University of Hawaii players celebrate after sweeping Long Beach State in the NCAA men’s volleyball championship match Saturday in Los Angeles. AP photos
LOS ANGELES — The University of Hawaii men’s volleyball team successfully defended its 2021 national title with a three-set sweep over Long Beach State on Saturday in the NCAA championship match at Pauley Pavilion.
Set scores were 25-22, 25-21, 25-20.
The Rainbow Warriors (27-5) became the fifth straight team to repeat as national champions and did it over their most heated rival. The Beach (21-6) defeated UH twice earlier in the regular season, but the Warriors won when it mattered the most. Two weeks after sweeping LBSU for the Big West tournament title, the Warriors did it again, this time on the biggest stage.
Tournament MVP Spyros Chakas led UH with 14 kills on a .333 hitting. Fellow all-tournament team selection and outside hitter Dimitrios Mouchlias added 11 kills while hitting a blistering .500. Meanwhile All-American Jakob Thelle put together another flawless performance. The Norway native, who was also named to the all-tournament team, applied his signature pressure from the service line and finished with 31 assists in directing a potent UH offense that finished at a .434 hitting clip.
Hawaii outside hitter Keoni Thim holds the championship trophy after Saturday’s final.
National Player of the Year Alex Nikolov put down a match-high 20 kills and hit .405 to lead LBSU. But it wasn’t enough for the Beach, who were also out-blocked by the Warriors 8-1, including five blocks by Guilherme Voss.
The first set was a back-and-forth affair until UH gained separation late. The Warriors were clinging to a 18-17 lead, but UH scored the next three points, including an ace by Thelle. That gave the ‘Bows a four-point cushion and UH would seal the first set on a Chakas kill.
The Beach burst out of the gates in the second set and built a 10-5 lead. But the Warriors wouldn’t fold and answered with five straight points to knot things up. And once again UH would make a key run late. With LBSU leading 20-18, UH reeled off five straight points and ultimately scored seven of the final eight points of the set to take a 2-0 lead in the match.
The third set saw a similar ending with UH surging late. LBSU held a 16-15 lead but the Warriors scored six of the next seven points to take a commanding 21-17 lead. Once Long Beach State committed a net violation on the final point, the celebration was on as UH took the final set by a 25-20 count.
The Warriors concluded the season with nine straight wins en route to their second straight national title. UH’s 2021 title-clinching win over BYU was also via a sweep.
UH outside hitter Chaz Galloway hits against a Long Beach State triple block. 
University of Hawaii players celebrate after sweeping Long Beach State in the NCAA men’s volleyball championship match Saturday in Los Angeles. AP photos 
Hawaii outside hitter Keoni Thim holds the championship trophy after Saturday’s final.
Rainbow Warriors assistant coach Milan Zarkovic is lifted by players.
UH outside hitter Chaz Galloway hits against a Long Beach State triple block.
Rainbow Warriors assistant coach Milan Zarkovic is lifted by players.
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