Hawaii junior outside hitter Louis Sakanoko sat down for an interview before the second men’s volleyball practice on Monday and took a deep breath.

“Man, I’m tired,” he said with a smile.

That’s the grind of having less than a week to prepare for the season as the No. 2-ranked Rainbow Warriors, who held their first official practices on Sunday, do what they can over five days to be ready to take the court on Friday in the season opener against New Jersey Institute of Technology at Bankoh Arena at Stan Sheriff Center.

UH is holding three consecutive days of two-a-day practices before getting a day off for the holiday.

Friday’s match marks the first of eight over a 15-day period to start the season at home. Following UH’s match against Roberts Wesleyan on Jan. 16, the Rainbow Warriors won’t play at home again until March 4.

“We all know physically we can play with any team,” junior setter Tread Rosenthal said. “I think, mentally last year, we were a little immature at times, and we didn’t understand the full weight of every game matters and every point matters.”

Hawaii is coming off a 27-6 season that included a Big West Conference championship and an appearance in the national semifinals.

UH’s season ended in a three-set loss to UCLA, which went on to lose to Long Beach State in the final.

Hawaii returns six of its top seven kill leaders from last season, including Rosenthal, a third-year starter at setter who made the AVCA All-America first team last year.

Rosenthal was one of three Rainbow Warriors, along with sophomore outside Adrien Roure and opposite Kristian Titriyski, named to the Big West Men’s Volleyball Preseason Coaches Team on Monday.

Hawaii, which opens the season No. 2 in the country in the AVCA preseason rankings, was picked to finish second in the Big West behind Long Beach State in the preseason poll voted on by the league’s six head coaches.

UH defeated the Beach twice last year, including in the Big West tournament championship.

Hawaii was the only team to have three players selected to the preseason all-conference team.

“It’s fun to see the excitement surrounding the program and seeing the guys react to it,” Hawaii coach Charlie Wade said. “A guy like Roman (Payne), a guy like Trevell (Jordan) … I kind of laugh about it because they have no idea how much their lives are going to change in the next few months.”

Payne, a 7-foot freshman from Carlsbad, Calif., and Jordan, a 6-foot-10 sophomore transfer from Grand Canyon, are two new middle blockers who should enter the rotation right away.

Quintin Greenidge, a 5-foot-8 junior transfer from Canada, is the replacement for departed senior ‘Eleu Choy at libero and has been called by Rosenthal as a name to watch early in the season.

“I think Quintin is a very legit libero on the international stage and he has been very consistent for us in the practice gym,” Rosenthal said. “I know that that will translate to our games.”

The Rainbow Warriors are as loaded as any team in the country. Whether it was experienced three-year players in the program like Rosenthal or Sakanoko, or a newcomer like Jordan, everyone who spoke to the media Monday talked about finding consistency in every play on the court.

“It’s nice to hear that it’s seeping through a little bit. I’ve heard it back from some of them, but words are easy, action and lifestyle is a whole different thing,” Wade said. “Everybody loves the idea of being a champion and playing in front of sold-out crowds. Not everybody loves the lifestyle and not everybody embraces showing up every day and being the best version of yourself possible on a daily basis. It’s hard. It’s hard for anyone at any stage of life, let alone 19- and 20-year-olds.”

Assistant coach Kupono Fey has been promoted to associate head coach, taking over the role previously held by Milan Zarkovic, who departed for UCLA in the offseason. Donan Cruz will continue on the staff as an assistant coach.

Hawaii’s January schedule includes a pair of doubleheaders on Jan. 14 and 16.

UH will rotate a morning 11 a.m. match and an evening 7 p.m. match against Rockhurst and Roberts Wesleyan.

Loyola-Chicago, which UH hosts on Jan. 8 and 9, begins the season ranked No. 7 in the country. NJIT is the second team outside of the Top 20.

High school volleyball teams in the Coastal Region won three state championships this season and 13 teams earned spots in the AHSAA state championship tournament.

