For a series that seemingly checked all the boxes, the No. 4 University of Hawai‘i men's volleyball team's series against No. 1 Long Beach State somehow ended up delivering more than fans bargained for.
The Rainbow Warriors and The Beach battled for two consecutive nights in front of sold-out crowds, providing spectators with high level displays of volleyball throughout the weekend.
Long Beach State defeated the 'Bows in four sets on Friday night in front of a Stan Sheriff Center crowd of 9,962, while the Rainbow Warriors outlasted The Beach in a five-set epic in front of 9,771 on Saturday night.
Long Beach State exited the weekend 24-2 overall and 6-2 in the Big West standings, while Hawai‘i improved to 23-4 on Saturday night and pulled into a tie for first in the Big West standings.
Five on UH were honored following Saturday night's match as part of senior night's festivities, the last of which was libero ‘Eleu Choy. For two consecutive nights, Choy was the defensive star, enduring a lethal Long Beach State offense and an injury to the midsection in the fourth set on Saturday. By the time it was time for him to make his senior walk, Choy buried his head in his jersey, physically spent and overcome with emotion.
"Being here for six years, it's really a long journey," said Choy, a Farrington alumnus. "I remember being here my first year as a freshman. I was a really young kid, and now I'm like an adult. I feel more mature as a man."
Choy had 12 digs and an assist over the weekend, but statistics don't tell the whole story.
"That is ‘Eleu's All-American tape," UH head coach Charlie Wade beamed after Saturday's match. "He took what is the best server in the NCAA and neutralized him. He just absolutely dimed hot shots and really played at a high level. He certainly put together (an All-American) performance over the weekend and showed that. If he's not the best libero in the country, he's damn close."
Added outside hitter Louis Sakanoko: "‘Eleu is so good. He worked so hard for it. I'm so happy for him. He played so great. Everyone knew when there will be big games, he will be here popping off. And he showed it today. ... He was just the best tonight. ‘Eleu is the best. That's the only thing I can say."
At one point in the fourth set, Choy stayed down for an extended period of time after a Long Beach State point but remained in the match.
"I tried to dig the ball. It went through my arms and hit me right in the cojones," Choy recalled.
Throughout the series, Choy's intestinal fortitude was put to the ultimate test against Long Beach State freshman sensation Moni Nikolov, who was as advertised, wowing the crowd with his sheer skill and versatility in a bevy of areas.
Nikolov, an 18-year-old setter from Bulgaria, entered Friday as the nation's leader in service aces, the only player in the country to average more than one per set. Although the Rainbow Warriors, led by Choy, held him to no aces for the first time all season on Friday, he shined in every other facet, dishing out 38 assists while playing solid defense with seven digs. He also kept UH honest with a block and three kills.
Nikolov added 49 assists with five kills and six digs on Saturday, but again was held to no aces.
Hawai‘i freshman opposite Kristian Titriyski, Hawai‘i's leader in kills, sat out both matches with an ankle injury, his right foot in a walking boot. Stepping up in his place was fellow freshman Finn Kearney, who led the 'Bows with 17 kills on Friday night.
Once UH's coaching staff determined Titriyski wasn't going to be available against Long Beach State, a competition ensued between Kearney and Kainoa Wade, the son of head coach Charlie Wade. Kearney edged out Wade to win the starting job, his connection with starting UH setter Tread Rosenthal already established after the pair won multiple medals for Team USA's junior national team over the years during international competition.
Kearney had 17 kills again on Saturday night, while senior middle blocker Kurt Nusterer had 10 kills on 12 swings and six blocks.
Nusterer didn't have a kill on Friday, hitting -.250 on four swings. But UH coaches trusted their veteran on Saturday, keeping him in the starting lineup.
"Yesterday I had one of the worst games of my life, so the thought there is that the next day you can only go up from there," Nusterer said on Saturday night. "I found out I was (still) starting. It was really freeing in a sense that they had faith in me and trust in me, and I knew I couldn't play worse than I did the other day. So, once the ball got rolling, it kind of just snowballed."
After the end of Saturday's match, the Rainbow Warriors honored its five seniors: Kawai Hong, Clay Weiter, Zachary Thompson, Nusterer and Choy, all of whom were draped in lei afterwards.
The Rainbow Warriors will close out the regular season next week with a pair of matches at UC Santa Barbara from April 18-19. The 'Bows then host the Big West Tournament from April 24-26.
Christian Shimabuku can be reached at christian@alohastatedaily.com.
