Hawaii men’s volleyball: Player interviews after reverse sweep of No. 2 BYU
Thursday night’s meeting between No. 1 Hawaii and No. 2 BYU was stunning. Who expected the Rainbow Warriors to be dispatched with such ease by the visiting Cougars?
Friday night’s rematch was jaw-dropping in its own right, as UH rallied from a two-set hole, minus one of its leading attackers in Colton Cowell, to stun the last remaining unbeaten team in the country with a 20-25, 22-25, 25-22, 25-23, 19-17 reverse sweep in front of a sellout crowd at the Stan Sheriff Center.
>> PHOTO GALLERY: HAWAII VS. BYU
There were heroes aplenty in the comeback.
Rado Parapunov pounded a career-high 30 kills on 50 swings. Jakob Thelle, a reserve in recent matches, came off the bench to settle the Rainbow Warriors’ attack. Freshman Chaz Galloway ably stepped into the lineup in place of Cowell. Patrick Gasman was the most lethal server of the night. Max Rosenfeld came up with timely blocks in making a start. Gage Worsley was amped up to a level rarely seen. The list goes on.
UNREAL.
FINAL: No. 1 #HawaiiMVB reverse sweeps No. 2 BYU, 20-25, 22-25, 25-22, 25-23, 19-17.
Patrick Gasman ACE on the fifth UH match point.
Rado Parapunov career high 30 kills on 50 swings.
First loss for the Cougars (18-1). UH to 15-1. pic.twitter.com/P3liBBMgHY
— Hawaii Warrior World (@hawaiiwworld) March 7, 2020
Here’s a collection of video interviews with players in the wild postgame:
Patrick Gasman had five aces, including the match-winner for #HawaiiMVB over BYU. pic.twitter.com/0zXIUNGFzN
— Hawaii Warrior World (@hawaiiwworld) March 7, 2020
Jakob Thelle came off the bench to dish 39 assists and put down five kills on eight swings in #HawaiiMVB’s comeback over BYU. pic.twitter.com/KiZWCYY2hT
— Hawaii Warrior World (@hawaiiwworld) March 7, 2020
Freshman Chaz Galloway stepped in for Colton Cowell and had a season-high 10 kills in the #HawaiiMVB comeback over BYU, and a key block of Gabi Garcia Fernandez late. pic.twitter.com/ogqQa33OFk
— Hawaii Warrior World (@hawaiiwworld) March 7, 2020
Middle Max Rosenfeld stepped into the starting lineup and had two solo blocks, including one to set up match point in Set 5 of #HawaiiMVB’s reverse sweep of BYU. pic.twitter.com/SJkQc3flZV
— Hawaii Warrior World (@hawaiiwworld) March 7, 2020
Rado Parapunov had a career-high night with 30 kills. #1 Hawaii reverse swept #2 BYU in a packed arena.
Rado put UH on his back with Colton Cowell out to injury and coming off a sweep to BYU the night before.
Gage Worsley's 10 digs helped UH tame BYU.@c_shimabuku pic.twitter.com/n8UsUUuBjm
— Ren Clayton (@Ren_Clayton) March 7, 2020
Here’s how each set-ender played out:
Rado Parapunov notches his second ace of the match but #HawaiiMVB drops Set 1 to BYU on the next point, 25-20. pic.twitter.com/VCQrYNfccC
— Hawaii Warrior World (@hawaiiwworld) March 7, 2020
Wow. BYU trailed in Set 2 by six, only to come back and take it 25-22 riding the serves of Gabi Garcia Fernandez and Davide Gardini.#HawaiiMVB trails 2-0. pic.twitter.com/wmpvbTpejp
— Hawaii Warrior World (@hawaiiwworld) March 7, 2020
#HawaiiMVB is NOT DONE YET.
Third set point goes down and UH takes one off BYU for the first time in two nights, 25-22.
Set 4 coming. pic.twitter.com/XnTOhU9bCt
— Hawaii Warrior World (@hawaiiwworld) March 7, 2020
Hold on to your okoles.
Rado Parapunov with his 27th kill on set point and #HawaiiMVB and BYU are GOING FIVE as UH takes this one 25-23. pic.twitter.com/LCSS1YN8kb
— Hawaii Warrior World (@hawaiiwworld) March 7, 2020
And an in-the-seats view of the finish:
Amazing comeback. Hawaii beats BYU in 5. @hawaiiwworld #HawaiiMVB pic.twitter.com/EFDLksjcgQ
— Billy Hull (@billyhull) March 7, 2020
UPDATE: And here was the call by Kanoa Leahey and Chris McLachlin on Spectrum Sports:
What a night…one for the ages!
Pat Gasman’s 5th ♠️ comes on @HawaiiMensVB's 5th chance to win the match.
🎙: @KanoaLeahey & C-Mac on the call#HawaiiMVB pic.twitter.com/ncurO0E6bo
— Spectrum Sports HI (@specsportshi) March 7, 2020
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