Rainbow Warriors, Wahine fall in volleyball polls after losses
JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO@STARADVERTISER.COM
Hawaii outside hitter Stijn van Tilburg went for a dig during the fourth set against the BYU Cougars, Saturday at the Stan Sheriff Center. BYU won in four sets.
Losses last week cost both the Hawaii men’s and women’s beach teams in their respective coaches polls today.
The Rainbow Warriors (11-3) fell a spot in the AVCA Division I-II men’s rankings to No. 3 after losing Saturday’s championship of the Outrigger Resorts Invitational to BYU. The Cougars (17-4) leapfrogged two places to No. 2 with UCLA (11-5) moving up a spot to No. 4 and UC Irvine (14-5) dropping one to No. 5. Long Beach State (17-0, 2-0 Big West) remained a unanimous No. 1.
Hawaii (1-1 Big West) opens up a three-match road trip on Thursday at No. 10 Cal State Northridge (10-7, 0-2). The Warriors play the Matadors again on Friday then have a nonconference match at No. 7 Pepperdine (10-6) on Sunday.
The Rainbow Wahine (7-3) slipped two spots in the AVCA Collegiate Beach rankings to No. 5 after losing to UCLA on Thursday and Florida State on Saturday. Pepperdine (10-2) remained at No. 1 while a 4-0 showing at the East Meets West Challenge, coupled with the win over the SandBows, had the Bruins (11-3) jumping to spots to No. 2.
Defending national champion USC (8-4) dropped one place to No. 3 with the Seminoles (9-3) up one spot to No. 4.
Hawaii next hosts the Outrigger Resorts Invitational Saturday and Sunday at Queen’s Beach. The SandBows open at 9 a.m. Saturday with unranked Nebraska (3-4), followed by matches with USC and No. 12 Grand Canyon (5-4).
