University of California, Irvine sent off to engage in Big West championship contest against Long Beach State, orchestrated by Hawaii

In the heated semifinal of the 2025 Outrigger Big West Men's Volleyball Championship, second-seeded Hawaii took down the third-seeded Anteaters of UC Irvine in a nail-biting four-set battle, with scores of 25-21, 15-25, 25-21, and 25-23. With the arena buzzing with a crowd of 7,209 fans, the game was a mix of jubilation and relief for both teams feeling the pressure of a do-or-die match[1].

Adrien Roure, Hawaiian spiker, let loose a career-high 18 kills, eight of them coming in the final set, while Finn Kearney added 10 kills for Hawaii (25-5)[1]. Hawaii earned a spot in the final against No. 1 seed Long Beach State tonight at 7, marking the fourth time in seven Big West tournaments these two teams face off in the finals[1].

Charlie Wade, Hawaii's coach, acknowledged that while the offensive numbers dwindled for both teams initially, it was good enough for a win. Despite an error percentage higher than Wade would have liked, they managed to edge out three sets[1]. Hawaii excelled in hitting a commendable .306 against UC Irvine, who hit .234 and were clearly overshadowed in the blocking department, tallying 6.5 blocks to the Rainbow Warriors' 14.5[5].

Nolan Flexen was the leading scorer for UC Irvine with 15 kills but was held under his usual average with senior Hilir Henno, who had 24 kills in their last meeting, managing only nine kills and hitting .111[1]. However, Henno did rattle Hawaii with six aces, contributing to the Anteaters tally[1].

"We were exhausted after the marathon five-set win against Cal State Northridge in the opening round and playing back-to-back, especially late at night. That was a tough draw," UCI coach David Kniffin summed up the Anteaters' difficult journey[1]. Despite this loss, Kniffin feels his team is deserving of another shot at the NCAA Tournament, emphasizing the Big West's dominance in the league[1].

Hawaii entered this weekend viewing both Friday and tonight as must-win matches to secure a league championship, an automatic berth, and a spot in the NCAA Tournament[1]. Louis Sakanoko returned after a two-match absence, though struggled offensively, hitting negatively with five kills and seven errors, but excelled in defense with a career-high seven blocks and six digs[1]. The teams traded sets until the pivotal third set, where Hawaii led 17-11 after a Justin Todd kill. However, the Anteaters came roaring back, tying it at 19-all on a service ace from Henno before ultimately falling three points short[1].

"We should have pulled out that set. Just a few volleyball things tactically really made the difference. We tried to come out harder in the fourth set, but Hawaii is a great team. It was a battle, a dogfight," UCI's Nolan Flexen commented on their close call[1]. Roure shone once more in the final set, delivering a match-winning performance despite the Anteaters putting up a valiant effort[1]. Following the Anteaters' elimination, it seems unlikely their NCAA Tournament hopes will be fulfilled[1].

Meanwhile, freshman opposite hitter Alex Kandev led the defending champion Long Beach State to a straight-sets (25-18, 25-23, 25-17) win over No. 4 UC San Diego in the first match of the tournament, securing their repeat trip to the final[2]. The contest ended swiftly in 97 minutes, as Kandev posted a match-high 14 kills, along with four aces and 35 assists[2]. Monson Nikolov, Long Beach State's freshman setter, also had a noteworthy performance, recording four aces, 35 assists, and four kills in five swings[2].Although the Anteaters failed to secure a spot in the championship final, their efforts throughout the tournament were exemplary, showcasing their prowess and giving fans an unforgettable experience[3].

Despite UC Irvine's leading scorer, Nolan Flexen, Having 15 kills, his team was outblocked by Hawaii, who recorded 14.5 blocks compared to UC Irvine's 6.5, in the 2025 Outrigger Big West Men's Volleyball Championship semifinal[5].
Hawaii's freshman opposite hitter, Alex Kandev, led the defending champion Long Beach State to a repeat trip to the Big West Men's Volleyball Championship final, outscoring UC San Diego in a swift three-set victory[2].
Regardless of UC Irvine's impressive performance in the 2025 Outrigger Big West Men's Volleyball Championship, the team's NCAA Tournament hopes seemed unlikely due to their elimination in the semifinals[1].