McGill-Toolen dominated Class 7A, winning its fourth straight title and 25th AHSAA state championship while Spanish Fort won its second straight Class 6A title and fifth overall, all coming since 2015. Mobile Christian won its second straight Class 3A championship.

Class 3A St. Luke’s won to the title match before falling to Mobile Christian while Class 5A UMS-Wright and Class 4A Orange Beach each earned spots in the final four.

Other teams winning to the Elite Eight were Class 7A Bayside and St. Paul’s, Class 6A Saraland, Class 5A Faith Academy, Class 4A St. Michael and Class 1A Millry and Leroy.

The Press-Register All-Region team is compiled by the AL.com high school sports staff with input from coaches.

AL.com named Player of the Year, Attacker MVP, Defensive MVP, Setter MVP and Coach of the Year. Award winners are listed separately, but considered first-team selections.

PRESS-REGISTER ALL-REGION VOLLEYBALL TEAM

(Players listed alphabetically)

1/104

Zoẽ Beech, Spanish Fort

5-11, Sr., Middle

355 kills, 104 blocks, 404 digs, 59 aces

College: Undecided

Bennett Boulo, St. Paul’s

5-10, Sr., Setter/Right Side

1,091 assists, 354 kills, 51 blocks, 257 digs, 67 aces

College: Undecided

Grier Broughton, Bayside Academy

5-9, Sr., Outside Hitter

321 kills, 33 blocks, 171 digs, 20 aces

College: Undecided

Anna Grace Chason, Daphne

5-11, Sr., Right Side/Setter

1,024 assists, 233 kills, 37 blocks, 238 digs, 58 aces

College: Mississippi College

Caroline Downey, Spanish Fort

5-10, Sr., Outside Hitter

446 kills, 49 blocks, 336 digs, 55 aces

College: Mississippi College

Chloe Duggan, Faith Academy

5-6, Jr., Setter

701 assists, 43 kills, 25 blocks, 204 digs, 47 aces

College: Undecided

Haley Eldridge, Mobile Christian

5-6, Sr., Setter

1,006 assists, 43 kills, 34 blocks, 277 digs, 67 aces

College: Undecided

Baker Garside, St. Luke’s

5-6, Sr., Setter

1,018 assists, 99 kills, 9 blocks, 245 digs, 36 aces

College: Undecided

Victoria Holley, Spanish Fort

5-6, Sr., Libero

695 digs, 98 assists, 66 aces

College: Undecided

Cami Huff, McGill-Toolen

6-2, Sr., Middle

383 kills, 137 blocks, 23 digs

College: West Virginia

Hadley Kelly, Mobile Christian

6-1, Jr., Middle

463 kills, 139 blocks, 12 digs, 35 aces

College: Liberty

Catherine McClain, McGill-Toolen

5-9, Sr., Outside Hitter

538 kills, 41 blocks, 331 digs, 49 aces

College: Loyola

Payton McClarren, McGill-Toolen

5-2, Sr., Libero

534 digs, 75 assists, 69 aces

College: William Carey

Macey Moore, Gulf Shores

5-10, Sr., Setter/Right Side

336 kills, 430 assists, 77 blocks, 351 digs, 71 aces

College: North Florida beach volleyball

Kenly Nelson, Fairhope

5-11, Jr., Outside Hitter

333 kills, 49 blocks, 57 digs, 2 aces

College: Undecided

Charli Pearce, Saraland

6-0, Sr., Outside Hitter/Setter

368 kills, 504 assists, 36 blocks, 329 digs, 64 aces

College: South Alabama

Hayley Robinson, Bayside Academy

6-3, Sr., Right Side

370 kills, 70 blocks, 105 digs, 48 aces

College: Samford

Libby Rogers, Fairhope

5-8, Sr., Setter

710 assists, 166 kills, 33 blocks, 273 digs, 20 aces

College: Montevallo

Bella Rumley, Orange Beach

5-8, So., Outside Hitter

273 kills, 27 blocks, 42 digs, 46 aces

