University of Hawai‘i standout opposite hitter Kristian Titriyski is getting an early start on his professional career.
Titriyski will forgo the final two seasons of his collegiate career to play for his hometown team, Levski Sofia of Bulgaria.
A starter when healthy, Titriyski played in 21 matches in both the 2025 season and 2026 seasons, as injuries limited both campaigns for him. When he was on the floor, he was often leading the team in kills.
In the national championship match on Monday, Titriyski hammered the game-winning kill in a four-set win over UC Irvine. His 16 kills were a match high.
Although he's leaving two years of college ball on the table, Titriyski says he has no regrets in coming to the Islands, an experience he'll carry withb him for the rest of his life.
"It's definitely a special place, and it for sure will be one of my favorite places the entire world," Titriyski said on Thursday. "I met so many friends here, so many new people, and I grew here in my first time living alone outside of home. I learned so many new things here, but definitely the most important thing is the people, just all the friends I made, the fans, coaches, everything here.
"The volleyball here is such where everyone supports it, watches it, and cares about it. And that's what kind of opened my eyes about the fans, is that they don't only support the team, but they actually care about you as a person, 'How are you doing?' When you meet them outside somewhere on the beach or wherever, they say hi. They're always positive. I just like appreciate these two years so much, and I have no regrets coming here. Thanks to Charlie (Wade), to Milan (Zarkovic) for bringing me here, and for everyone that supports the team for making it possible. That's kind of a dream that came true, because originally, I had no idea of coming to study here. I wanted to come to Hawai‘i, not only because of Rado Parapunov, but I was watching. I still remember, it was the 2023 season where they didn't win it, but they still reach the final. ... Since then, I've been following the team and watching the team."
Titriyski will go out a champion and will continue to follow the program from afar. He knows that from a support standpoint, the program is in great hands.
"Just don't stop supporting a team that is something special," Titriyski says to the fans of Hawai‘i. "That's the thing that only Hawai‘i has, and maybe nowhere else in the world the crowd is that involved into the sport and into the whole team. That's something special I've never seen, and probably it will be hard to surpass. But yeah, to all the fans, we appreciate that, and we actually feel the love, feel the support. So don't stop with this. Keep going. Get more and get loud."
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Christian Shimabuku can be reached at christian@alohastatedaily.com.
