University of Hawaii sweeps into Big West volleyball final
JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO@STARADVERTISER.COM
Hawaii middle blocker Patrick Gasman (15) and outside hitter Colton Cowell (17) combine on the double block on UC Irvine opposite Karl Apfelbach during the first set.
Junior opposite Rado Parapunov put down 12 kills with no errors and second-seeded Hawaii swept third-seeded UC Irvine 25-17, 25-16, 25-15 in tonight’s second semifinal of the Big West men’s volleyball tournament at the Stan Sheriff Center.
The Rainbow Warriors (26-2) will face top-seeded Long Beach State (26-1) at 8 p.m. Saturday for the tournament championship and the Big West’s automatic bid in the NCAA tournament.
In tonight’s first semifinal, the 49ers turned back UC Santa Barbara 25-19, 21-25, 25-18, 25-17.
Also tonight, Hawaii senior setter Joe Worsley moved into ninth place on the program’s all-time assists list with 2,590.
Senior opposite Karl Apfelbach had 12 kills for UC Irvine (18-11).
Senior opposite Kyle Ensing put down 18 kills with just one error for top-seeded Long Beach State. Senior hitter TJ DeFalco added 11 kills and three the team’s seven aces for the 49ers in the match that lasted 2 hours and 10 minutes.
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Senior hitter Corey Chavers led the Gauchos (18-10) with 13 kills and sophomore middle Brandon Hopper added 10. Conference freshman of the year Ryan Wilcox (Punahou) finished with seven kills and six digs.
