Match Notes

HONOLULU – With four Mountain Pacific Sports Federation series remaining in the regular season, every match is critical for the University of Hawai'i men's volleyball team including this week's series with No. 8 Long Beach State, Friday, March 19 and Saturday, March 20. First serve for both matches is 7:00 p.m. at the Stan Sheriff Center.

 

The Warriors (12-7, 8-6 MPSF) are percentage points behind LBSU (11-8, 7-5) in the MPSF standings and tied for fifth with USC and BYU with identical 8-6 league marks. More importantly, UH is only two losses behind leaders Pepperdine (10-4) and Stanford (10-4).

 

Hawai'i recently returned from a four-match road trip with two matches each at Cal State Northridge and USC. UH split the road trip, winning on the second night of each series. The Warriors were led offensively by Jonas Umlauft (5.31 kills per set) and Joshua Walker (4.94). Umlauft had 27 kills in a five-set loss at CSUN and 25 in the four-set win over USC. Walker hit .340 on the trip with eight service aces a 2.19 digs per set average.

 

LBSU hosted the two-day Active Ankle Tournament last week and defeated Saint Francis in straight sets and lost to No. 9 Penn State, 30-28, 30-28, 30-27. Currently, opposite Dean Bittner leads the Beach with a 4.80 kill average. He had a team-high 22 kills in the loss to Penn State. Outside hitter Tommy Pestolesi, a senior whose father, Tom, and mother Diane Sebastian, both played volleyball for UH, is averaging 2.81 kills per set. Middle blocker Antwain Aguillard, who leads the MPSF with a .517 hitting percentage, is also averaging 2.58 kills and 1.19 blocks per set.

 

The Beach has swept the past two series with the Warriors in 2008 and '09.

 

Who: No. 5 Hawai'i (12-7, 8-6 MPSF) vs. No. 8 Long Beach State (11-8, 7-5 MPSF)

When: Friday, March 19 and Saturday, March 20

Time: 7:00 p.m. both nights

Where: Stan Sheriff Center; Honolulu, HI

Television Coverage: KFVE-TV (Ch. 5) will televise both match live with Jim Leahey (play-by-play) and Ryan Tsuji (color). Rebroadcast at 10:30 p.m.

Video Streaming: Available at uhstreaming.oceanic.com

Radio Coverage: None

Live Stats: Available at HawaiiAthletics.com

Promotions: Jack In The Box, the match sponsor on Friday, will distribute 400 seat cushions and 400 UH dogs tags. Fans can register at the sports marketing table at Gate A for the chance to win “Burgers For A Year” during the promotional contest between sets 2 and 3. Bank of Hawaii, the match sponsor on Saturday, will distribute 2,000 hand-fans and award $400 in gift cards during the promotional contest at intermission. UH season-ticket holders in all UH sports will receive 50% off adult tickets (maximum of eight). A valid identification card is required from the season-ticket holder of record when purchasing tickets at the Stan Sheriff Center Box Office. Tickets are in special sections and supplies are limited. Other restrictions may apply.
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: UH leads 34-32

 

Series vs. Long Beach State: UH leads the overall series 34-32, including an 18-12 advantage in Honolulu.

 

Up Next: The Warriors return to southern California for a two-match series with league-leader and No. 2 Pepperdine, March 26-27 at Firestone Fieldhouse in Malibu.