Hawaii vs. Long Beach State: 2026 Ncaa men's volleyball semifinal highlights

From Pauley Pavilion, the National Collegiate Men's Volleyball Championship Tournament rolls into its second semifinal in Los Angeles. Two big West Bahamas headline. Long Beach State, last year's national champ, trying to take a big step towards a repeat, facing Hawaii into the Final Four for the fifth time in the last six seasons. Trischke, the six-eight opposite from Bulgaria. Avoid the liberos. Serve coming to Varga again. Off speed and hanging up there for the shutdown. The Bowe block. Knows what it's like to come off the bench. Knows all the perspectives on the court. Ajek is denied. Fred Rosenthal in the Jordan. Avoids the block, the sharp angle. But a sledgehammer as he feasts off issues in ball control for the beach. The third error on Wojciech Gaja. Fred Rosenthal, a thing of beauty from the junior. Luis Sakenoko, the junior from Paris, France, unwinds with a serve. Varga swings away. War attacks the block. And brings up a multitude of set points for UH. To take the opening set 25-15. And Hawaii hits 500 to get us going in the first set. There's that second service error of the match for the Bows. Rosenthal already serving well with aces. Off of Greenwich and somehow we continue on the point. Varga, thumping one from long range. Baring that ball deep. Rosenthal with the serve. Connor Bloom gets free for the score. His third put down on an eighth attack. 16 serving 14. Rosenthal has options. And how amazing this has to feel for him. Because last year at the end of the season he had an ankle injury. Did not get to play in the NCAA tournament. This year he's healthy and he's shining on a big stage. They're going to be the ones he can dig. Sakenoko diving after the reception. War getting two swings. The first one was rebounded back. Second one into the net. The beach putting up a formidable block there. Trying to come about for the beach. Putting up a really good fight here. Trischke victimized by that formidable beach block once again. Gajek at Sakenoko. Rosenthal having to set out a system. With set points because of it. Adrian War powers one off the court. No touch. Despite him thinking there might be. Charlie Wade is not going to use a challenge he did earlier. In the second set. And Long Beach State. How about the response for them in the second frame? As long as we saw Hawaii go in the first. Sakenoko is dug by Gajek. What happened there for the beach? Long Beach State players thought there was a touch. But Ben Braun turns around and says you know what? I think I hit that ball way out. Sakenoko looking back at the beach. With gusto. His fourth block solo of the season. The last one was against Long Beach State. Handing the program to Coach Smith. To Coach McCray. Trischke went all out. Unhinged but misses the mark. And we have a tie score. Five straight for the beach. Injury and war. Serving off the top of the tape. At Larson. Hillis has the cover. He wants it right back. We're on two from Sakenoko. A gap set. Byzanti to Ben Braun. The 6'11'' senior out of Rancho Mirage, California. But back and forth we go here. Hawaii is looking pretty good in this third set. Worst thing in the past. It goes over the net. Byzanti has options. Sakenoko from war. Bludgeons it off the block. Three beach players towering over him. And it doesn't matter for the team's point scoring leader on the season. Over the top of the scorers table. In hopes of receiving it is excellent. Skyler Varga. Over on one goes Rosenthal. Sakenoko and Todd in collapse. For the send back. 22-16 UH. Varga. Top serve. Sakenoko has to play the second touch. In attack mode. One enthralling finish. And a few set points have been discarded off the beach play. Byzanti to Gajek on the back two. After the free ball. Adrian Rohr caught a little bit off guard. Never got his eyes on Gajek. And Gajek takes advantage. Bounces that one off the teraflex. Bounces off the teraflex beyond the baseline. Varga a service error. Will be the demise of the beach in the third frame. Four digs. Three blocks. For the center. A serve. To crack open. The fourth frame. They're going to take him away. But Skyler Varga has been the benefactor. Hitting 458 in the fourth set. Make that 11 kills for Gajek. How did the beach do that? He's got another one at his behest. Jackson Crisp. All big less first teamer. Showing off. The offense will go to Varga. Greenwich. Scampers. On for war. Gajek. Byzanti to Varga. They had him surrounded. Three bows encompassing that shot. Gobbling it up. Things a bit discombobulated there on the bow end. Crisp. Methodical. This is one enthralling, entertaining back and forth. Connor Bloom. Serves Greenwich. Sakonoko. Take a bow. That man took flight. Our fourth tie in this fourth frame. Byzanti to Varga. Recycle there. Great play by Varga. Got the block. Ben Brock. That one sent right back. Rosenthal will scurry. Piotrowski. The outlet. 22-21. Willis has come back in. Number 17 in white for the beach. For Todd. He is having the night of his life. Varga serving. Rosenthal atop the net. Back serve by the bows. Into the national championship match with a four-set win over rival Long Beach State. Trent Rosenthal. One more out-of-system dime to end the night. And all of Hawaii's team is going bows up, shakas up. They are stoked to be moving on to the national championship match. We'll be right back.