LONG BEACH, Calif. — No. 2 Long Beach State was swept by No. 3 Hawai’i 25-18, 25-22, 25-20 at the LBS Financial Credit Union Pyramid Saturday night, as the Rainbow Warriors controlled tempo behind offensive efficiency and sustained scoring runs that repeatedly halted any Beach momentum.
Long Beach State was led by freshman Wojciech Gajek, who carried the bulk of the offensive load with 16 kills on 30 swings (.367) and a match-high 18.5 points. Skyler Varga added seven kills and Alex Kandev added six, but neither was able to sustain long stretches without error, contributing to the team’s struggle to generate an efficient offense.
The match turned on Hawai’i’s ability to create separation runs midway through each set, often triggered by serve pressure and block-defensive sequences.
In the opening set, Long Beach State stayed within striking distance early, but Hawai’i used a decisive 7-1 run to break open a tight 6-6 frame into a 13-7 advantage. That run featured a Titriyski ace and multiple transition kills, forcing the Beach into out-of-system swings. Late in the frame, Hawai’i capitalized on Long Beach errors and sealed the set 25-18.
Set two was the most competitive of the night, featuring 15 tie scores and five lead changes, but even there Hawai’i dictated the critical stretches. With the score tied 18-18, Long Beach State had an opportunity to seize control, but Hawai’i responded with a 4-1 surge fueled by transition offense and a Gajek attack error. The Beach briefly tied at 22-22, but Hawai’i finished on a 3-0 run, including a triple block that halted Long Beach’s right-side option at a pivotal moment.
In the third set, Long Beach again hung close early, trailing just 10-9, but Hawai’i produced the defining run of the match, extending the margin as much as 20-14 before closing out the sweep at 25-20.