MĀNOA — There were no post-holiday blues for the University of Hawai‘i men's volleyball team or its loyal supporters.
Hawai‘i's 2026 campaign, which contains legitimate championship hopes, officially began on Friday evening with a two-match series against the New Jersey Institute of Technology.
Despite Friday's season opener falling on the day after New Year's, a turnstile crowd of 5,685 still appeared. And although the Rainbow Warriors have led the country in attendance for eight seasons in a row and counting, UH head coach Charlie Wade was still moved when he looked at the line forming outside of the Stan Sheriff Center half an hour before Friday's match.
"Just super appreciative to the crowd showing up," Wade said. "It's something that we're never going to take for granted. We're so appreciative of people taking the time and spending the money to come out here and support us, and we're doing everything we can to put on a good show and win matches, because that's why they're coming. ... Getting that many people to come out on opening night, couldn't be more humbled and appreciative of that kind of support."
On the floor, the Rainbow Warriors were dominant in both matches despite having less than a week to prepare. The 'Bows swept the Highlanders 25-11, 25-16, 25-14 on Friday night and 25-17, 25-16, 25-17 on Sunday in front of a turnstile count of 5,267.
New starters Trevell Jordan and Quintin Greenidge adjusted seamlessly for the Rainbow Warriors. Jordan had seven blocks and eight kills while getting the start at middle blocker, while Greenidge had nine digs and five assists in his first weekend as a 'Bows, filling the void left by ‘Eleu Choy.
"It was electric," Jordan, a Grand Canyon transfer, said of playing in front of the Stan Sheriff Center crowd. "It blew what I thought it was going to be out. The crowd was crazy. You could just hear how much they are involved in interacting with the game, staying locked in. We didn't have that at GCU. We did have crowds, but not as impactful as the crowd here."
Because of the margin of victory in each set, many Rainbow Warrior backups were able to see extended playing time. Players who started multiple matches in 2025 in middle blocker Ofeck Hazan and opposite Finn Kearney ran with the team's B side. In Sunday's match, true freshman setter Magnus Hettervik, a native of Norway, made his college debut with three assists and a service ace.
"I don't think you can ever have too many good players, right? And the top programs all have good players," Wade said. "The best players want to go play with other good players. ... We want guys that want to come in and battle and are confident enough and are good enough players, and they think, 'I'm going to play. I'm good player. Doesn't matter, my first year to my fourth year.' Everybody here knows what they signed up for, right?
"This is the best of the best on a global level. These are the best players in the world at their age group. And that is not hyperbolic. That is a fact. They all signed up for it. Here we go. Let's try to win as many matches we can. Let's keep trying to improve and become professionals and Olympians and hopefully win a boatload of matches along the way."
Following Sunday's match, the Rainbow Warriors also received their championship rings for their Big West Conference tournament victory.
"Guys come here to win championships. We don't shy away from it at all. That's part of the deal," Wade said. "Everybody loves the idea of playing for championships. Not everybody loves the lifestyle, and it's a grind. We ask a lot of our guys, so to give them a chance to validate all the hard work that they put in and all the people in front of them have put in, it's nice to get some validation for all that time and effort."
Added Hettervik, who was not on the team in 2025 and did not receive a ring: "When I looked at the ring, it was really insane. It pushes me more. I really want to get one for myself."
For the latest news of Hawai‘i, sign up here for our free Daily Edition newsletter.
Christian Shimabuku can be reached at christian@alohastatedaily.com.
