Hawaii Men's Volleyball Wins Third NCAA Championship

The University of Hawaii men's volleyball team proved that champions never quit, staging a comeback Monday night to win their third NCAA national championship with a 3-1 victory over UC Irvine at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles.

Down after losing the opening set 25-15, the Rainbow Warriors could have folded. Instead, they dug deep and won the next three sets to bring home the title.

Outside hitter Adrien Roure powered the comeback with 15 kills, while setter Tread Rosenthal delivered an incredible performance despite playing through injury. His 44 assists kept the offense firing on all cylinders when it mattered most.

The victory caps a stellar 30-5 season and marks Hawaii's first championship since 2022. For head coach Charlie Wade, the win means everything because of who it's for.

"I wanted nothing more than to bring one home to the fans of Hawaii," Wade said after the match. "They support us in a way that's unlike anywhere on the planet."

The Ripple Effect

Back home in Honolulu, fans packed Murphy's Bar and Grill to watch every spike and serve together. The energy in the room told the real story of what this team means to the islands.

Even after that rough first set, fans like Peter Castillo never lost faith. "You look at their faces after the first set, they didn't look defeated," he said. "The boys looked good."

Kurt Ozaki captured what makes Hawaii volleyball special: the way an entire state rallies behind their team. "It's always great to see so many fans turn out to support Hawaii," he said. "For me, that's the most proudest point, seeing everyone around the country with their support."

The celebration continues Wednesday at 6 p.m. when fans can gather at the Stan Sheriff Center for a free public event. Doors open at 5:30 p.m., and everyone's invited to honor the champions.

This championship reminds us that setbacks are just setups for comebacks, and when a community believes in its team, anything is possible.