Hawai'i's #2-ranked Rainbow Warriors improved to 28-5 with a 3-1 victory over UC Irvine (20-8) at Pauley Pavilion. The deciding factor: Hawai'i's ability to find answers in three of four sets against an Anteaters squad that pushed but couldn't match the Warriors' depth on a big stage.
UC Irvine, now 20-8, showed why they belong in the conversation — taking a set off the nation's #2 team is no small feat. But Hawai'i's 28-5 record isn't an accident. This is a group that knows how to close.
For the Anteaters, the fight displayed at Pauley Pavilion should carry real confidence into whatever comes next. For Hawai'i, the win keeps their title pursuit rolling — and sends a reminder that the road to a championship runs through Manoa.
Data via ESPN · Summarized by D1Ball's editorial engine from official statistics.
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