12-05-2025
‘Bows volleyball returns home from NCAA Tournament
The University of Hawai'i men's volleyball team returned to O'ahu on Sunday following a straight-set loss to UCLA in the NCAA National Championship Tournament semifinal in Columbus, Ohio.
Despite the season ending one win shy of a title match appearance, the Rainbow Warriors closed out another impressive campaign with a 27-6 overall record and their fourth Big West Conference Championship in program history.
The 'Bows battled through late-season injuries but continued to show the depth and resilience that have become hallmarks of the Charlie Wade-led program. As the team now transitions into the offseason, it bids farewell to key contributors, including All-Big West honorees Kurt Nusterer and Eleu Choy.
Nusterer, a junior middle blocker who will graduate and forgo his final year of eligibility to pursue a career in finance, reflected on the support and uniqueness of the Hawai'i volleyball community.
'I still will never be able to wrap my head around the fact that people love us that much, to make sacrifices like that to support us,' Nusterer said. 'It's the reason this program is successful and why it's going to continue to be successful. There's no place in the world that has that kind of support like we do, and that's why I'm here. That's why a lot of other people are here. It's the reason this place is so special.'
Choy, a senior libero who played his final match for UH, expressed excitement for the program's future.
'I'm very excited about this program, especially with how much youth we have and how much more we can improve,' Choy said. 'We've already shown we can play at a high level, and I don't think we've hit our peak. I believe they'll be back in the national spotlight—and maybe even win it next year.'
Looking ahead, the Rainbow Warriors return a strong core of talent, including All-Conference selections Tread Rosenthal, Adrien Roure and Kristian Titriyski, positioning them once again as national contenders in 2026.
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