UCLA downs Hawaii in four sets to spoil hopes of three-peat


ScoringLive staff
May 6, 2023, 8:29pm

 


The streak is over.

Ido David had a season-high 23 kills to lead UCLA to a 28-26, 31-33, 25-21, 25-21 win over two-time defending national champion University of Hawaii men's volleyball team, thwarting the Rainbow Warriors' hopes to make it three in a row, and also snapping a seven game win streak in the NCAA tournament in the process.

The 'Bows were led by Dimitrios Mouchlias, who followed up a career-high 25 kill performance in the semifinal match against Penn State with 18 kills against the Bruins. Jakob Thelle added 50 assists, nine digs, three blocks and two service aces in the loss.

After dropping set one 28-26 and trailing 19-13 in the second, a Thelle ace helped fuel a 4-0 run by Hawaii in the latter stages of the set, resulting in a 33-31 win that helped even up the match.

The Bruins were challenged, as expected, but ultimately held off the Rainbow Warriors down the stretch, though Hawaii was with two points in set three at 21-19 and also came to within two at 23-20 in the fourth.

Hawaii became the first school to appear in four straight NCAA title matches since UCLA made it six straight appearances between 1993 and 1998. They were aiming to be the first team to win three consecutive since the Bruins made it four in a row in 1981-84.

UCLA won its 20th NCAA men's volleyball championship, but its first since 2006.




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