HONOLULU – The No. 8 University of Hawai'i men's volleyball team returns to Mountain Pacific Sports Federation play by hosting a pair of matches against league leader No. 4 Brigham Young, Friday, Feb. 26 and Saturday, Feb. 27. Friday's match will be played at the Stan Sheriff Center at 7:00 p.m. while Saturday's game will move to Maui's War Memorial Gym in Wailuku at 5:00 p.m.

 

This week's series marks the end of a five-week homestand for the Warriors, which included MPSF series with UC Irvine and UCLA. UH is 4-2 during the homestand (not including a series split with Canada's Alberta, which does not count toward UH's record).

 

The Warriors (8-5, 4-4 MPSF) are coming off a two-match sweep of NAIA's Hope International last weekend. Freshman Jonas Umlauft led UH both nights, averaging 6.33 kills per set. Middle blocker Matthew Rawson had a career-high 14 kills on Friday while outside hitter Joshua Walker tallied his third career double-double with 15 kills and 10 digs on Saturday. Hawai'i has not played an MPSF match since losing twice to UCLA, Feb. 4 & 5, at the Stan Sheriff Center.

 

The fourth-ranked Cougars (9-4, 7-3) swept a two-match series at UC San Diego last week to move atop the MPSF standings at 7-3. This week's matches mark BYU's fourth straight MPSF road series, which the Cougars are currently 4-2. Outside hitter Andrew Stewart leads BYU with a 4.00 kills per set average, while middle blocker Futi Tavana, a 2005 Kaua'i High School graduate, is averaging 2.32 kills and 1.32 blocks per set. The Cougars lead the MPSF in blocking at 3.37 per set.

 

Last season, the Cougars swept a two-match series in Provo, Utah. Steven Hunt led the Warriors with 4.86 kills per set and hit .354.

 

Who: No. 8 Hawai'i (8-5, 4-4 MPSF) vs. No. 4 BYU (9-4, 7-3 MPSF)

When: Friday, Feb. 26 and Saturday, Feb. 27

Time: 7:00 p.m. on Feb. 26 and 5:00 p.m. on Feb. 27

Where: Stan Sheriff Center - Honolulu, HI on Feb. 26

War Memorial Gym - Wailuku, Maui on Feb. 27

Television Coverage: KFVE-TV (Ch. 5) will televise Friday's match live with Jim Leahey (play-by-play) and Stein Metzger (color). Rebroadcast at 10:30 p.m.

Video Streaming: Available at uhstreaming.oceanic.com

Radio Coverage: ESPN 1420 AM will broadcast Friday's match live with Blaine Kauwe calling the action.

Audio Webcast: Available at espn1420am.com

Live Stats: Available at HawaiiAthletics.com

Promotions: Oceanic Time Warner Cable is the match sponsor on Friday and will award a $250 gas card during the promotional contest between sets two and three. Season-ticket holders in all UH sports will receive 50% off adult tickets (maximum of eight) to Friday's match. A valid identification card is required when purchasing tickets at the Stan Sheriff Center Box Office. Tickets are in special sections and supplies are limited. Other restrictions may apply. Hawaiian Airlines, the sponsor of Saturday's match on Maui, will giveaway sports bottles at the main entrance and award an airline ticket for a mainland flight during the promotional contest between sets 2 and 3.

Tickets: (Stan Sheriff Center) 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. (War Memorial Gym) General Admission $8 (adults) and $3 (all students).

Series Information: BYU leads 27-15.

 

Series vs. BYU: BYU leads the overall series 27-15 and have won the last six matches. In Honolulu, UH leads 10-9, however, the Cougars swept the two-match series in 2008. Since 2003, BYU owns a 12-3 advantage in the series.

 

Up Next: The Warriors embark on a four-match road trip against two of the top teams in the MPSF in Cal State Northridge, March 5-6 and USC, March 8-9.