanford middle Conrad Kaminsky; and former UC Irvine libero Michael Brinkley.

Academy United went 2-1 at last weekend’s season-opening West Coast Regional at Las Positas College in Livermore, Calif. AU swept the Blizzard of Lake Forest, Calif., (with former Warrior Scott Hartley) and Arizona Sizzle, then fell in four to Rising Tide (with Kamehameha graduate Isaac Knuebuhl) from Santa Barbara, Calif.

Academy United opens the three-day, round-robin tournament with Thompson Rivers (14-15) of Canada. The WolfPack have won their past six and are 7-1 since the Canada West Conference team resumed its season after holiday break.

Thompson Rivers features former Brigham Young All-American Tim Dobbert, a 6-foot-10 outside hitter who is finishing his eligibility by pursuing a master’s degree. Hawaii’s match on Saturday with the WolfPack also will be considered an exhibition.

The one match that will count for the Rainbow Warriors is Thursday’s against Lees-McRae, the second against a Conference Carolinas team this season. The Bobcats (1-6) have dropped their past four matches, including Tuesday’s 3-1 defeat at Belmont Abbey, LMC’s third straight road match.

Hawaii is coming off last week’s split with No. 2 UCLA, with both matches going four. The Warriors won Friday and the Bruins on Sunday, the latter result snapped Hawaii’s home winning streak dating to 2016 at 26 and its nonconference home winning streak dating to 2015 at 24.

Both matches drew more than 4,000 and “people saw high-level, entertaining matches,” Warriors coach Charlie Wade said. “This week’s matches are not the name brand of a UCLA, but they’re going to be competitive and entertaining. There’s no TV. Hopefully people will come out to watch and support.”