LONG BEACH, Calif. >> A Saturday evening that ended in disappointment began with festivity and hope for Hawaii’s large contingent of volleyball fans, many of whom crossed an ocean to see the Rainbow Warriors’ first appearance in an NCAA final since 2002.

Among them was Gov. David Ige, who owns season tickets to see the ’Bows play at the Stan Sheriff Center.

Also attending was Al Chee, emeritus board director of UH athletics booster club Koa Anuenue.  “I actually try not to miss them,” Chee said. “My wife and I have been going to the games for a long time. We’ve known Coach (Charlie) Wade for a long time. He’s done a remarkable job in the six years that he’s been our coach.”

Chee explained why roughly 25 percent of the 3,824 fans at Long Beach State’s Walter Pyramid supported top-seeded UH in its 23-25, 25-22, 25-22, 25-23 loss to the second-seeded 49ers.

“I think everybody knows that when you play for the University of Hawaii, you play for the whole state,” he said. “So it’s good to see so many Hawaii fans make the trip over here and cheer on the guys. I know there’s a lot of people from Hawaii living on the mainland who are here, too. It’s pretty exciting. Everybody here has been anticipating this match for a long time.”

Among those sharing that anticipation yet having to travel an even longer distance were Theo and Brigitte van Tilburg, who flew from Amsterdam to see their son, Stijn, play on the front line.

“I’m glad there are so many Hawaii fans here,” said Theo, who added that he played volleyball for 25 years. “They definitely came for the game. They do not have relatives playing here. It’s amazing, so many.”

The van Tilburgs even experienced a bit of transplanted ohana before the match.

“There was a little party in the parking area,” Brigitte said. “It was amazing. It’s wow, so wow.”

Hendrik Mol, who played at UH from 2014 to 2017, used a different word to describe the atmosphere.

“It’s insane,” he said in response to a question. “I could barely hear your question. That’s how insane it is.”

Mol sat roughly 10 feet from UH’s band, which joined the counterparts from Long Beach State in filling the arena with music. Meanwhile, fans for both teams displayed numerous signs, both professionally designed and homemade, and one woman distributed large ti leaves for UH fans to wave.

“The fact that they brought the band out here is huge,” said Jennings Franciskovic, Mol’s teammate for four years. “Hawaii has a ton of supporters tonight.”

UH fans also unfurled about a dozen state flags around the arena. Yet one flag stood out: American Samoa’s banner, raised for Josh Tuaniga, the 49ers’ setter.

Tuaniga also received an even more unusual form of support. Whenever the senior served, teammates and fans would shout, “Ah-oo” three times.

“It’s a war cry,” said Kristina Alaelua, one of Tuaniga’s cousins.

Long Beach State’s fans dominated the ambience with their endless enthusiasm. The 49ers used that energy to win their 43rd consecutive match at the Pyramid since 2016.

“It creates an environment where we want to execute more,” Tuaniga said. “We want to get this crowd involved in what we’re doing. It’s all about staying within our game plan of executing what we’re trying to do and creating that energy.

“Once you have that crowd behind you and that whole atmosphere behind you, it makes it easier to put pressure on other teams and cause more stress. Not only are they feeling it on the volleyball side but they may not have that same support as they did in Hawaii. It definitely gave us some more energy and some more fight when we’re trying to execute our game plan.”

Once the match ended, after players from both teams congratulated each other, opposite hitter Rado Parapunov turned to the largest group of UH fans, blew them a kiss and raised both index fingers to tell them that they ranked first in his heart.

“I couldn’t be more proud of our guys,” Wade said. “They brought our community together in a way that few teams have been able to do. It’s really powerful to see an entire state get behind a group of young men who have worked so hard just to be the best representatives of themselves, their families, their program, the university and the state.

“It’s not a cliché, it’s just not. The people of Hawaii embrace this team, and Hawaii athletics in general, in a way that’s really powerful. Everyone will look back fondly on this group of young men, without question.”