Parapunov POW again, Warriors unanimous No. 1, RPI back to 1

The Rainbow Warriors, plus alumni, at the 2019 team banquet on Sunday. / Photo by Cindy Luis

Junior opposite Rado Parapunov today was named the Big West player of the week in men’s volleyball, the fifth time this season for Parapunov and the sixth straight week a Rainbow Warrior player was recognized.

The Bulgarian national averaged 5.71 kills per set, hitting .435 (40-10-69) as Hawaii won both of last week’s matches against No. 3 UC Santa Barbara. Parapunov had 20 kills in both of the matches at the Stan Sheriff Center.

In Friday’s opener, half of his 20 kills came in Set 2. Parapunov also had four aces.

This is the seventh weekly award in his career for Parapunov. He currently leads the nation in points per set (5.50) and ranks No. 3 in hitting percentage (.484) and kills per set (4.43), and No. 6 in aces per set (0.53).

The Warriors, remaining the unanimous No. 1 in today’s AVCA Coaches Division I-II Top 15, conclude the regular season at No. 2 Long Beach State on Friday and Saturday. The matches will determine the regular-season champion as well as the top two seeds for the April 18-20 conference tournament at the Stan Sheriff Center.

The Warriors and 49ers already have clinched quarterfinal byes into the April 19 semifinals.

There is no change in the top four: 1. Hawaii. 2. Long Beach State. 3. UC Santa Barbara. 4. Pepperdine.

USC and UCLA traded spots, the Trojans to 5, the Bruins to 6.

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Hawaii back to 1 in RPI.not hard to figure out why since the Warriors played UCSB (now 17-7) and The Beach played UCSD (now 7-17)

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The Warriors had their banquet last night. Good to see former players as well as all the families still here from senior night.

The 2019 Rainbow Warriors at the team banquet on Sunday. / Photo by Cindy Luis
Kupuno Fey, Iain McKellar and Jennings Franciscovic at the UH volleyball team banquet on Sunday. / Photo by Cindy Luis
The UH men’s volleyball banquet on Sunday. / Photo by Cindy Luis

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UH is at No. 6 in the latest AVCA beach volleyball poll.

COMMENTS

  1. vballfan April 8, 2019 10:34 am

    Nice. Thank you. Wish we could see more photos like this, but don’t know where to search, look.


  2. 808 April 8, 2019 10:47 am

    “No change in top 4. 1. Hawaii. 2. Long Beach. 3. UC Irvine. 4. Pepperdine.
    USC and UCLA traded spots, the Trojans to 5, the Bruins to 6.”

    Made me look for the link. Didn’t find it. Cindy, you said UCI is at #3. You must have meant UCSB, since you said no change in the top 4. link: https://www.avca.org/polls/dii-men/4-8-2019.html

    Here’s a photo:


  3. jm2375 April 8, 2019 11:24 am

    Great banquet last night. Charlie got emotional talking about this team. Kekaula was his usual self. Many thanks to Joyce Lau and the banquet committee members for their hard work.

    Congrats to the Worsley brothers on the OTB National Position Players of the Week awards.
    Setter: Joe Worsley, Hawai’i
    Opposite: George Huhmann, Princeton
    Outside Attacker: David Wieczorek, Pepperdine
    Middle Attacker: Wyatt Dimke, McKendree
    Libero: Gage Worsley, Hawai’i

    On to Long Beach!
    GO WARRIORS!


  4. jm2375 April 8, 2019 11:50 am

    Interesting BWC schedule this week: T1 UH @ T1 LBSU, 3 UCSB vs 4 UCI, 5 CSUN vs 6 UCSB. Seedings for the tournament may change.


  5. Brian McInnis April 8, 2019 11:52 am

    808,

    Post has been updated/fixed.


  6. jm2375 April 8, 2019 11:57 am

    Rado wins BWC POW again. #RenametheAwardalready


  7. Cindy Luis April 8, 2019 12:09 pm

    1. my personal photos. didn’t see any from UH
    2. thanks. it has been fixed
    3. it was a fun banquet
    6. see updated thread about Rado.


