Match Notes

HONOLULU – The No. 6 University of Hawai'i men's volleyball team takes its four-match win streak into a Mountain Pacific Sports Federation series with rival UCLA, Thursday, Feb. 4 and Friday, Feb. 5. First serve for both matches is 7:00 p.m. at the Stan Sheriff Center.

 

The Warriors (6-3, 4-2 MPSF) swept a two-match series with defending national champion UC Irvine last week at the Sheriff Center and moved up three spots to a tie for sixth in the national poll. In both matches, Hawai'i went ahead two sets to none only to see the Anteaters force a fifth and deciding set. UH won both times, including a nail biting 20-18 victory on Friday. Opposite Jonas Umlauft tallied 58 kills in the series and his 37 kills on Friday was the most by a UH player during the rally-scoring era. Outside hitter Joshua Walker had 22 kills each night (4.40 kps) and hit a blistering 39.1 percent.

 

Fourth-ranked UCLA (4-5, 3-3) is coming off a split of its series with BYU in Los Angeles, Calif., over the weekend. The Bruins won in straight sets on Friday with Jack Polales leading the way with 19 kills and only one error in 33 swings. In the rematch, Garrett Muagututia slammed a match-high 27 kills for the Bruins in a five-set loss. UCLA started league play 0-2 but have since won three of four against three of the top five teams in the MPSF standings.

 

The Bruins have won six of the last seven in the series that dates back to 1981. Last season, UCLA swept both matches at Pauley Pavilion, including a five-setter on the first night that went 15-13 in the fifth.

 

Who: No. 6 Hawai'i (6-3, 4-2 MPSF) vs. No. 4 UCLA (4-5, 3-3 MPSF)

When: Thursday, Feb. 4 and Friday, Feb. 5

Time: 7:00 p.m. both nights

Where: Stan Sheriff Center - Honolulu, HI

Television Coverage: KFVE-TV (Ch. 5) will televise both matches live with Jim Leahey (play-by-play) and Sean Carney (color). Rebroadcast at 10:30 p.m. each night.

Video Streaming: Available at uhstreaming.oceanic.com

Radio Coverage: ESPN 1420 AM is broadcasting both matches live with Scott Robbs calling the action.

Audio Webcast: Available at espn1420am.com

Live Stats: Available at HawaiiAthletics.com

Promotions: California Hotel & Casino is the match sponsor on Thursday and a Vacations Hawaii Las Vegas Trip will be awarded during the promotional activity between sets 2 and 3. Hawaiian Airlines, the match sponsor on Friday, will distribute 800 sports water bottles before the match and 30,000 Hawaiian Miles (which is equivalent to an interisland trip for two) will be awarded during the promotional activity at intermission.

Tickets: Lower-level $11; Upper-level adult $8, Upper-level senior citizen $7; Upper-level youth (high school and under) and UH student $3; Lower-level UH Student $5.

Series Information: UCLA leads 52-19.

Series vs. UCLA: UCLA leads the all-time series 52-19, including a 26-14 advantage in Honolulu. The Bruins were once regular participants in the Outrigger Hotels Invitational, having competed in the first eight tournaments with five titles. In recent years, the teams have had epic battles including seven five-set matches since 2000. In 2001, a five-set UCLA victory in the Outrigger Invitational, the teams played to 44-42 in the fourth set, which is one of the longest scoring games all-time.

Up Next: The Warriors will next host an exhibition series with Alberta, Friday, Feb. 12 and Saturday, Feb. 13 at the Stan Sheriff Center. First serve for both matches is 7:00 p.m.