Sakanoko rides red-hot run into UH's series against Pepperdine

Описание: The University of Hawaii men’s volleyball continue one of the program’s most consistent stretches of success as they return home this week for a two-match series against another national contender.

For the seventh time in the past eight seasons, Hawai‘i has at least 14 wins through its first 15 matches. The third-ranked Rainbow Warriors will host No. 7 Pepperdine Waves men’s volleyball on Wednesday and Friday at Bankoh Arena, with both matches scheduled for 7 p.m.

Hawai‘i enters the series with plenty of momentum, riding a 13-match winning streak that includes back-to-back sweeps of nationally ranked opponents Stanford Cardinal men’s volleyball and BYU Cougars men’s volleyball.

The Rainbow Warriors also picked up a pair of weekly conference honors following their series sweep of BYU. Setter Tread Rosenthal and outside hitter Louis Sakanoko were both recognized after standout performances.

For the season, Sakanoko has been a central force in Hawai‘i’s attack. The junior leads the team with 149 kills while hitting .383 to go along with 63 digs and nine service aces.

“It’s great. Personal accomplishment is great,” Sakanoko said. “But honestly, I’m even more happy that we were able to beat BYU twice. I think for the team, it’s more important than just a personal thing.”

As the season moves deeper into the schedule, Sakanoko believes the team is beginning to find its rhythm.

“We’re starting to be like midseason now, so we finally get that rhythm and confidence that everyone can do their job well,” he said. “Having three pins hitting over .400 is something crazy. It’s nice to see that everything is going in order. We worked a lot during the fall to get that done, and now it’s finally getting there.”

Head coach Charlie Wade said Sakanoko’s growth on and off the court has been evident.

“It’s really impressive,” Wade said. “We saw the raw talent early on, and now to see him turn and be more in control, it’s reflective in his practice habits and his training habits. He’s more committed to his craft and goes hard every day at practice. That’s always a good sign.”

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