UC Irvine Faces Hawaii In National Championship Monday
May 10, 2026 | Men's Volleyball
NCAA Championship Match
UC Irvine vs Hawaii
May 11, 2026 / 4:00 p.m.
Los Angeles, Calif. / Pauley Pavilion
Stats Watch
FIRST SERVE
UC Irvine faces second-seed Hawaii in the NCAA Championship Monday (May 11) at 4:00 p.m. in Pauley Pavilion.
The match will be televised on ESPN2.
STORYLINES
UC Irvine (2013) and Hawaii (2022) each won their last national championship at Pauley Pavilion.
UC Irvine, who is 12-4 overall in NCAA competition all-time, is making their fifth appearance in the title match, capturing national titles in 2007, 2009, 2012 and 2013.
The Anteaters return to the championship for the ninth time overall (2006, 2007, 2009, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2018, 2024).
Head coach David Kniffin and Pepperdine's Rod Wilde are the only two head coaches to capture a crown in their first season at the helm with Kniffin winning in 2013 at Pauley Pavilion.
UCI assistant coach Michael Brinkley was a member of the Anteater team that captured the 2013 championship at UCLA and was named to the all-tournament team.
UCI is 14-2 away from home this season, while Hawaii is 12-2.
Sixth-ranked UC Irvine received an at-large bid into the NCAA Championship.
The Anteaters are 21-8 overall after three consecutive victories, beating Penn State and No. 1 UCLA 3-2 in the Los Angeles Regional before taking down fourth-seed Ball State, 3-1 in the semifinal Saturday.
UCI has played 11 five-set matches this season, going 6-5. Five of UCI's eight losses have come in five sets and all eight setbacks against teams in the Top 8 nationally.
UCI finished in a tie for third in the Big West with a 5-5 mark.
It is the 13th time in program history the Anteaters have logged 20 wins or more and third year in a row.
HAWAII LOWDOWN
Hawaii leads UCI 4-3 in the postseason, but this will be the first meeting with the 'Bows in NCAA Tournament action.
Hawaii advanced to the Championship with a 3-1 victory over Long Beach State Saturday. Justin Todd had a career-high 10 blocks, while Tristian Titryski totaled a match-high 14 kills with two aces.
Hawaii is seeking the program's third NCAA title after winning back-to-back crowns in 2021 and '22.
UH advanced to the NCAA final for the seventh time in program history.
The 'Bows are 29-5 overall, tying the single season record for victories.
Hawaii, who leads the all-time series 55-24, has won the last five outings between the teams, including a pair of matches in Irvine earlier this season.
In the first meeting, UCI held a 2-1 lead only to watch UH win the final two sets, including 18-16 in the final frame. UH out-hit UCI .325-.304 and held a 10.5-8.0 block advantage. Andrej Jokanovic led UCI with a match-high 22 kills followed by William D'Arcy with 14 kills. Tread Rosenthal powered Hawaii with 53 assists, 10 digs, and nine kills along with a team-high six blocks. Kristian Titriyski recorded a team-high 16 kills and two aces.
The 'Bows beat the Anteaters 3-0 (25-22, 25-22 and 25-22) on the second night. Hawaii hit .453 (45-11-75), the highest mark against the Anteater defense this season
Over the two matches, UH held an advantage in hitting (.367-.297), blocking (18-15) and digs (86-64). UCI won the service line, 11-6.
UCI freshman Andreas Brinck didn't see action against Hawaii in the first two meetings.
The Anteaters last win against Hawaii came in a 3-0 victory (26-24, 36-34, 25-15) on April 19, 2024 at the Big West Championship in Honolulu, HI.
BIG WEST LOVE
It is the third all-Big West finale (2019, 2022, 2026), guaranteeing the conference a national champion for the fifth time since 2018 when sport sponsorship began.
The Big West has at least one national finalist for eight consecutive seasons.
SEMIFINAL REWIND
Four UC Irvine players had double-digit kills in the Anteaters' 3-1 victory over Ball State in the first semifinal Saturday.
UCI was led by AVCA National Newcomer of the Year Andrej Jokanovic with 18. The freshman hit .308 and added six digs and three total blocks.
Middle blocker Trevor Clark, the nation's leader in hitting percentage, did not disappoint with a .722 mark tying his career-high 14 kills. He led the team with six total blocks (1 solo). Freshman Andreas Brinck recorded 13 kills, a career-tying seven blocks and three block assists, while senior William D'Arcy had 12 kills and a season-high 10 digs plus a block assist. Setter Cameron Kosty orchestrated the Anteater attack to a .362 mark (64-18-127) with 53 set assists, one shy of his career-high and nine digs.
The Anteaters recorded 64 kills which are the second most this season. UCI logged a season-high 48 digs and 63 set assists.