College: Undecided

Amelia Smith, St. Luke’s

6-0, Sr., Outside Hitter

543 kills, 50 blocks, 354 digs, 84 aces

College: UAH

Ella Clarie Sullivan, UMS-Wright

5-7, Sr, Libero

418 digs, 120 assists, 82 aces

College: Undecided

MK Whitehurst, Bayside Academy

5-3, Sr., Libero

504 digs, 59 assists, 44 aces

College: Undecided

PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Alice Wood, McGill-Toolen

5-9, Jr., Setter

Region second-best 1,362 assists, region-best 27.8 assists per match average, 57 kills, 76 blocks, 302 digs, 61 aces

College: Kansas State

ATTACKER MVP

Ella Lomax, Daphne

5-11, Sr., Outside Hitter

Region-best 753 kills, region-best 13.45 kills per match average, 35 blocks, 313 digs, 81 aces

College: UNA

DEFENSIVE MVP

Melissa Patel, Mobile Christian

5-5, Sr., Libero

684 digs, 57 assists, 40 aces

College: Southwest Baptist

SETTER MVP

Cailyn Boykin, Spanish Fort

5-8, Jr., Setter

Region-best 1,638 assists, 68 kills, 32 blocks, 351 digs, 66 aces

College: Undecided

COACHES OF THE YEAR

Kate Wood, McGill-Toolen

Gretchen Boykin, Spanish Fort

Mallory Boyington, Mobile Christian

HONORABLE MENTION

Outside Hitter/Right Side: Brooklyn McIlwain, Faith Academy, Sr.; Alexis Scott, Mobile Christian, Sr.; Marissa Smith, St. Paul’s, Fr.; Skylar Courtney, UMS-Wright, Sr.; LillyAnne Doggette, Millry, Sr.; Myah Skanes, Saraland, Jr.; Jaedyn Lang, McGill-Toolen, Sr.; Breanna Stokley, Millry, Sr.; Chandler Thomas, UMS-Wright, Sr.

Middle: Chelsey McReary, T.R. Miller, Jr.; Reece Wilmott, Bayside Academy, Jr.; Mikadyn Cauley, Faith Academy, Jr.; Natalie Maxwell, Spanish Fort, So.; Gabi Berlage, Fairhope, Sr.; Maddie McKinley, Washington County, Sr.; Raina Gunter, Washington County, Sr.; Lily Willingham, Saraland, Sr.

Setter: Sophie Hester, Bayside Academy, Jr.; Grace Thigpen, Daphne, Sr.; Ivey Marston, St. Paul’s, Sr.; Ella Bilbo, Orange Beach, Sr.

Defensive Specialist/Libero: Ava Hodo, Orange Beach, Sr.; Emma Kate Frazier, St. Luke’s, Fr.; Kendall Dougherty, St. Paul’s, Sr.; Addy Busby, Fairhope, Jr.

DENTON – This past fall semester UNT student-athletes achieved the highest departmental grade point average in Mean Green history with a 3.457.
 
For the first time ever all 14 athletic programs earned a semester G.P.A. above a 3.150. Six teams earned their highest semester G.P.A. in their respective program’s history and four others achieved their second highest semester G.P.A. in their program’s history.
 
This marked the 13th consecutive semester of a 3.0 or better department wide grade point average and the seventh consecutive semester that UNT improved on the previous semester’s departmental G.P.A.
 
“The Fall 2025 semester was an outstanding one for Mean Green Athletics in the classroom,” said UNT VP/Director of Athletics Jared Mosley. “Our student-athletes continue to demonstrate a commitment to academic excellence, and their success is a direct reflection of the support and expectations we have in place. I want to thank our academic services team, led by Suzanne Dickenson, for their leadership and dedication in supporting our student-athletes and helping them reach their full potential both on the field and in the classroom.”
 
