Men’s volleyball falls to Hawaii in weekend series

Love wasn’t in the air at Maples Pavilion over Valentine’s Day weekend as No. 18 Stanford men’s volleyball (3-8, 2-0 MPSF) fell to No. 3 Hawaii (12-1, 0-0 Big West) in back-to-back matches.

On Friday evening, the Cardinal were held to a season-low 0.145 hitting, while Hawaii posted a 0.515 clip, the highest of a Stanford opponent this season. Sophomore libero Evan Porter led the defense with a team-high three digs, but the Rainbow Warriors managed to collect 41 kills and 8 aces.

Despite some offensive pushes, including six kills, two aces, a dig and a block from redshirt junior middle blocker Luke McFall and five kills, a block and an assist from senior outside hitter Theo Snoey, the Cardinal lost in straight sets 25-16, 25-15, 25-17. 

The Cardinal returned with renewed energy and a new lineup on Saturday night. Snoey started at opposite hitter and senior opposite hitter Moses Wagner moved to the middle. Freshman setter Jacob Little-Phillips and freshman outside hitter Erik Ask joined them on the court, giving the team a mix of young blood and seasoned veterans.

Stanford secured the first point of Saturday’s match when a Hawaii ball went out of bounds, but the Rainbow Warriors immediately tied it up with a block from redshirt sophomore middle blocker Justin Todd. Although Stanford briefly regained the lead off of a Hawaii service error and kill from Ask, Hawaii put up five points in the following six rallies, aided by kills from Todd and junior outside hitter Louis Sakanoko.

The Cardinal managed to trail by two points until 11-9, when Hawaii widened the gap with a four point scoring run. Double blocks from Alex Rottman and McFall and Ask and Wagner, along with kills from Ask and Snoey, allowed Stanford to get as close as 20-17. Still, Hawaii took the next five rallies and won the set, 25-17. 

The second set was the closest of the match, with 8 tie scores and 3 lead changes. The Cardinal went 1-0 with a powerful block from Snoey, then Hawaii responded with a kill by Todd. Neither team led by more than one point until kills from Sakanoko and sophomore opposite hitter Kainoa Wade brought Hawaii forward 12-8.

In the next several rallies, Hawaii had the momentum, surging ahead with a 20-12 lead. Stanford regained the following three points, and Wagner put up a block that made the Cardinal fans hopeful for a comeback. Unfortunately, Hawaii kept its edge. A Stanford service error sealed the set for the Rainbow Warriors, 25-16. 

In the third set, Hawaii set the tone with a kill from Hawaii junior setter Tread Rosenthal. The Cardinal held strong, however, responding with two consecutive kills of their own from Wagner and Little-Phillips. Stanford momentarily added to its lead with an ace from Rottman and a kill from Ask, pulling ahead 5-3.

Hawaii kept applying the pressure, though, tying up the score 5-5 off a Cardinal service error and a block and subsequently taking the next five points. Stanford managed to get as close as three points at 10-7 before Hawaii further expanded its lead, ultimately closing out the set 25-13 and winning the match.

Stanford was held to a 0.164 hitting and finished with 25 kills, 20 digs, 5.0 blocks and an ace. 

The Cardinal will face off in a road doubleheader against MPSF conference opponent Concordia next Friday and Saturday at 6 p.m.

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