#2 Hawai'i defeated UC Irvine 3-1 at Pauley Pavilion, improving to 28-5 while sending the Anteaters to 20-8. The Rainbow Warriors' ability to sustain pressure across all six rotations was the difference — UC Irvine grabbed a set but could never string together enough consecutive points to truly threaten the upset.
For Hawai'i, this is the kind of match that sharpens a championship resume. The Warriors didn't just win; they absorbed a punch from a 20-win Anteater squad and responded with the composure of a team that knows exactly who it is in late-season form.
UC Irvine leaves with its 20-win credential intact and plenty to build on. For Hawai'i, the march toward the top of the mountain continues — and the rest of the field is on notice.
Data via ESPN · Summarized by D1Ball's editorial engine from official statistics.
More from the newsroom