UC Irvine vs Hawaii
May 11, 2026 / 4:00 p.m.
Los Angeles, Calif. / Pauley Pavilion
Stats Watch
FIRST SERVE
UC Irvine faces second-seed Hawaii in the NCAA Championship Monday (May 11) at 4:00 p.m. in Pauley Pavilion.
The match will be televised on ESPN2.
STORYLINES
UC Irvine (2013) and Hawaii (2022) each won their last national championship at Pauley Pavilion.
UC Irvine, who is 12-4 overall in NCAA competition all-time, is making their fifth appearance in the title match, capturing national titles in 2007, 2009, 2012 and 2013.
The Anteaters return to the championship for the ninth time overall (2006, 2007, 2009, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2018, 2024).
Head coach David Kniffin and Pepperdine's Rod Wilde are the only two head coaches to capture a crown in their first season at the helm with Kniffin winning in 2013 at Pauley Pavilion.
UCI assistant coach Michael Brinkley was a member of the Anteater team that captured the 2013 championship at UCLA and was named to the all-tournament team.
UCI is 14-2 away from home this season, while Hawaii is 12-2.
Sixth-ranked UC Irvine received an at-large bid into the NCAA Championship.
The Anteaters are 21-8 overall after three consecutive victories, beating Penn State and No. 1 UCLA 3-2 in the Los Angeles Regional before taking down fourth-seed Ball State, 3-1 in the semifinal Saturday.
UCI has played 11 five-set matches this season, going 6-5. Five of UCI's eight losses have come in five sets and all eight setbacks against teams in the Top 8 nationally.
UCI finished in a tie for third in the Big West with a 5-5 mark.
It is the 13th time in program history the Anteaters have logged 20 wins or more and third year in a row.
HAWAII LOWDOWN
Hawaii leads UCI 4-3 in the postseason, but this will be the first meeting with the 'Bows in NCAA Tournament action.
Hawaii advanced to the Championship with a 3-1 victory over Long Beach State Saturday. Justin Todd had a career-high 10 blocks, while Tristian Titryski totaled a match-high 14 kills with two aces.
Hawaii is seeking the program's third NCAA title after winning back-to-back crowns in 2021 and '22.
UH advanced to the NCAA final for the seventh time in program history.
The 'Bows are 29-5 overall, tying the single season record for victories.
Hawaii, who leads the all-time series 55-24, has won the last five outings between the teams, including a pair of matches in Irvine earlier this season.
In the first meeting, UCI held a 2-1 lead only to watch UH win the final two sets, including 18-16 in the final frame. UH out-hit UCI .325-.304 and held a 10.5-8.0 block advantage. Andrej Jokanovic led UCI with a match-high 22 kills followed by William D'Arcy with 14 kills. Tread Rosenthal powered Hawaii with 53 assists, 10 digs, and nine kills along with a team-high six blocks. Kristian Titriyski recorded a team-high 16 kills and two aces.
The 'Bows beat the Anteaters 3-0 (25-22, 25-22 and 25-22) on the second night. Hawaii hit .453 (45-11-75), the highest mark against the Anteater defense this season
Over the two matches, UH held an advantage in hitting (.367-.297), blocking (18-15) and digs (86-64). UCI won the service line, 11-6.
UCI freshman Andreas Brinck didn't see action against Hawaii in the first two meetings.
The Anteaters last win against Hawaii came in a 3-0 victory (26-24, 36-34, 25-15) on April 19, 2024 at the Big West Championship in Honolulu, HI.
BIG WEST LOVE
It is the third all-Big West finale (2019, 2022, 2026), guaranteeing the conference a national champion for the fifth time since 2018 when sport sponsorship began.
The Big West has at least one national finalist for eight consecutive seasons.
SEMIFINAL REWIND
Four UC Irvine players had double-digit kills in the Anteaters' 3-1 victory over Ball State in the first semifinal Saturday.
UCI was led by AVCA National Newcomer of the Year Andrej Jokanovic with 18. The freshman hit .308 and added six digs and three total blocks.
Middle blocker Trevor Clark, the nation's leader in hitting percentage, did not disappoint with a .722 mark tying his career-high 14 kills. He led the team with six total blocks (1 solo). Freshman Andreas Brinck recorded 13 kills, a career-tying seven blocks and three block assists, while senior William D'Arcy had 12 kills and a season-high 10 digs plus a block assist. Setter Cameron Kosty orchestrated the Anteater attack to a .362 mark (64-18-127) with 53 set assists, one shy of his career-high and nine digs.
The Anteaters recorded 64 kills which are the second most this season. UCI logged a season-high 48 digs and 63 set assists.
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Volleyball
OH/OPP
/ Men's Volleyball
RS
/ Men's Volleyball
OH
/ Men's Volleyball
S/OPP
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