No. 2 Hawaii Defeats No. 7 Penn State in NCAA Volleyball Quarterfinals

The No. 2 seed University of Hawaii men's volleyball team defeated No. 7 seed Penn State in four sets during the NCAA Tournament quarterfinals at the Covelli Center, advancing to the semifinals where they will face UCLA. Despite a slow start and hitting just .238, Hawaii capitalized on strong performances from freshman Finn Kearney, who recorded 16 kills and 10 digs, and middle blockers Justin Todd and Kurt Nusterer, who contributed significantly with high hitting percentages and blocks. Penn State led at multiple points, including winning the second set, but Hawaii's resilience in the critical third and fourth sets secured their victory. This matchup marked the seventh NCAA Tournament meeting between the two teams, with Hawaii holding a strong overall tournament record and high regard for Penn State's program. Hawaii's head coach Charlie Wade expressed pride in the team's progress this season, especially after missing the postseason the previous year. The semifinal match against UCLA is scheduled for Saturday and will be broadcast on ESPN+.