HONOLULU — The impact of an outgoing class of seniors could be measured through unconventional means on Saturday night.
There were the cheers, then groans, when veteran reserve Filip Humler entered for the final few points and, try as he might, could not put down a kill despite being set repeatedly by Jakob Thelle.
There was Guilherme Voss, head in hands, watching through unrelenting tears as his teammates’ farewell videos played on the big screen.
And there was certainly the fact that the vast majority of those who were a part of the 13th sellout crowd in program history remained to see a beloved group of six be sent off in Hawaii’s traditional post-match ceremony. Thelle, Humler, opposite Dimitrios Mouchlias, middle Cole Hogland, hitter and serving specialist Kana‘i Akana, and reserve Devon Johnson were piled high with lei and well wishes.
On this evening, a 25-19, 25-22, 25-21, sweep of UC San Diego to clinch a share of the Big West regular-season title and the top seed in next week’s conference tournament at Irvine, Calif., was almost a perfunctory matter.
“This senior class just hit different,” Voss, the fourth-year junior middle, said of a group that helped mentor him upon his arrival from Brazil in 2020. He was referring to the emotional impact, though it could also easily have been an assessment of the offense of the No. 1 team in the country.
“It’s a lot of emotions,” he said. “But I’m so happy for them. I know that we’re all going to be teammates again sometime in the future.”
Thelle, Mouchlias and Hogland in particular were instrumental in UH’s national titles in 2021 and 2022, especially last season when they inherited starring roles. Thelle, in deciding last summer to put off a pro career and return for a fifth year of college volleyball, set the tone for a group of starters who returned for a crack at a third straight championship in the upcoming NCAA tournament.
UH coach Charlie Wade marveled at the staying power of most of the Stan Sheriff Center crowd (turnstile count of 9,528) well after Saturday's match ended. The 'Bows went shirtless to treat those who remained to a Hawaiian ha‘a dance.
“That was pretty cool. Traditionally a lot of people stick around, but we might’ve had near 80% (stay),” Wade said. “Just really appreciative and incredibly humbled. The amount of support we get is unbelievable. Not any place like this in the world.”
Securing the No. 1 Big West seed – UH ended up tied with Long Beach State at the top with 9-1 records, but won via a total-points tiebreaker from their two meetings last month – was no small matter to Wade.
UH will play Friday at the Bren Events Center against Thursday's winner of the 4-5 match between UC San Diego and UC Santa Barbara. No. 2 LBSU awaits the winner of No. 3 UC Irvine and No. 6 Cal State Northridge.
“It’s huge, especially this year, where that 2-3 (matchup) is probably an elimination game in terms of getting an at-large (to the NCAA tournament),” Wade said.
UH (26-2 overall), a winner of nine straight matches, was at its serving and blocking best for most of Saturday’s match against UCSD (8-16, 2-8) taking care of the Tritons one set quicker than Friday’s four-setter.
“A lot of focus went into it. A lot of emotions,” Hogland said. “A lot of people wanting to get it done fast so we could get to the celebrations. I think we just kind of willed through it. Every one of the seniors got in (the match) and here we are. Except for Devon. That’s OK. We love Devon.”
After UCSD’s seniors Ryan Ka and Berkeley Miesfeld were honored with lei from UH and cheers from the crowd, UH’s underclassmen formed a tunnel of bodies as an extension of the arena opening where the ‘Bows enter the court for every match.
The cheers got louder for each successive player who emerged.
Thelle, the affable All-American and all-around team leader from Norway who’s been embraced as a hanai son of the islands, was introduced last and got a standing ovation.
“(It means) everything,” Thelle said afterward. “Just the people here. They are the ones who brought me back because I didn’t want to miss another year being in Hawaii, living in the most unique culture in the world with the most incredible people in the world. That was everything for me.”
He led UH to a .375 hitting night and had one of his team’s seven aces, bringing him to within one of matching the program career record of 121.
Mouchlias, an opposite who has emerged as a national player of the year candidate this season, led the way like he has nearly nightly of late with 11 kills, five blocks and four digs.
But Mouchlias, who is leaving one season earlier than his collegiate eligibility allows to turn professional, had a difficult time enjoying the ceremony. It was an entirely different experience than the ones he watched of departing teammates the last two years. His depature will also split up the "Greek Connection" of he and Spyros Chakas.
“I don’t like it, to be honest. I feel really sad,” Mouchlias said. “I feel really sad leaving this place, leaving all my friends, all my teammates, my coaches. But it’s time. I love the support of all the people that came here and are still here. I thank them for everything.”
Hogland, an Iolani alumnus from Waimanalo, grew into the mantle of the most prominent local player on the team over the last two seasons, a mainstay in the middle in rotation with Voss.
He broke down weeping in the tunnel as his accolades were being read out to the crowd for his senior introduction.
Afterward, he called it his No. 1 career volleyball experience – and one he never expected.
“No way. I thought I’d be going to school, just to go to school,” Hogland said. “Going to Iolani, my whole plan was to get in grades, just get through academics and try to find a job. And here comes volleyball, and here I am with the amazing help of my coaches and my community.”
Some more photos from the match and senior ceremony:
Brian McInnis covers the state's sports scene for Spectrum News Hawaii. He can be reached at brian.mcinnis@charter.com.