For the sixth consecutive semester the UNT women’s golf team led the way for the department as they earned a 3.907 fall semester G.P.A.
 
The Mean Green tennis team has now recorded a team G.P.A. of 3.0 or better for 28 consecutive semesters. The UNT soccer team and swim and dive team have both also maintained streaks of 20-plus consecutive semesters with a team G.P.A. above a 3.0.
 
Fifty-two UNT student-athletes this past fall earned a 4.0 grade point average. The Mean Green women’s track team led the way as they had 11 student-athletes named to the prestigious 2025 Fall President’s List. The tennis team had the highest percentage of student-athletes earning President’s List honors as 72% of its roster had a 4.0 G.P.A.
 
The UNT men’s basketball, men’s cross country, men’s track and field, women’s basketball, women’s cross country and women’s track and field teams all earned their highest semester G.P.A.s in program history.
 
Lastly, 47 UNT student-athletes earned their diplomas this past fall.
 

LA JOLLA, Calif. – Third-year USC women’s volleyball associate head coach Spencer McLachlin was hired for his first appointment as a head coach and will lead the UC San Diego women’s volleyball program, UCSD Director of Athletics Andy Fee announced on Tuesday, Dec. 23.
 
McLachlin becomes the eighth head coach in UCSD program history and will coach the Tritons in their final season as members of the Big West (2026) before the program transitions to the West Coast Conference ahead of the 2027 campaign. He joins JJ Van Niel (Arizona State), Tyler Hildebrand (Saint Mary’s College), and Amy Pauly (Orlando Valkyries) as former USC assistants under Brad Keller who have moved into head coaching positions.
 
“This opportunity is no surprise and has been a long time coming for Spencer,” said Keller. “UCSD is getting one of the best coaches in the game. Spencer and I have worked together in many different phases of our careers, and I know USC is in a better place with a brighter future for everything he has done here. Spencer is an innovator, a creator, and most importantly, a dreamer. Our game needs more leaders like him. I couldn’t be prouder of what he has done and for this new opportunity for him and his family.”
 
In his three seasons at USC, McLachlin helped lead the Women of Troy to three straight NCAA tournament appearances. The Trojans advanced to the second round in each of their three postseason berths. Most recently, McLachlin helped USC reach 25 wins and finish in a tie for third place in the Big Ten. Six Trojans received awards on all-conference teams and USC led the league in blocking (2.76 bps). The Trojans also ranked second (12th in the NCAA) in total blocks (322.5) and were second for opponent hitting percentage (.184). OH London Wijay earned AVCA All-America honorable mention.
 
With McLachlin on staff in 2024, USC advanced to the second round of the NCAA tournament for the third straight year and finished 22-10 overall with a 13-7 mark in the Big Ten (tied for sixth). Setter Mia Tuaniga was named to the AVCA All-America third team. In his first season with the Women of Troy, McLachlin helped USC go 19-13 with a 12-8 mark in the Pac-12 for a fifth-place finish. That season, OH Skylar Fields was honored with AVCA All-America first-team recognition.
 
McLachlin is married to former USC volleyball standout opposite hitter Diane Copenhagen (2004-07), a 2004 Pac-10 All-Freshman Team selection. The McLachlins are parents to two daughters, Leila and Malia, and a son named Koa.
 
The 14th-ranked Trojans (25-7, 15-5 Big Ten) finished the regular season tied for third in the Big Ten and were awarded one of 33 at-large berths—and a hosting bid—into the 2025 NCAA tournament. USC made its fourth straight appearance in the tourney under sixth-year head coach Brad Keller (41st all-time) and moved into the second round for the fourth consecutive year with a 3-0 sweep of Princeton. The Women of Troy were eliminated from postseason play in a hard-fought five-set loss to Cal Poly in the second round.
 
For more information on the USC women’s volleyball team, please visit USCTrojans.com/WVB. Fans of the Women of Troy can follow @USCWomensVolley on X, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.