The #2 Hawai'i Rainbow Warriors (28-5) defeated the UC Irvine Anteaters (20-8) in four sets at Pauley Pavilion, improving to 28-5 on the season behind a relentless offensive attack that overwhelmed Irvine after the opening frame.
Hawai'i dropped the first set but found another gear, reeling off three consecutive wins to close the match. The Rainbow Warriors' ability to adjust mid-match — tightening their block and raising their attacking efficiency — was the decisive factor, as Irvine had no answer for the sustained pressure.
For UC Irvine, the loss drops the Anteaters to 20-8, a record that still keeps them firmly in the at-large tournament conversation. Hawai'i, meanwhile, continues to build its resume as one of the nation's elite, and the Rainbow Warriors look like a team peaking at exactly the right time as the postseason draws near.
Data via ESPN · Summarized by D1Ball's editorial engine from official statistics.
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