LONG BEACH, Calif. >> How apropos would it be for the 50th state to win the 50th NCAA men’s volleyball title?
Top-seeded Hawaii kept that dream alive on Friday by advancing to its first national final since 2002. The Rainbow Warriors (28-2) set a program record for wins in a season, doing it how they’ve done it all year: as a team.
Hawaii had three outside hitters in double-figure kills, two middles who combined for 14 kills with one error, five players who were in on at least three blocks and six who had at least one ace. It added up to a 25-15, 25-17, 30-32, 25-16 victory over MIVA champion Lewis that puts the Warriors into Saturday’s final against second-seeded Long Beach State (27-2) in the first all-Big West national title match.
In Thursday’s second match, the 49ers won their 42nd straight at the Walter Pyramid, eliminating MPSF champion Pepperdine 25-21, 21-25, 25-16, 25-15. Senior hitter TJ DeFalco, named national player of the year on Wednesday, had a match-high 17 kills for the defending NCAA champions.
“We’ve talked about being in this weekend all season,” Hawaii senior setter Joe Worsley said after turning in his second double-double of the year (38 assists, 10 digs). “Now we’re in a position where it’s one match for it all.
“We know we have the entire state of Hawaii behind us and it’s awesome to see the support and love we get.”
“We know we represent the most incredible culture in the world,” added Warriors junior Colton Cowell after finishing with a team-high 15 kills. “They are the backbone of this program, that being our fans. Every time we step on the court we play for them, we play for ourselves and our families.”
It was all in the ohana for the Warriors, who got 11 kills each from senior hitter Stijn van Tilburg and junior opposite Rado Parapunov. Van Tilburg had three of Hawaii’s 10 aces and was in on six of the team’s 14 blocks.
Junior middle Patrick Gasman tied his career high with eight stuffs as the Warriors won the block battle 14-4.5. Gasman and senior middle Dalton Solbrig combined for 14 kills, Gasman with eight and one error in hitting .667 and Solbrig six with no errors and hitting .600.
“We scouted them and they didn’t do anything we didn’t expect,” Lewis senior opposite Mitch Perinar said. “They just do what they’re good at. They run right at you and do a really good job at executing.
“In that third game, we made that push at the end. We had that same energy going into the fourth, saying we can hang with these guys, and then they jumped on it.”
The Warriors appeared headed for their 26th sweep when leading Set 3 at 21-18. The Flyers rallied to tie at 24 and then held off another five Hawaii match-point attempts.
Lewis had two set points, the last at 31-30, then forced a Set 4 by blocking van Tilburg.
The Flyers hung around in Set 4, getting as close as 11-8. A 5-0 serving run by UH reserve setter Jacob Thelle allowed the Warriors to pull away to 19-9.
Lewis didn’t fold, cutting it to 19-13, but Hawaii answered, getting three kills by Cowell to earn match point at 24-15. It ended anticlimactically on the Flyers’ 19th service error.
Junior hitter Ryan Coenen led Lewis with 18 kills, Perinar had 13 and sophomore middle Tyler Mitchem 12.
Long Beach State 3, Pepperdine 1
The 49ers also had 10 aces — six by Big West player of the year Kyle Ensing — in eliminating the Waves. The Beach also outblocked Pepperdine 14-2, with senior middle Nick Amado and sophomore middle Simon Andersen in on six each.
It sets up the fourth battle in four weeks between Nos. 1 and 2. The Beach knocked off then-No. 1 Hawaii twice here to close out the Big West regular season and the Warriors returned the favor a week later by taking down the the Big West top-seeded 49ers for the conference tournament title in Honolulu.
All three matches went five. Many observers think Saturday’s will as well.
“What else would you expect?” Lewis coach Dan Friend said, his season ending after 2 hours and 13 minutes. “I think it’s going to be worth the price of admission.”
“I’d like to say it’s going to be as epic as our match in 2015, but maybe not.”
Four years ago, in the first all-MIVA title showdown, third-seeded Loyola Chicago won its second consecutive championship, turning back the top-seeded Flyers in five, including taking Set 5 23-21.
On Thursday, senior opposite Michael Wexter ended his Pepperdine career with a team-high 12 kills. In Set 4, the 49ers hit .600 to the Waves’ .000.
“We’re looking forward to playing Hawaii,” 49ers coach Alan Knipe said. “It’s been hard-fought matches every time we’ve played them this season and we’re expecting the same Saturday.”
