HONOLULU — Justin Todd was more than ready for something new, be it his position or his role.
The second-year freshman entered mid-match in No. 4 Hawaii’s 2025 season opener and helped spark the Rainbow Warriors with his physicality in the middle in a four-set win over No. 20 McKendree on Friday night.
Todd, a Houston native who was one of the “Big Three” future UH players at Moanalua High in 2023, supplied four kills on six swings and was in on a team-high five blocks, all in the last two sets of the 25-20, 20-25, 25-22, 25-22 decision in front of 4,165 (5,371 tickets issued) at the Stan Sheriff Center.
“I did not expect it, but ever since last year redshirting I got to watch everyone play and get my mind right to play at any time,” Todd told Spectrum News.
French freshman Adrien Roure put down a match-high 17 kills and Lindenwood transfer Clay Wieter added 14 to lead the ‘Bows statistically as they won their 12th straight season opener.
The Bearcats of the Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association embraced the raucous environment, drew even through two sets and take a four-point lead in Set 3.
But UH, buoyed by Todd and freshman Finn Kearney, came back to take the third and maintained a lead over McKendree in the fourth in the program’s first visit to Hawaii.
Todd, who along with Kai Rodriguez and Zack Yewchuk came to UH from Moanalua in 2024, moved to the middle this preseason and justified it Friday with his explosiveness stepping in for starter Kurt Nusterer.
Todd said he has focused on his spacing, connection and timing with UH’s setters in recent practices.
Since his time at Moanalua, he said he’s “a lot more focused on what I want to do. More mature, in terms of making less errors and knowing when to go hard and when to tool a block or tip.”
Todd is the last of the “Big Three,” though he said he talks once in a while with Rodriguez and Yewchuk. Rodriguez left the team early in the 2024 season and Yewchuk transferred to Trinity Western in British Columbia aafter the year.
UH coach Charlie Wade was impressed by the way the 6-foot-8 Todd made his presence felt, noting he can touch 12 feet and has proven tough to stop without a full commit by blockers. The UH block had not been felt by McKendree over the first two-plus sets.
“He’s a big guy. Especially in the middle, size matters,” Wade said. “Last year he played almost exclusively left and right, mostly on the left. As we came into fall camp, we added some really good pins, and he’s not really close to being one of the top outsides or opposite, but he can get on the floor faster in the middle, for sure. He’s embraced that. We spent a lot of time helping him kind of understand and kind of simplify what he’s doing.”
Meanwhile Kearney, one of 11 newcomers on the 19-player roster who’d practiced at hitter, switched back to his natural opposite position that he played for the U.S. junior national team to spell an ill Kristian Titriyski. Titriyski had three aces in Set 1 but struggled at the pins with five kills against six errors.
Titriyski was one of four UH starters to experience a stomach bug during the week, costing them coherent practices, Wade said.
Kearney finished with seven kills and five digs.
“For an opening game as a freshman, there’s nothing better you can ask for,” Kearney said. “Just proud of the way the guys maintained energy through everything.”
UH returned only three starters from last year's 23-7 team that saw its season end in the Big West semifinals, snapping a streak of four years of appearances in the NCAA championship game. Sophomore setter Tread Rosenthal dealt 54 assists as UH hit .362 as a team to McKendree's .323. Nusterer and senior libero ‘Eleu Choy were the others.
Middle Ofeck Hazan, a member of Israel’s senior national team, supplied seven kills against one error on 10 swings.
McKendree, of Lebanon, Ill., has been in existence as a men’s volleyball program for a little over a decade. Kevin Schuele led McKendree with 15 kills on .357 hitting and added eight digs.
“Purposely setting up your schedule to prepare for conference play and play some of the best — not only one of the best volleyball teams in the country, but it’s the best fans, best atmosphere,” McKendree coach Nickie Sanlin said. “It’s like, how can you go wrong entering MIVA play, playing Hawaii? Honestly it’s an honor just to be here.”
She said she would like to see her team improve its serve-pass defense, usually a program cornerstone, going into Sunday’s 5 p.m. rematch.
Note: This story has been updated with details, quotes and photos.
Brian McInnis covers the state’s sports scene for Spectrum News Hawaii. He can be reached at brian.mcinnis@charter.com.