Hawaii men’s volleyball team retains No. 1 ranking in coaches poll
JAMM AQUINO/JAQUINO@STARADVERTISER.COM
Hawaii setter Jackson Van Eekeren (20) goes for a dig to keep the ball in play during an exhibition volleyball game between Hawaii Rainbow Warrior alumni and the current Rainbow Warrior men’s volleyball team on Jan. 24.
Hawaii remained No. 1 in the American Volleyball Coaches Association Division I-II Men’s Top 15 for a fifth straight week but, for a second consecutive week, the Rainbow Warriors were not the unanimous choice.
Hawaii (9-0) today received 11 of the 16 first-place votes, three fewer than last week. Brigham Young (10-0), the only other undefeated team in the country, picked up those three votes for a total of five.
The Cougars defeated UC Santa Barbara twice last week, handing the Gauchos (6-2) their first losses of the season. UCSB remained at No. 3.
UC Irvine (5-3) and Long Beach State (5-1) traded places at Nos. 4-5, the Anteaters moving up a spot with the Beach dropping one place after losing for the first time. Long Beach State fell to UCLA last Saturday, ending its 45-match home winning streak.
Hawaii returns to competition with this week’s 26th Outrigger Hotels & Resorts Invitational at the Stan Sheriff Center. The Warriors play Queens (4-4) on Thursday, No. 14 Concordia Irvine (5-3) on Friday, and UCI on Saturday, the latter a nonconference match.