  8. Maverick April 8, 2019 12:34 pm

    For those who were upset by Hawaii’s drop in RPI rank last week, as predicted, UH is back at #1 in the RPI standings, with LBSU falling to #2. Change due to UH playing a 17-5 UCSB team twice and LBSU playing a 7-15 UCSD team twice.

    Details at:
    https://extra.ncaa.org/solutions/rpi/Stats%20Library/2019MVB_TeamSheets_thru0407.pdf


  9. 808 April 8, 2019 12:51 pm

    Thanks, Brian and Cindy! How did you like the SSC as the venue for the banquet? Looks like it was done well. Did they have a big crowd (or rather, a bigger crowd than usual, because of this team’s popularity)?


  10. jm2375 April 8, 2019 1:26 pm

    808 – it was a bigger crowd than usual. In the past, we were limited by the size of the hotel ballroom. I think we had around 140 last year, this year we had over 200. We had to tell several people that it was sold out. There were several changes this year, too, like table sales and the “Talk Story” portion instead of the usual Senior speeches.


  11. jm2375 April 8, 2019 1:29 pm

    The top photo is of the seniors and alumni who attended, including Brian Beckwith, Rick Tune, Sivan Leoni & Gavin Cook.


  12. islandman April 8, 2019 2:09 pm

    How come the banquet was held so early before the end of the season ? It’s okay with me though.
    Were there any awards like MBB gave out ?


  13. jm2375 April 8, 2019 2:35 pm

    12. The banquet has been held the day after Senior Night for several years to allow the families to attend. No awards are given out.


  14. Cindy Luis April 8, 2019 4:30 pm

    9. venue is fine. They have used it for several fund-raisers and the Circle of Honor in the past.
    12. held it at the usual time after senior night. Not like women’s volleyball where team returns after break and has spring semester to hold it. Men’s season could extend to final four and then it’s graduation weekend.


  15. jmy April 8, 2019 5:13 pm

    Another very well-deserved honor for Rado…I have a feeling that David Wieczorek from Pepperdine will get the national POW…I know Joe Worsley was BW POW, but it sure would be nice for him to get the national honor…


  16. vballfan April 8, 2019 9:28 pm

    Thanks, again, for sharing more photos. UH Athletics doesn’t do enough to share these events w/ fans who can’t afford to attend the banquets or be a special booster. Seeing video and photos of these special events would be a good marketing tool.


  17. jm2375 April 9, 2019 9:07 am

    16. Technically, the banquet is sponsored by the Booster Club, so the Athletics Dept isn’t obligated to be there.


  18. Cindy Luis April 9, 2019 10:26 am

    16. yep.


  19. Art Masi April 9, 2019 11:26 am

    Too close. Will Hawai’i drop the last two regular season matches? As for the Big West title? Do they need to take it? Things are starting to rumble. Find out next week what happens.


  20. 808 April 9, 2019 12:37 pm

    17. jm2375 — does the booster club have a website or facebook or other social media page to share photos of these events, like their banquet or their pre-season fundraiser?


  21. vballfan April 9, 2019 12:55 pm

    17. jm2375
    Thank you for the clarification. May explain why there is no in-depth coverage of the banquets. But, if this is the case, you would think there would be some coordination between the athletics dept and the boosters to market and do community outreach by showcasing events


  22. jm2375 April 9, 2019 1:25 pm

    19. Right now, the booster club only has a link at the AKA website (https://www.koaanuenue.org/MVB). The last (Feb) newsletter is posted. I think there’ll be another one soon.

    Anyway, stay tuned. The booster club is in the middle of revamping membership levels and benefits (e.g., shirts, seats at the fundraiser dinner).

    Just a reminder – please be mindful of the rules regarding boosters and “gifts” to players. The last thing we need this year is to be disqualified, etc because of a rule violation.
    https://www.koaanuenue.org/booster-clubs/compliance-and-forms


  23. Cindy Luis April 9, 2019 2:18 pm

    http://www.hawaiiwarriorworld.com/?p=49359
    new thread up for Tuesday.
    19. UH has a number of FB and twitter links you can access through hawaiiathletics.com. click on the icons.
    Twitter @hawaiiMVB
    Men’s volleyball is at 20. I think you have a point. Not enough people realize the online updates given, or links to AKA/booster events.


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